Changing NIC metric to make sure network adapter priortity is in correct order

I wrote about changing the order of network adapters to give wired adapters priority here. But since then, I've found a couple computers that still make the wireless their priority even though you tell it to make the wired the preferred adapter for internet traffic. The solution to that issue is to alter the metric for the wireless adapter. Logically, this shouldn't create a problem as the wireless should only ever be used when the wired is non-operational.

Here is how (in XP):

Start -> Run -> ncpa.cpl

Right click on the wireless adapter -> properties

Internet Protocol -> Properties

Click Advanaced

Uncheck automatic metric and put a value of 50 for the metric. Interestingly, a value of 10 did not work in my test, but 1000 did and so did 50. So I use 50.

Dell Latitudes and disabled NICs

One thing I've had trouble with off and on is that Dell laptops with Broadcom network cards disable the NIC when you unplug the power cord and a network cord is not in. This can create problems when you have users who work on a wired connection at their office and then take their laptop home and work wirelessly on battery and then bring their laptops back in. When you clod boot a computer, the NIC comes back on, but if the laptop was asleep, in my experience it does not.

Personally, I've always preferred to just disable that power saving feature. The Broadcom applet in the Control Panel doesn't do it, so I have found the best way to do it is to do this:

Unplug the network cable
Unplug the power cable
For about 3 seconds a Broadcom window will come up that will say "your internal network card has been deactivated. Click here to change preferences"
And then you tell it to "always activate on battery"

You can do this in the dock or not in the dock.