Windows 10: How ethernet-only connection connects to WiFi?

My work computer PC does not allow for wifi connection and only allows ethernet connection. This is fine when I'm at home. While traveling, what device can I use to connect to a hotel's wifi, while using my ethernet cable, but without being able to download drivers into my work PC? I've seen USB wifi devices, wifi repeaters, wifi extenders but not sure what would work? My work PC does not give any wifi option in settings and does not allow downloads of any kind either. Please help.

:)

 

Make Windows 10 connect/disconnect to WiFi based on Ethernet connection status

Steps:

1. Go to Control Panel\ All Control Panel Items\ Network and Sharing Center > click on 'Change adapter settings' then use the 'alt button' to show menus and select Advanced Settings...
   
2. Under Connections section, select Ethernet, and use the arrows to the right to move Ethernet above WiFi.
   
3. Click OK.
   

Windows will now prefer the Ethernet over the WiFi for connecting to the internet. This should apply for Windows 8, 8.1, and 10.

 

Bridging wifi and ethernet connections – wifi keeps disconnecting

Hi all,

I am trying to use Windows to bridge my wifi connection to non wifi devices. I have successfully setup the bridge in Network Connections. However, the wifi only stays connected for a few seconds before it disconnects (everything is working as expected, with wired devices having internet access, until wifi disconnects). This seems to be something to do with the ethernet cable being connected, as when I disconnect the ethernet the wifi stays connected.

Things I have tried:

• Turning off power management and checking bios for any funky power management settings
  
• Setting "Priority & VLAN" to disabled
  
• Disabling "Automatic metic" and setting wifi to priority order – though you don't seem to be able to change this for specific connections when bridged.
  

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

P.S. everything works fine with bridge disabled and using internet connection sharing enabled on the wifi. However I am unable to connect to devices such as printers (hence why I am trying bridged mode).

 

How to connect to an existing wifi network?

As you suggested, I tried disabling the ethernet adapter and that caused wi-fi to connect, so the desktop wifi does work. Also, I accessed the router and changed the wireless network name (to wfCHS). Thanks!

However many problems are still unresolved:

My laptop behaves just as I want it to. Assuming the router has wifi turned on and the laptop has an ethernet connection, connection to the internet is by ethernet (no private network name), and the wi-fi connection is to my private network "wfCHS", but with no connection to the internet. (If I disconnect the ethernet cable, then wfCHS becomes connected to the internet and stays that way even if I reconnect the cable.) A directory listing shows both laptop and desktop under "Network". Great!

Things are rather different with the desktop. With Ethernet disabled, the desktop shows a wi-fi connection to the internet. Under Settings > Status it's called "wfCHS" but under Network Connections it's called wfCHS2. If I then re-enable the ethernet connection, the wifi connection stays enabled for a minute or two, then disconnects. Further, the ethernet connection is given the name wfCHS2 under both Status and Network Connections.

Why does the desktop give an (unwanted) name to the ethernet connection while the laptop doesn't?

Why does the desktop disconnect its wi-fi connection a minute or so after the ethernet connection is enabled, while the laptop doesn't?

Why does the desktop give two different names to the wifi connection, depending on whether it's viewed under Status or Network Connections, while the laptop doesn't?

Why does the laptop show the desktop under Network, while the desktop shows only itself?

Things are so convoluted that I'd be happy to start over. I've had the desktop "forget" the wi-fi connection as you suggested, then re-established it, but this hasn't helped. Can the ethernet connection also be "forgotten"?

Really appreciate the help you've given so far!