How To Create A Lan Network In Windows 7

Many households nowadays have more than one computer. In fact, it's not at all unusual for each fellow member of a household to take his or her own. Creating a network to connect those computers makes information technology possible to hands share files, folders, internet connections, and even printers.

o In the past, setting up one of these networks, and actually sharing anything, could be a frustrating process, just with Windows 7, Microsoft has made the process incredibly easy.

Understanding Networks

So what is a network? A network is just a bunch of computers continued to each other so that they tin can communicate with each other and share things like pictures or printers or cyberspace connections.

Types of Networks

At that place are really only two types of networks:

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

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

The simplest blazon of network would be just two computers continued together with a single cable. More than complex networks crave a router and a modem.

A router is the fundamental device that all computers on a network connect to. It'south like a bus concluding-all the busses must come to the aforementioned location to option 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 will too need a modem. A modem is the box that communicates with the net. So it goes like 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 Upwards a Small Network

To set up a small network, you lot are going to need a router and a modem and a way to connect them. Each computer volition besides need an adapter. The adapter is a device that allows the computer to communicate with the router. Most all computers sold today have an Ethernet (wired) adapter congenital correct into them. Ethernet cables look like oversized old-fashioned telephone jacks. Most laptops built today have wireless adapters built into them.

Don't worry though, considering y'all don't accept to selection ane blazon of network over the other, wireless or wired. Most networks use a mixture of the two. In fact, most wireless routers also take places you lot can plug Ethernet cables into and it'south not at all unusual to accept the main computer in a household connected directly to the router with wires, and all the residual 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 let access to the internet. It is then connected directly to a router with an Ethernet cable. The router is so plugged directly into 1 computer, and simultaneously transmitting a radio indicate that all the other computers in the house with Wi-Fi adapters 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 beginning of this article, Windows seven makes this process incredibly easy.

Setting Up a Homegroup

So the next step is to select which computers you lot want to communicate with. You do this by creating what's called a Homegroup. You lot can call up of this like giving each member of your family a key to your house. This is important because I'm sure you don't desire whatever stranger to be able to gain access to your personal files.

So let'south launch the Control Panel and run across how to do this. Click Network and Internet and then Homegroup. Windows volition automatically cheque to run across if another Homegroup is already bachelor on this network. If it is, you can choose to join it, or create your own.

In this example, there aren't any other Homegroups on our network, so we're going to create one. Click "Create a Homegroup."

A new window will open up 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 near in more detail shortly), make certain that box is checked, and so click "Next."

In the concluding step of this process, you'll be given a password. Y'all will need this to connect other computers to your network then write it down.

Now, on all of the other computers, you will take to go to Networks and Cyberspace and select Homegroup. Windows will tell you that a Homegroup is already available and asks if y'all'd similar to join. Go ahead and bring together it on those other computers, and enter the Homegroup password when asked. You volition besides be given the opportunity to select which files and printers yous'd like to share on each of those other computers.

Sharing Files with XP and Vista

Microsoft really went through a lot of problem to improve and streamline the process of creating a network. However, most of the best features are only available to other Windows seven machines. To connect with computers that are running Windows XP or Vista, you will have to exercise a piddling bit more work.

After you accept created a Homegroup on Windows 7, get into the computers running Windows XP and Vista and fix up a new network.

Now go back to your Windows 7 PC to connect to the network y'all just created and launch the Control Panel. Then click "Network and Cyberspace" and launch the Network and Sharing center. On this screen click "Alter avant-garde sharing settings" and so brand sure these items are turned on:

o Network Discovery

o File and Printer Sharing

Password Protected Sharing must be turned off. If it is non, the computers running XP and Vista volition be asked to enter a name and password before they can connect.

Now click Salvage Changes.

Sharing a Printer

Present, many homes and offices take several computers, but usually only one printer. Windows 7 makes it incredibly easy for every computer on the network to share that one printer.

To do this, simply plug a printer into any computer on your homegroup. Windows 7 automatically tells all of the other computers in that homegroup that a printer is available. To find it, simply click the start bill of fare and select "Devices and Printers". You may have to install the driver on each reckoner manually before yous tin can use it.

Troubleshooting Network Issues

One time the network has been set up correctly, information technology should work fine without any further action, but if it doesn't, there are a few things you tin can try before pulling your pilus out.

The commencement, of grade, is to ask Windows itself to try and diagnose the problem. To do this, correct-click on the network icon in the taskbar and select "Troubleshoot Problems". A wizard will launch to guide you through the process.

If that doesn't work, go back and brand sure that every reckoner has the aforementioned workgroup proper name.

Finally, attempt turning off every calculator, the router, and the internet modem. Double 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, and then the computers, waiting at least a minute between each.

Mutual Complaints with Windows 7 -- and Their Fixes

If at that place is one truthful maxim when it comes to personal computers, it's got to be "You can't delight all of the people all of the time." Microsoft tried hard to streamline Windows 7 to make it more pleasing to look at and much easier to utilize. In many instances, they succeeded. In fact, the most common complaints and frustrations with Windows vii stem from not being familiar with the new manner of doing things. We were used to the old fashion of doing things, durnit.

In this commodity, we'll go over the near mutual complaints, and explain why they be 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 popular up every time y'all try to install some kind of software or brand a major change to Windows, and ask you if you lotreally desire to do that. To tell the truth, at that place isn't actually a good solution to them. If you lot plough them off, you leave your computer open to all sorts of malicious software, such as spyware and worms and viruses.

If you lot don't want to plow them off altogether, you can still set up them to a different level and so they don't pop upwards as frequently.

To do so, click System and Security in the Command Panel and and then select "Change User Account Command Settings." You lot'll run into a screen that looks like this:

If you drag the little rectangle in the eye up, you'll take the about secure system, but y'all'll see a permission screen whatever time a change is fabricated to Windows, whether you initiated information technology or not. If you drag the rectangle down, you won't see the permission screens, just y'all also won't be notified when any change is made to windows. That means a virus can install itself on your estimator and you'd never realize it.

Copying Music to iPods and Other Devices

Copying music to most MP3 players is incredibly easy. Windows recognizes them as but another disk drive. You can easily navigate to the device and elevate your music into information technology. iPods, on the other hand, are not quite every bit uncomplicated. Yous can only move music and movies to your iPod through iTunes, which is Apple's proprietary software. But don't worry, information technology is Windows compatible and is available for free from the iTunes website. iTunes also organizes and plays your music and movies in much the same manner that Windows Media Histrion does.

Missing Menus

If y'all 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 about are the carte du jour bars that use to sit at the top of some open up windows and looked like this:

It's like an old building that gets torn down in your neighborhood-after 6 or 8 months, y'all near forget information technology was ever there in the get-go place.

If y'all have been missing these menus, though, you can view them easily (and temporarily) past pushing the Alt cardinal.

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

Special Effects and Computer Performance

There'southward no doubt that Windows 7 has an attractive interface and some of the effects are pretty absurd. Those effects come with a price, however-they use up a bit of your estimator's processor and retentivity. This striking to operation is negligible on high end machines, only older or low-end computers may really experience it.

If you don't think Windows 7 is running every bit fast as it could be, you might try turning these effects off. To do so, launch the Control Panel and click "System and Security" then "System." Now click "Advanced System Settings." You'll see a new window that looks similar this:

Select "Settings." A new Window volition open.

From here yous can choose to disable private furnishings, or disable all of them by selecting "Adjust for best functioning." Click Apply.

Having to Log into Windows Constantly

When you walk abroad from your calculator for a period of time and your screensaver "kicks in," y'all may discover that when you render, you have to log back into Windows. Information technology doesn't have to be this way. You tin easily set it then that when you wake your reckoner up from the screensaver, your computer returns y'all to whatever programme you had open up. Asking you to sign back in is just a security feature -- one that'southward easily plenty undone.

To fix information technology and so you lot don't have to log into Windows constantly:

o Correct click on a blank area in your desktop and cull Personalize.

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

o Uncheck the On Resume, Brandish Logon Screen to conciliate this security feature.

o Click OK.

When the Taskbar Moves or Disappears

The taskbar, you may retrieve, is that strip that's normally 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, correct-click on it and select "Lock the taskbar." Y'all'll take to unlock the taskbar again earlier yous tin "pin" or "unpin" icons to it.

Some other problem is the disappearing taskbar. This happens if the "Auto-hide" function is agile. In this example, unless yous move your mouse to the bottom of the screen, the taskbar volition not show.

To fix this, move your mouse to the lesser of the screen so you can meet the job bar. Now correct-click on it and select "Backdrop."

Make sure the "Auto-hide the taskbar" box is not checked. Yous can also use this card to farther 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 see if you like it.

Losing Rail of Open up Windows

Keeping rail of all your open windows doesn't have to be aggravating! There's a secret fundamental that Windows doesn't tell you about. Simply hold down the ALT key and press the Tab key. A little bar volition appear and display all the icons for your open windows. Keep pressing Tab until the window you want is highlighted. Release the keys and the window volition pop up.

Lining Upward Windows on the Screen

It is possible to line several windows upwardly perfectly on the screen. To do and so, make sure both of the windows you want to line upwardly are visible and make sure all other windows have been minimized to the task bar. Now, correct click in an empty area of the taskbar and select "Evidence windows next." If you have 2 windows open, this volition bear witness them next, perfectly proportioned. If you accept three, as in the instance beneath, they will appear in three equal columns.

You can likewise arrange windows the long way, on on elevation of each other, by choosing "Evidence windows stacked" as in the following example.

If the Print Screen Cardinal Doesn't Work

This is actually more of a trouble with labeling than a problem with Windows. The Print Screen key (or Prt Scrn on some keyboards) doesn't actually send a moving picture of the screen to the printer. It should exist labeled "Copy Screen" because that's more authentic. When you lot push button the Print Screen button, Windows merely saves an image of that screen to the Clipboard. You can then paste it into a document. If you're dead set up on printing a copy of the screen, you tin open a programme like Microsoft Paint or MS Word and paste the image 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

Posted by: chadwickablemplaid.blogspot.com