How To Connect To A Network In Windows 7

Many households nowadays have more than one computer. In fact, it'southward non at all unusual for each member of a household to accept his or her own. Creating a network to connect those computers makes information technology possible to easily share files, folders, internet connections, and fifty-fifty printers.

o In the past, setting upwardly 1 of these networks, and actually sharing anything, could be a frustrating process, but with Windows 7, Microsoft has made the process incredibly like shooting fish in a barrel.

Understanding Networks

And then what is a network? A network is just a bunch of computers connected to each other so that they can communicate with each other and share things like pictures or printers or internet connections.

Types of Networks

There are really only 2 types of networks:

o Wired Networks-computers that are continued together with wires, usually Ethernet cables

o Wireless networks-computers that are connected wirelessly using radio waves

The simplest type of network would exist just 2 computers connected together with a single cable. More than complex networks require a router and a modem.

A router is the cardinal device that all computers on a network connect to. It'southward like a bus terminal-all the busses must come to the aforementioned location to pick up passengers, before trundling off to different parts of the city. This is a much more than efficient system than simply connecting one computer to another in a big circle.

If you are going to connect to the internet, you volition as well need a modem. A modem is the box that communicates with the internet. So it goes similar this: the computers are plugged into (or linked with) the router and the router is plugged into the modem. In some cases, the modem and router are combined into a single unit of measurement.

Setting Upward a Small Network

To set up a small network, you are going to need a router and a modem and a way to connect them. Each computer will too need an adapter. The adapter is a device that allows the computer to communicate with the router. Well-nigh all computers sold today have an Ethernet (wired) adapter congenital right into them. Ethernet cables await similar oversized old-fashioned phone jacks. Well-nigh laptops built today take wireless adapters built into them.

Don't worry though, because yous don't take to pick one type of network over the other, wireless or wired. Near networks use a mixture of the two. In fact, most wireless routers also take places you can plug Ethernet cables into and it'south non at all unusual to accept the main computer in a household connected direct to the router with wires, and all the residue of the computers connected via Wi-Fi.

So an ordinary network may look like this: The modem is plugged into the phone line or cable to allow access to the internet. It is and so connected directly to a router with an Ethernet cable. The router is and then plugged direct into one figurer, and simultaneously transmitting a radio signal that all the other computers in the firm with Wi-Fi adapters tin can communicate with.

At present that all the computers are connected, you'll have to configure them with Windows to get them to communicate with each other. But don't worry. Similar I said at the kickoff of this article, Windows seven makes this process incredibly like shooting fish in a barrel.

Setting Up a Homegroup

So the next footstep is to select which computers you desire to communicate with. Yous practise this by creating what's called a Homegroup. You can remember of this like giving each member of your family unit a key to your business firm. This is important because I'k sure you don't desire whatsoever stranger to be able to proceeds access to your personal files.

And so permit's launch the Control Panel and see how to do this. Click Network and Internet and so Homegroup. Windows will automatically bank check to meet if another Homegroup is already available on this network. If information technology is, you can choose to bring together it, or create your own.

In this example, in that location aren't any other Homegroups on our network, and then we're going to create 1. Click "Create a Homegroup."

A new window will open asking you which items you'd like to share with other members on this Homegroup. If you'd like to share a printer (which we'll talk about in more detail shortly), make sure that box is checked, then click "Next."

In the final step of this process, you lot'll be given a password. You will demand this to connect other computers to your network and so write it down.

At present, on all of the other computers, yous volition take to go to Networks and Net and select Homegroup. Windows will tell you that a Homegroup is already bachelor and asks if you'd like to join. Go ahead and bring together information technology on those other computers, and enter the Homegroup countersign when asked. Yous will also be given the opportunity to select which files and printers you'd like to share on each of those other computers.

Sharing Files with XP and Vista

Microsoft really went through a lot of trouble to better and streamline the process of creating a network. Still, most of the all-time features are only available to other Windows seven machines. To connect with computers that are running Windows XP or Vista, you will have to do a little scrap more than work.

Later you take created a Homegroup on Windows 7, go into the computers running Windows XP and Vista and gear up up a new network.

Now go back to your Windows seven PC to connect to the network you just created and launch the Control Panel. Then click "Network and Cyberspace" and launch the Network and Sharing center. On this screen click "Alter advanced sharing settings" then make sure these items are turned on:

o Network Discovery

o File and Printer Sharing

Countersign Protected Sharing must exist turned off. If it is non, the computers running XP and Vista will exist asked to enter a name and password earlier they tin can connect.

Now click Save Changes.

Sharing a Printer

Nowadays, many homes and offices take several computers, just ordinarily just one printer. Windows seven makes it incredibly easy for every computer on the network to share that one printer.

To do this, simply plug a printer into any reckoner on your homegroup. Windows 7 automatically tells all of the other computers in that homegroup that a printer is available. To observe it, only click the start menu and select "Devices and Printers". You lot may accept to install the driver on each computer manually before yous can utilise information technology.

Troubleshooting Network Problems

In one case the network has been set up up correctly, information technology should work fine without whatever further action, merely if it doesn't, there are a few things you lot can try earlier pulling your hair out.

The showtime, of course, is to inquire Windows itself to try and diagnose the problem. To do this, right-click on the network icon in the taskbar and select "Troubleshoot Bug". A wizard volition launch to guide yous through the process.

If that doesn't work, get back and make sure that every computer has the same workgroup name.

Finally, effort turning off every estimator, the router, and the net modem. Double bank check to make sure that all of wired connections are secure, then start turning on the devices one at a time, starting with the modem, then the router, then the computers, waiting at to the lowest degree a infinitesimal between each.

Common Complaints with Windows 7 -- and Their Fixes

If there is one true saying when information technology comes to personal computers, it's got to be "You can't please all of the people all of the time." Microsoft tried hard to streamline Windows seven to make information technology more than pleasing to await at and much easier to utilize. In many instances, they succeeded. In fact, the virtually mutual complaints and frustrations with Windows 7 stem from non being familiar with the new way of doing things. We were used to the old way of doing things, durnit.

In this commodity, we'll get over the most common complaints, and explain why they exist and how to change them if you want to.

Annoying Permission Screens

If yous used Windows Vista, you're probably well enlightened of those abrasive permission screens. They're the ones that pop upwardly every fourth dimension you try to install some kind of software or make a major change to Windows, and ask you if youreally want to do that. To tell the truth, in that location isn't actually a adept solution to them. If you turn them off, you lot leave your computer open up to all sorts of malicious software, such equally spyware and worms and viruses.

If you don't want to turn them off altogether, y'all can still fix them to a different level so they don't popular up every bit frequently.

To do so, click System and Security in the Control Panel then select "Change User Account Control Settings." You'll see a screen that looks similar this:

If you drag the little rectangle in the middle upward, y'all'll have the well-nigh secure organization, just you lot'll see a permission screen any time a change is made to Windows, whether you lot initiated information technology or not. If you lot drag the rectangle downward, you won't meet the permission screens, but you likewise won't be notified when any change is fabricated to windows. That means a virus can install itself on your computer and yous'd never realize it.

Copying Music to iPods and Other Devices

Copying music to nigh MP3 players is incredibly easy. Windows recognizes them as only another disk drive. You can easily navigate to the device and drag your music into it. iPods, on the other mitt, are not quite as simple. You can only move music and movies to your iPod through iTunes, which is Apple's proprietary software. Just don't worry, it is Windows uniform and is available for gratuitous from the iTunes website. iTunes also organizes and plays your music and movies in much the same way that Windows Media Actor does.

Missing Menus

If you used any previous version of Windows, you may have already noticed the missing menus. By the same token, you may have already forgotten all about them. What we're talking virtually are the menu bars that use to sit at the tiptop of some open up windows and looked similar this:

It'south like an sometime building that gets torn down in your neighborhood-after 6 or 8 months, you lot almost forget information technology was e'er in that location in the first place.

If y'all have been missing these menus, though, you tin view them easily (and temporarily) by pushing the Alt key.

If you'd like to turn these menus back on permanently, click the Organize button then chooseLayout > Card Bar.

Special Effects and Reckoner Performance

There's no uncertainty that Windows 7 has an attractive interface and some of the effects are pretty cool. Those effects come with a price, however-they use upwards a bit of your reckoner'due south processor and retentiveness. This striking to performance is negligible on high finish machines, but older or depression-end computers may really experience information technology.

If you don't call up Windows 7 is running as fast as it could be, you might attempt turning these effects off. To do then, launch the Command Panel and click "System and Security" and then "System." Now click "Avant-garde Organization Settings." You'll see a new window that looks like this:

Select "Settings." A new Window volition open up.

From here you can choose to disable private furnishings, or disable all of them by selecting "Adjust for all-time performance." Click Apply.

Having to Log into Windows Constantly

When yous walk away from your computer for a flow of fourth dimension and your screensaver "kicks in," you may discover that when you return, you have to log back into Windows. It doesn't have to be this way. Y'all can easily set it so that when you lot wake your figurer up from the screensaver, your computer returns you to whatever program you had open. Asking you to sign back in is only a security feature -- one that's easily enough undone.

To gear up it so you don't have to log into Windows constantly:

o Right click on a blank area in your desktop and choose Personalize.

o Click Screen Saver in the bottom right corner (every bit shown above).

o Uncheck the On Resume, Display Logon Screen to deactivate this security feature.

o Click OK.

When the Taskbar Moves or Disappears

The taskbar, you may remember, is that strip that'southward usually at the bottom of the screen. Unless the taskbar is locked, you may find yourself accidently moving it all over the place. To lock the taskbar, right-click on it and select "Lock the taskbar." Yous'll take to unlock the taskbar again before y'all can "pin" or "unpin" icons to information technology.

Another trouble is the disappearing taskbar. This happens if the "Auto-hibernate" role is active. In this case, unless you lot move your mouse to the bottom of the screen, the taskbar will not show.

To fix this, move your mouse to the bottom of the screen so yous can come across the task bar. Now right-click on it and select "Backdrop."

Make sure the "Auto-hide the taskbar" box is not checked. You can also use this carte du jour to further personalize the taskbar. You lot can select its position on the screen, how large the icons are, and more. I'd suggest trying out each setting to encounter if yous similar it.

Losing Rail of Open Windows

Keeping rail of all your open windows doesn't have to be aggravating! There's a undercover central that Windows doesn't tell you about. Simply hold downward the ALT primal and press the Tab key. A niggling bar will appear and display all the icons for your open windows. Keep pressing Tab until the window you lot desire is highlighted. Release the keys and the window will pop up.

Lining Up Windows on the Screen

It is possible to line several windows up perfectly on the screen. To do and then, brand sure both of the windows you want to line upwardly are visible and make sure all other windows accept been minimized to the task bar. Now, right click in an empty area of the taskbar and select "Show windows next." If you lot have two windows open, this will show them side by side, perfectly proportioned. If you have iii, as in the case below, they volition appear in three equal columns.

You can also arrange windows the long way, on on tiptop of each other, past choosing "Show windows stacked" as in the following example.

If the Impress Screen Key Doesn't Work

This is actually more than of a problem with labeling than a trouble with Windows. The Print Screen primal (or Prt Scrn on some keyboards) doesn't actually send a picture of the screen to the printer. It should exist labeled "Copy Screen" considering that's more authentic. When you push the Print Screen push button, Windows only saves an paradigm of that screen to the Clipboard. Y'all can so paste it into a document. If you're dead assail printing a re-create of the screen, y'all can open a program like Microsoft Paint or MS Word and paste the paradigm into it, then print it from that program.

Source: https://www.universalclass.com/articles/computers/how-to-connect-to-a-network-using-windows-7.htm

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