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Setting up wired Ethernet network hardware, Networking Your Notebook - drivers

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CHAPTER 5: Networking Your Notebook Setting up wired Ethernet network hardware Making sure your broadband connection works Important If you do not have a broadband connection already installed, make the necessary arrangements with your ISP. Be sure to find out how soon after the installation the line will be activated. Broadband Internet settings differ from ISP to ISP. Before you begin setting up your network, you should contact your ISP for any specific instructions they have for setting up a network. Before you change anything about your home setup, make sure that your broadband connection is working correctly. To test the connection, log onto the Internet using your current setup. If the connection is not working, contact your Internet service provider. Installing Ethernet cards and drivers After you have determined the type of Ethernet you are using for your network, you need to install Ethernet cards and drivers on the computers that do not have Ethernet already installed. Use the documentation that comes with your Ethernet cards for instructions on installing the card and any required drivers. Plug your Ethernet cable into your computer's jack and the router or the cable or DSL modem at this point, if you have not already done so. Connecting network cables We recommend using category 5, unshielded, twisted-pair cable (approximately 1/4-inch diameter with a thin outer-jacket, containing eight color-coded wires), and equipment compatible with this type of cable. This type of cable is equipped with RJ-45 connectors (like a large telephone jack connector, but with eight pins) on each end. Category 5 cables are available in two different types; straight-through cables, used to connect computers to a router, and crossover cables, used to connect two computers. To determine which type of cable you have, hold both ends of the cable with the connectors facing away from you and with the spring clip on the bottom. For straight-through cable, the wires on both connectors are attached to copper pins in the same order (same colors, left to right). For a crossover cable, the wires on each connector are attached to the copper pins in a different order (different colors, left to right). Setting up a network using a router If you are setting up a network for more than two computers and you will be connecting your network to a high-speed Broadband Internet connection (cable or DSL modem), we recommend the use of a router. A router lets you access the Internet connection from any network computer. The router can assign IP addresses to the computers on the network and can provide firewall protection for your network as well. 48

Section	Page
Contents	3
Getting Help	7
Thank you for purchasing our notebook!	8
Using the Gateway Web site	8
Using Help and Support	9
Searching for a topic	9
Getting help for Windows Media Center	9
Using online help	10
Using Windows	11
Using the Windows desktop	12
Using the Start menu	13
Adding icons to the desktop	14
Identifying window items	14
Working with files and folders	15
Viewing drives	15
Creating folders	16
Copying and moving files and folders	16
Deleting files and folders	17
Searching for files	18
Using the Windows Search	18
Using advanced search options	19
Browsing for files and folders	19
Using Tablet PC	20
Calibrating your tablet	20
Using gestures	21
Using the digital pen	21
Digital pen button	21
Tips	21
Using the Tablet Input Panel (TIP)	22
Working with documents	23
Creating a new document	23
Saving a document	23
Opening a document	24
Printing a document	24
Shortcuts	25
Using the Internet and Faxing	27
Learning about the Internet	28
Setting up an Internet account	28
Accessing your Internet account	29
Using the World Wide Web	29
Connecting to a Web site	30
Downloading files	30
Using e-mail	31
Sending e-mail	31
Checking your e-mail	32
Using Windows Fax and Scan	32
Sending a Fax	33
Setting up your cover page template	36
Faxing a scanned document or from programs	36
Canceling a fax	37
Receiving and viewing a fax	37
Playing and Creating Media Files	39
Playing music and movies	40
Playing audio and video files	40
Playing optical discs	41
Playing an optical disc using Windows Media Player	41
Creating audio files and music libraries	43
Creating music files	43
Recording audio files	43
Creating WMA and MP3 music files	44
Building a music library	45
Editing track information	45
Creating music CDs and video DVDs	46
Creating a music CD	46
Creating a music CD using Windows Media Player	46
Creating a video DVD	47
Creating a video DVD using Windows DVD Maker	47
Creating and copying data discs	49
Creating a data disc	49
Using Windows Media Center	50
Starting Windows Media Center	50
Networking Your Notebook	51
Introduction to Networking	52
Networking terms you should know	52
Ethernet networking	52
Wired Ethernet networking	52
Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, or Gigabit Ethernet	52
Using a router	52
Equipment you need for a router-based Ethernet network	53
Setting up wired Ethernet network hardware	54
Wireless Ethernet networking	55
Wireless Ethernet standards	55
Using an access point	56
Equipment you need for an access point-based network	56
Setting up wireless Ethernet network hardware	57
Establishing your Ethernet network connection	57
Naming the computers and the workgroup	57
Configuring the TCP/IP protocol	58
Connecting to a wireless Ethernet network	58
Wireless security	59
Testing your network	60
Adding a printer to your network	60
Sharing resources	60
Sharing drives and printers	60
Using the network	61
Viewing shared drives and folders	62
Creating a shortcut to a network drive	62
Opening files across the network	62
Copying files across the network	62
Printing files across the network	63
Bluetooth networking	63
Protecting Your Notebook	65
Hardware security	66
Kensington lock slot	66
CompuTrace	66
Data security	67
Trusted Platform Module (TPM)	67
Computrace	67
Startup and hard drive password	67
Windows user accounts	67
Protecting your notebook from viruses	68
Using McAfee SecurityCenter	69
Scanning for and removing viruses	69
Updating your virus definitions	69
Configuring McAfee VirusScan	70
Using McAfee Parental Controls	71
Using Windows Security Center	72
Modifying security settings	73
Security updates	74
Windows Update	74
Scheduling automatic updates	74
BigFix	75
Traveling securely	75
Customizing Windows	77
Changing screen settings	78
Changing color depth and screen resolution	78
Changing the appearance of windows and backgrounds	79
Selecting a screen saver	80
Changing gadgets	81
Using a gadget’s control panel	82
Configuring the gadget Sidebar	82
Changing system sounds	83
Changing mouse, touchpad, or pointing device settings	84
Changing mouse settings	84
Changing touchpad or pointing device settings	85
Adjusting tablet, digital pen, and input panel settings	86
Adding and modifying user accounts	87
User account tips	87
Changing accessibility settings	88
Using the Ease of Access Center	88
Using voice recognition	89
Using the Windows Mobility Center	90
Setting up parental controls	92
Filtering Internet access	92
Scheduling notebook and Internet use	93
Restricting game access	93
Restricting specific programs	95
Creating activity reports	95
Maintaining Your Notebook	97
Setting up a maintenance schedule	98
Updating Windows	98
Using BigFix	98
Managing hard drive space	99
Checking hard drive space	99
Deleting unnecessary files	100
Checking the hard drive for errors	101
Defragmenting the hard drive	102
Backing up files	103
Scheduling maintenance tasks	104
Moving from your old computer	104
Transferring files and settings with Windows Easy Transfer	104
Transferring files and settings manually	105
Finding your documents	105
Finding other files	105
Notices	106
Index	107
A	107
B	107
C	107
D	107
E	107
F	107
G	108
H	108
I	108
K	108
L	108
M	108
N	108
O	108
P	109
R	109
S	109
T	109
U	109
V	109
W	109

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CHAPTER 5: Networking Your Notebook

Setting up wired Ethernet network hardware

Making sure your broadband connection works

Before you change anything about your home setup, make sure that your broadband connection

is working correctly. To test the connection, log onto the Internet using your current setup. If

the connection is not working, contact your Internet service provider.

Installing Ethernet cards and drivers

After you have determined the type of Ethernet you are using for your network, you need to

install Ethernet cards and drivers on the computers that do not have Ethernet already installed.

Use the documentation that comes with your Ethernet cards for instructions on installing the

card and any required drivers.

Plug your Ethernet cable into your computer’s jack and the router or the cable or DSL modem

at this point, if you have not already done so.

Connecting network cables

We recommend using category 5, unshielded, twisted-pair cable (approximately 1/4-inch

diameter with a thin outer-jacket, containing eight color-coded wires), and equipment compatible

with this type of cable. This type of cable is equipped with RJ-45 connectors (like a large telephone

jack connector, but with eight pins) on each end.

Category 5 cables are available in two different types; straight-through cables, used to connect

computers to a router, and crossover cables, used to connect two computers.

To determine which type of cable you have, hold both ends of the cable with the connectors

facing away from you and with the spring clip on the bottom. For straight-through cable, the

wires on both connectors are attached to copper pins in the same order (same colors, left to

right). For a crossover cable, the wires on each connector are attached to the copper pins in a

different order (different colors, left to right).

Setting up a network using a router

If you are setting up a network for more than two computers and you will be connecting your

network to a high-speed Broadband Internet connection (cable or DSL modem), we recommend

the use of a router. A router lets you access the Internet connection from any network computer.

The router can assign IP addresses to the computers on the network and can provide firewall

protection for your network as well.

Important

If you do not have a broadband connection already installed, make the necessary arrangements with your ISP.

Be sure to find out how soon after the installation the line will be activated.

Broadband Internet settings differ from ISP to ISP. Before you begin setting up your network, you should contact your

ISP for any specific instructions they have for setting up a network