Physically Connecting to a Network or
Broadband Modem
Setting up a computer network provides connectivity between your computer and the Internet, another computer, or a network. For example, with a network set up in a home or small office you can print to a shared printer, access drives and files on another computer, browse other networks, or access the Internet. You can set up a local area network (LAN) using a network or broadband modem cable or set up a wireless LAN (WLAN).
The Microsoft® Windows® XP and Microsoft Windows Vista® operating systems provide wizards to help guide you through the process of networking computers.
Connecting a Network or Broadband Modem
Cable
Before you connect your computer to a network that is not wireless, the computer must have a network adapter installed and a network cable connected to it.
To connect a network cable:
Connect the network cable to the network adapter connector on the back
of your computer.
NOTE: Insert the cable connector until it clicks into place, and then gently pull the cable to ensure that it is securely attached.
Connect the other end of the network cable to a network connection
device or a network wall connector.
Do not use a network cable with a telephone wall connector.
Setting Up a Network in the Microsoft® Windows® XP Operating System
Click Start®All Programs® Accessories® Communications®Network
Setup Wizard® Next® Checklist for creating a network.
NOTE: Selecting the connection method labeled This computer connects directly to the Internet enables the integrated firewall provided with Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2).
Complete the checklist.
Return to the Network Setup Wizard and follow the instructions in the
wizard.
Setting Up a Network in the Microsoft Windows Vista® Operating System
Click the Windows Vista Start button ® and then click Connect To®
Set up a connection or network.
Select an option under Choose a connection option.
Click Next, and then follow the instructions in the wizard.
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
A WLAN is a series of interconnected computers that communicate with each other over the air waves rather than through a network cable connected to each computer. In a WLAN, a radio communications device called an access point or wireless router connects network computers and provides network access. The access point or wireless router and the wireless network card in the computer communicate by broadcasting data from their antennas over the air waves.
What You Need to Establish a WLAN Connection
Before you can set up a WLAN, you need:
High-speed (broadband) Internet access (such as cable or DSL)
A broadband modem that is connected and working
A wireless router or access point
A wireless network card for each computer that you want to connect to your WLAN
A network cable with the network (RJ-45) connector
Checking Your Wireless Network Card
Depending on what you selected when you purchased your computer, the computer has a variety of configurations. To confirm that your computer has a wireless network card and to determine the type of card, use one of the following:
The Start button and the Connect To option
Your order confirmation
Start Button and Connect To Option
In Microsoft Windows XP, click Start® Connect To®Show all connections.
NOTE: If your computer is set to the Classic Start menu option, click Start® Settings®Network Connections to view your network connections.
In Microsoft Windows Vista, click the Windows Vista Start button ® Connect To®View network computers and devices.
If Wireless Network Connection does not appear under LAN or High-Speed Internet, you may not have a wireless network card.
If Wireless Network Connection appears, you have a wireless network card. To view detailed information about the wireless network card:
Right-click Wireless Network Connection.
Click Properties.
The Wireless Network Connection Properties window appears. The wireless network card's name and model number are listed on the General tab.
NOTE: If Wireless Network Connection does not appear, you may not have a wireless network card.
The Order Confirmation for Your Computer
The order confirmation that you received when you ordered your computer lists the hardware and software that shipped with your computer.
Setting Up a New WLAN Using a Wireless Router and a Broadband Modem
Contact your Internet service provider (ISP) to obtain specific information
about the connection requirements for your broadband modem.
Ensure that you have wired Internet access through your broadband
modem before you attempt to set up a wireless Internet connection (see
Connecting a Network or Broadband Modem Cable).
Install any software required for your wireless router. Your wireless router
may have been shipped with an installation CD. Installation CDs usually
contain installation and troubleshooting information. Install the required
software according to the instructions provided by the router
manufacturer.
Shut down your computer and any other wireless-enabled computers in
the vicinity through the Windows XP Start menu or the Windows Vista
Start button menu.
Disconnect your broadband modem power cable from the electrical outlet.
Disconnect the network cable from the computer and the modem.
Disconnect the AC adapter cable from your wireless router to ensure that
there is no power connected to the router.
NOTE: Wait for a minimum of 5 minutes after disconnecting your broadband modem before you continue with the network setup.
Insert a network cable into the network (RJ-45) connector on the
unpowered broadband modem.
Connect the other end of the network cable into the Internet network
(RJ-45) connector on the unpowered wireless router.
Ensure that no network or USB cables, other than the network cable
connecting the modem and the wireless router, are connected to the
broadband modem.
NOTE: Restart your wireless equipment in the order described below to prevent a potential connection failure.
Turn on only your broadband modem and wait for at least 2 minutes for
the broadband modem to stabilize. After 2 minutes, proceed to step 12.
Turn on your wireless router and wait for at least 2 minutes for the wireless
router to stabilize. After 2 minutes, proceed to the step 13.
Start your computer and wait until the boot process completes.
See the documentation that came with your wireless router to do the
following in order to set up the wireless router:
Establish communication between your computer and your wireless router.
Configure your wireless router to communicate with your broadband router.
Find out your wireless router's broadcast name. The technical term for the name of your router's broadcast name is Service Set Identifier (SSID) or network name.
If necessary, configure your wireless network card to connect to the wireless
network (see Connecting to a WLAN).
NOTE: The following networking instructions do not apply to internal cards with Bluetooth® wireless technology or cellular products.
This section provides general procedures for connecting to a network using wireless technology. Specific network names and configuration details vary. See Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) for more information about how to prepare for connecting your computer to a WLAN.
Your wireless network card requires specific software and drivers for connecting to a network. The software is already installed.
NOTE: If the software is removed or corrupted, follow the instructions in the user documentation for your wireless network card. Verify the type of wireless network card installed in your computer and then search for that name on the Dell™ Support website at support.dell.com. For information on the type of wireless network card that is installed in your computer, see Checking Your Wireless Network Card.
Determining the Wireless Network Device Manager
Depending on the software installed on your computer, different wireless configuration utilities may manage your network devices:
Your wireless network card's client utility
The Windows XP or Windows Vista operating system
To determine which wireless configuration utility is managing your wireless network card in Windows XP:
Right-click the Wireless Network Connection icon, and then click View
Available Wireless Networks.
If the Choose a wireless network window states Windows cannot configure this connection, the wireless network card's client utility is managing the wireless network card.
If the Choose a wireless network window states Click an item in the list below to connect to a wireless network in range or to get more information, the Windows XP operating system is managing the wireless network card.
To determine which wireless configuration utility is managing your wireless network card in Windows Vista:
Click ® Connect To®Manage wireless networks.
Double-click a profile to open the wireless network properties screen.
For specific information about the wireless configuration utility installed on your computer, see your wireless network documentation in the Windows Help and Support Center (see Windows Help and Support Center).
Completing the Connection to the WLAN
When you turn on your computer and a network (for which your computer is not configured) is detected in the area, a pop-up appears near the network icon in the notification area (in the lower-right corner of the Windows desktop).
Follow the instructions provided in any utility prompts that appear on your screen.
Once you have configured your computer for the wireless network that you selected, another pop-up notifies you that your computer is connected to that network.
Thereafter, whenever you log on to your computer within the range of the wireless network that you selected, the same pop-up notifies you of the wireless network connection.
NOTE: If you select a secure network, you must enter a WEP or WPA key when prompted. Network security settings are unique to your network. Dell cannot provide this information.
NOTE: Your computer can take up to 1 minute to connect to the network.
Enabling/Disabling the Wireless Network Card
NOTE: If you are unable to connect to a wireless network, ensure that you have all the components for establishing a WLAN (see What You Need to Establish a WLAN Connection), and then verify that your wireless network card is enabled by pressing <Fn><F2>.
You can turn your computer's wireless networking function on and off by pressing the <Fn><F2> key combination.
Monitoring the Status of the Wireless Network Card Through Dell QuickSet
The wireless activity indicator provides you with an easy way to monitor the status of your computer's wireless devices. To turn the wireless activity indicator on or off, click the QuickSet icon in the taskbar and select Hotkey Popups. If Wireless Activity Indicator Off is not checked, the indicator is on. If Wireless Activity Indicator Off is checked, the indicator is off.
The wireless activity indicator displays whether your computer's integrated wireless devices are enabled or disabled. When you turn the wireless networking function on or off, the wireless activity indicator changes to display the status.
For more information about the Dell QuickSet wireless activity indicator, right-click the QuickSet icon in the taskbar and select Help.
Mobile Broadband/Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN)
A Mobile Broadband network, also known as a Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN), is a high-speed digital cellular network that provides Internet access over a much wider geographical area than a WLAN, which typically covers only from 100 to 1000 feet. Your computer can maintain Mobile Broadband network access as long as the computer is within a cellular-data coverage zone. Contact your service provider for coverage of a high-speed digital cellular network.
NOTE: Even if you are able to make a call from your cellular phone in a specific geographical location, that location may not necessarily be within a cellular-data coverage zone.
What You Need to Establish a Mobile Broadband Network Connection
NOTE: Depending on your computer, you can use either a Mobile Broadband ExpressCard or Mini-Card, but not both, to establish a Mobile Broadband network connection.
To set up a Mobile Broadband network connection, you need:
A Mobile Broadband ExpressCard or Mini-Card (depending on your computer's configuration)
NOTE: For instructions on using ExpressCards, seeUsing Cards
An activated Mobile Broadband ExpressCard or activated Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) for your service provider
The Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility (already installed on your computer if you purchased the card when you purchased your computer, or on the CD that accompanied your card if purchased separately from your computer)
If the utility is corrupted or deleted from your computer, see the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility user's guide for instructions. The user's guide is available through the Windows Help and Support Center (see Windows Help and Support Center) or on the CD that accompanied your card if you purchased it separately from your computer.
Checking Your Dell Mobile Broadband Card
Depending on what you selected when you purchased your computer, the computer has a variety of configurations. To determine your computer configuration, see one of the following:
Your order confirmation
Microsoft Windows Help and Support Center
To check your Mobile Broadband card in the Windows Help and Support Center:
Click Start®Help and Support®Use Tools to view your computer
information and diagnose problems. Under Tools, click My Computer
Information®Find information about the hardware installed on this
computer.
On the My Computer Information - Hardware screen, you can view the type of Mobile Broadband card installed in your computer as well as other hardware components.
The Mobile Broadband card is listed under Modems.
Microsoft® Windows® Firewall
Windows Firewall provides basic protection from unauthorized access to your computer while it is connected to the Internet. Windows Firewall is automatically enabled when you run the Network Setup Wizard.
When Windows Firewall is enabled for a network connection, the firewall icon appears with a red background in the Network Connections section of the Control Panel.
NOTE: Enabling Windows Firewall does not reduce the need for virus-checking software.
