mchain
6
OK, let’s try one thing at a time.
Read the following to see if your wireless adaptor is attempting to connect to other networks than the one you normally use: http://superuser.com/questions/380670/windows-7-automatically-connecting-to-unsecured-wireless-networks-on-startup
“On demand” wireless connections is the same thing as using a manually set on/off connection; you get control over when the connection is made and where it is made, and to what network.
Not aware until your last post you that use a laptop. There should be a function key at the top of the keyboard that will turn your wireless on/off as needed, and using this key to control connectivity may be all you need to do. As I do not have a Dell laptop, suggest looking up in Dell help section in laptop to find this function key.
Could be that avast! is detecting multiple network attempts to connect to several different wireless networks at the same time when your wireless is set to automatic connectivity, as your system resumes from sleep, hibernate, or fresh cold boot, and is thus causing the behavior and symptoms you describe.
In XP, right clicking the Windows Network Internet Access icon in the system tray will offer one to select “Properties” and drill down within to a setting that allows the user to uncheck a box for automatically connecting to a preferred wireless network. Don’t run a wireless connection in Win 7, but this should still be similar in process.
So there should be two ways to change the setting from automatic; one in dell using the function key, and the other, using the windows network access icon via right-click.
[EDIT:] If you find the Windows Network Access icon to be disabled as the Dell one became the system default in operation, see: http://www.home-network-help.com/wlan-autoconfig-service.html wlan autoconfig service must be enabled and running to operate here. This is offered as an option, as the Dell function key should be all you need to control your wireless operation.