Wireless networks are increasingly becoming the norm for home networking. The driving force behind this is the growing popularity of laptops, WiFi enabled smart phones along with the basic increase of number of computers found in a single home. Working in computer sales Indiana, I get multiple calls from people who need help connecting their new computer or laptop to the Internet via a wireless router. The operating system of the computer dictates the best way to get a given device connected. Some manufacturers have their own software to control your wireless connection where others may just choose to have Windows control it. If you are unsure how your computer is setup, then I would recommend contacting your local computer support Indiana technician to get help with your specific machine. The following are general guidelines to get a computer connected to the Internet while using Windows to control the wireless adapter/card.
You will need to know the SSID of your wireless router and the encryption key/pass phrase before continuing. The SSID is how you identify your wireless router from your neighbors. We recommend making this something you will recognize without using something too noticeable such as your family name. We also recommend that you do not use any special characters and spaces in the SSID. We also strongly recommend that you secure your router using a secured pass phrase that isn't something obvious such as your family name or phone number.
In a Windows XP computer your start menu will be green, and it will say start. Down on the right hand side just to the left of the time of your desktop you will see a little computer with what looks like 3 ))) and a red x. If you single left click on the computer it will show you what connections you have available. Just select yours from the list and type the password if you have one. Then you should be ready to browse the Internet.
Windows Vista is very similar to Windows XP. The icon and location to connect are the same. The color scheme of Vista and the visual changes from XP to Vista make it look more intimidating than it really is.
Windows 7 looks like Vista, but instead of having the ))) next computer. It looks like a small computer and only has one computer. Windows Vista and Windows XP have two small computers one for a wireless connection and one for a wired connection. Windows 7 only uses one icon to manage all connection types.
If you still have an issue connecting with your wireless router, then consult the wireless router manual, your ISP's technical support, or call your local computer support Indiana technician. We often offer to our clients that if they have a laptop and purchase the wireless router from us, we'll setup the laptop to connect to the wireless router while they wait in our shop.
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You will need to know the SSID of your wireless router and the encryption key/pass phrase before continuing. The SSID is how you identify your wireless router from your neighbors. We recommend making this something you will recognize without using something too noticeable such as your family name. We also recommend that you do not use any special characters and spaces in the SSID. We also strongly recommend that you secure your router using a secured pass phrase that isn't something obvious such as your family name or phone number.
In a Windows XP computer your start menu will be green, and it will say start. Down on the right hand side just to the left of the time of your desktop you will see a little computer with what looks like 3 ))) and a red x. If you single left click on the computer it will show you what connections you have available. Just select yours from the list and type the password if you have one. Then you should be ready to browse the Internet.
Windows Vista is very similar to Windows XP. The icon and location to connect are the same. The color scheme of Vista and the visual changes from XP to Vista make it look more intimidating than it really is.
Windows 7 looks like Vista, but instead of having the ))) next computer. It looks like a small computer and only has one computer. Windows Vista and Windows XP have two small computers one for a wireless connection and one for a wired connection. Windows 7 only uses one icon to manage all connection types.
If you still have an issue connecting with your wireless router, then consult the wireless router manual, your ISP's technical support, or call your local computer support Indiana technician. We often offer to our clients that if they have a laptop and purchase the wireless router from us, we'll setup the laptop to connect to the wireless router while they wait in our shop.
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