Automatically connect to unsecured wireless networks in Vista

Hi there,

Running Vista Home Premium withOUT SP1.

I'm trying to automatically connect to the same unsecured wireless network. When I connect to it I choose to Save it.

When I go to "Network and Sharing Center" --> "Manage wireless networks" I see the unsecured wireless network in the list. When I right click on it and click Properties I see this dialog box(Wireless Network properties):
2h6fvqc.jpg

no options for automatically connect :(

I'm sure it is possible as I have seen this screenshot:
35a87r6.png



From what I have found out so far, when you choose to Save a network an xml file is created in:
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Wlansvc\Profiles\Interfaces\{C0D37D37-7800-4339-91FD-E465594CAE1A}
with a filename like:
{AFD464E9-3A52-487A-A841-175ABFE87153}.xml
I've compared the xml files created when you join an unsecured network and when you join a secured network. I noticed that the secured networks have these two extra keys in the xml file:
<nonBroadcast>false</nonBroadcast>
<autoSwitch>true</autoSwitch>
the former maps to "Connect even if the network is not broadcasting" and the latter maps to "Connect to a more preferred network if available" checkboxes when you open up the "Wireless Network properties" dialog box. Another key is:
<connectionMode>manual</connectionMode>
which maps to "Connect automatically when this network is in range". I've tried editing this value from "manual" to "auto" and rebooting but when windows loads back in I find that the xml file has been deleted.


I've also tried saving this xml file to another directory, editing the <connectionMode> and changing it from "manual" to "auto" and then using the netsh command from the command line:
C:\Users\justincase>netsh wlan add profile filename="unsecuredwlan.xml" interface="Wireless Network Connection"
Failed to add the profile. Error x8000E: Automatic connection cannot be set for an ad hoc network.


I've tried to track down either the file or registry entry which controls this behaviour but have hit a dead end. I do know that when I run the netsh command that these files are accessed:
C:\Windows\L2Schemas\OneX_v1.xsd
C:\Windows\L2Schemas\WLAN_policy_v1.xsd
C:\Windows\L2Schemas\WLAN_profile_v1.xsd


Any pointers or help would be greatly appreciated.

TIA
 

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