I realize this forum is about home networking, but maybe someone can point me in the right direction possibly?

I have been doing some traveling recently for work, and my home laptop will not recognize wireless networks at the hotel or the school in which I'm attending a conference. When I go to "view available wireless networks" I get the following message:

"Windows cannot configure this wireless connection. If you have enabled
another program to manage this wireless connection, use that software. If you
want Windows to configure this wireless connection, start the wireless zero
configuration service. For more information about starting the wzc service,
see article 871122 in the microsoft knowledge base on the microsoft.com web
site. "

With my work computer, I don't have this problem. But it is in the shop right now.

Is this something that is easily configured? Oh, and I checked with the above site for more information but it is all incredibly over my head. I don't know where to start.

You could be using a different program to manage your Wireless connections beside the xp application. What is a list of all your programs running in your taskbar. ( bottom right )

Also, you can have a look in Add/Remove programs for an application that sounds like it is a wireless access manager. If there is then you can feel free to remove it. You may want to download drivers for your wireless card prior to trying this in case you accidentally uninstall the drivers instead of the management software.