Did you know that your laptop can  function as a wireless hot spot?  As long as your laptop runs both Ethernet and Wi-Fi at the same time, it can work as a wireless hot spot.

But why would you want to convert your laptop into a hot spot? Imagine a situation where there are several people, probably attending a conference, but there is just one ethernet connection. How could everybody connect to the internet?  Simple, convert one of the laptops into a hot spot and share the single ethernet connection with everyone else.

Let’s see how to do that. It is actually much easier than you would imagine.

In Windows Vista:

• Connect the laptop to the internet using the ethernet cable.
• Open the control panel and go into the Network and Sharing Center.
• Set up a new connection called a wireless ad hoc network.
• Give it a name and setup the desired security options.
• Deselect Save this Network.
• Finally, click on Turn on Internet Connection Sharing.
• Now anyone can connect to your laptop’s Wi-Fi.

In Windows XP:

• Make sure your laptop is connected to the Internet using the ethernet cable.
• Go to Control Panel and open up Network Connections.
• Right-click on your wireless connection and select Properties.
• On the Wireless Networks tab, check Use Windows to configure my wireless network setting.
• Under Preferred networks, click Add, and name your network.
• Select shared, and provide a password.
• Click the Advanced button and select Computer-to-Computer (ad hoc) networks only.
• Go back to the Network Connections control panel and open the Properties dialog for your wired internet connection.
• Go to the Advanced menu and check the box next to Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s internet connection.

It looks like a lot of steps for XP, but when you actually do it, you would be up and running in a couple of minutes.