Trying to install wifi adapter but NM say no

Question

As titled, trying to revive older Dell with XP sp3  for shop. Installed linksys with speedbooster wusb546s ver2. Nice, as its got a long enough cord to set by window and get signal from house. However NM says it cant add because 'other software' controlling adapter?? only way is disabling all securities,
So I went and got a Dlink dwa-131 but same issue except it doenst get signal unless desk top setting in window, (another non option).
I have a wrt120n router, network magic (I know no longer supported) DSL connection. Have IPAD, IPOD, BluRay player, HP laptop w/7 64bit wifi, Compac with XP sp3 (cabled to router), Dell laptop w/vista 32 wifi, HP wireless printer. trying to add Dell with XPsp3, but adding the adapters software conflicts with NM?
Tried unstalling adapter software and loading drivers-got it to connect but as noted only with network wide open (so software wasnt involved)
Is there a simple way to add a computer using a usb wifi adapter-thats compatible with NM? Ive never had an issue adding stuff but this adapter thing simply has me stumped because of the software. Ive looked around but cant find any real info.
Mark
Solved!
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Answer 1

Possible that the conflict is with the wireless utilities installed on the computer and the utility which the network magic software is supporting. But from what I know, you should be able to add a device no matter what the utility is being used.  Mostly for dell laptops, they have dell wlan card utility on them. For windows laptops, they also have a windows based wireless utility which is called wireless zero configuration. Usually for dell laptops, the dell wireless utility is the default utility that is enabled. I suggest that you disable the dell wireless wlan utility. To do it: right click on the dell icon at the bottom right corner of the screen, click on open dell utility, uncheck let this tool manage your wireless settings, then click apply and then ok. After the utility has been disabled, try to connect to your network using the windows wireless utility (this link will guide you). After connecting to your network using the windows utility, try to add the computer then to the network magic software.