If you want to connect to the Internet or a local network, you have to know how to set up your connection. Let us show you how to do it!

What is a network?

Today, most people have access to the Internet, and it's really hard to imagine the use of a computer without being able to go online. Your link to the outside world is the network (to put it simple, more computers connected together are a network), of course, no matter its speed or the fact that it uses wires or not.

Windows Vista and the network

Setting up a network connection in Windows Vista isn't hard at all, especially since your hardware is configured automatically in most cases, and there are a lot of wizards available to help you during this process.

Creating a network in Windows Vista is done in two ways - using Microsoft's Windows Easy Transfer, when you already have a wired home network that runs Windows XP, and with the help of Vista's Network & Sharing Center, if you start from the scratch.

Using Windows Vista's Network & Sharing Center

If you're switching from Windows XP, you may find that, in Windows Vista, some networking options require more than just one mouse click to be found and changed, but don't worry, nothing's as hard as it seems! Just one more thing to remember - if at least one computer from your network is still using Windows XP, read How to make a network in Windows XP .

1. Changing your workgroup

The first thing to always have in mind when setting up a Windows Vista network is that each computer's workgroup must be the same, because otherwise only those belonging to the same workgroup will be able to "see each other" on the local network. You should also set up every computer in the network, following the instructions bellow.

While Windows XP's default workgroup name is MSHOME, in Vista, things are mouch easier to remember for those with memory problems, because Vista's default workgroup is called...WORKGROUP.

Of course that most people would like to change the name of the workgroup, so here's how to do it...

• Press the Start button, right click on My Computer, then follow this path: Properties - Change Settings - Change, and you'll find yourself inside the Computer Name Changes window
• Now, change the name of your computer (the other users of the network will see your computer using this name) and the workgroup.
• Press OK when finished
• To allow changes to take place, reboot your computer.

While working with the Network & Sharing Center, you may end up facing some User Account Security Control prompts too many times, so if you want to get rid of them, here's how: Start - Control Panel - User Accounts and Family Safety - User Accounts - Turn User Account Control off (or on, when you want to get back to the default).

2. Changing your network settings

If you have a dynamic IP Address skip to step 3. If you have a static IP Address follow the instructions:

Click on Start, in the "Start Serach" box type "command" and click on Command Prompt. Type ipconfig /all and press Enter. Jot down the following information: IPv4 Address, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway and DNS Servers.

To change the network settings, you'll have to use the Network & Sharing Center, and this is how to do it...

• The full path to the Network & Sharing Center is Start - Control Panel - Network and Internet - Network & Sharing Center
  
• Now, choose Manage Network Connections from the left pane
• Right click your network adapter in the window that appears and choose Properties.

Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties. Select Use the following IP address and fill the fields with the info from the previous step.

Note: If you don't know what IP Address you have (Static or Dynamic) contact your Internet Service Provider.

3. Network Location Choices

When you connect your computer to the network in Windows Vista for the first time you need to choose a network location. This option determines your Windows Vista Firewall settings, and there are two possible choices: Public and Private.

The first choice, Public, should be picked when connecting in a public place, like a library or airport. Offering the best security available with the Windows Firewall, this option was designed to prevent others on the network from accessing your computer.

At last, the Private option is what you need to choose when working from home or office, its purpose being to allow unrestricted network access.

Here's how to choose a network location:

• Start - Control Panel - Network and Internet - Network & Sharing Center
• Click on the Customize button

Now, that everything is ready, you can move on and discover how to share files, folders and printers and how to protect your network with user accounts.