How To Network Windows 7 Computers

Many households nowadays accept more than than one computer. In fact, information technology'due south non at all unusual for each member of a household to have his or her own. Creating a network to connect those computers makes it possible to easily share files, folders, internet connections, and fifty-fifty printers.

o In the by, setting upwardly 1 of these networks, and actually sharing anything, could exist a frustrating procedure, merely with Windows seven, Microsoft has made the process incredibly like shooting fish in a barrel.

Understanding Networks

So what is a network? A network is just a bunch of computers connected to each other then that they can communicate with each other and share things similar pictures or printers or internet connections.

Types of Networks

In that location are really simply 2 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 type of network would be only ii computers connected together with a single cable. More complex networks require a router and a modem.

A router is the central device that all computers on a network connect to. It's like a bus terminal-all the busses must come to the same location to option up passengers, before trundling off to different parts of the city. This is a much more efficient arrangement than just connecting 1 reckoner to another in a big circle.

If yous are going to connect to the internet, you lot volition besides need a modem. A modem is the box that communicates with the internet. 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.

Setting Up a Pocket-sized Network

To set a small network, you are going to need a router and a modem and a way to connect them. Each computer will as well demand an adapter. The adapter is a device that allows the figurer to communicate with the router. About all computers sold today accept an Ethernet (wired) adapter built correct into them. Ethernet cables look like oversized one-time-fashioned telephone jacks. Most laptops congenital today have wireless adapters built into them.

Don't worry though, because y'all don't have to selection i type of network over the other, wireless or wired. Virtually networks use a mixture of the ii. In fact, well-nigh wireless routers also have places you tin can plug Ethernet cables into and it's not at all unusual to take the main estimator in a household connected directly to the router with wires, and all the rest of the computers connected via Wi-Fi.

And so an ordinary network may look like this: The modem is plugged into the phone line or cablevision to allow access to the internet. It is then connected directly to a router with an Ethernet cable. The router is and so plugged straight into one estimator, and simultaneously transmitting a radio signal 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 accept 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 piece of cake.

Setting Upwards a Homegroup

So the adjacent stride is to select which computers you want to communicate with. You do this past creating what's called a Homegroup. You can think of this similar giving each member of your family a key to your house. This is important because I'grand sure y'all don't want any stranger to exist able to gain admission to your personal files.

So allow'due south launch the Control Panel and see how to practise this. Click Network and Internet and and then Homegroup. Windows will automatically check to see if another Homegroup is already available on this network. If information technology is, you can choose to join it, or create your ain.

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

A new window volition open asking you which items you'd like to share with other members on this Homegroup. If y'all'd like to share a printer (which we'll talk about in more than particular soon), make sure that box is checked, and then click "Side by side."

In the final step of this process, you'll be given a password. You will demand this to connect other computers to your network so write it downward.

Now, on all of the other computers, you volition accept to go to Networks and Net and select Homegroup. Windows volition tell you that a Homegroup is already available and asks if you'd similar to join. Get alee and join it on those other computers, and enter the Homegroup password when asked. You lot will likewise be given the opportunity to select which files and printers you'd similar 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 procedure of creating a network. However, most of the best features are merely available to other Windows 7 machines. To connect with computers that are running Windows XP or Vista, y'all will have to do a little chip more work.

After you have created a Homegroup on Windows 7, go into the computers running Windows XP and Vista and prepare upwardly a new network.

Now become back to your Windows 7 PC to connect to the network yous but created and launch the Control Console. Then click "Network and Net" and launch the Network and Sharing center. On this screen click "Change advanced sharing settings" then brand sure these items are turned on:

o Network Discovery

o File and Printer Sharing

Countersign Protected Sharing must be turned off. If it is not, the computers running XP and Vista will be asked to enter a proper noun and countersign before they can connect.

Now click Save Changes.

Sharing a Printer

Nowadays, many homes and offices have several computers, only usually but one printer. Windows 7 makes it incredibly piece of cake for every figurer on the network to share that one printer.

To do this, merely plug a printer into any calculator on your homegroup. Windows 7 automatically tells all of the other computers in that homegroup that a printer is available. To find it, just click the offset card and select "Devices and Printers". Y'all may take to install the commuter on each computer manually before you tin use it.

Troubleshooting Network Problems

One time the network has been set up correctly, information technology should work fine without any further activity, but if it doesn't, there are a few things yous can attempt before pulling your hair out.

The starting time, of grade, is to inquire Windows itself to try and diagnose the problem. To practice this, right-click on the network icon in the taskbar and select "Troubleshoot Issues". A wizard will launch to guide you through the process.

If that doesn't piece of work, go back and make sure that every computer has the aforementioned workgroup name.

Finally, effort turning off every computer, the router, and the internet modem. Double check to make sure that all of wired connections are secure, so first turning on the devices one at a time, starting with the modem, then the router, then the computers, waiting at least a infinitesimal between each.

Common Complaints with Windows seven -- and Their Fixes

If there is one true maxim when it comes to personal computers, it's got to be "You can't please 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 use. In many instances, they succeeded. In fact, the most common complaints and frustrations with Windows vii stalk from non being familiar with the new manner of doing things. We were used to the old way of doing things, durnit.

In this commodity, we'll get over the about mutual complaints, and explain why they exist and how to change them if you want to.

Annoying Permission Screens

If you used Windows Vista, you're probably well aware of those annoying permission screens. They're the ones that popular up every time you endeavour to install some kind of software or make a major change to Windows, and ask you if youreally want to do that. To tell the truth, there isn't really a good solution to them. If y'all turn them off, you leave your computer open to all sorts of malicious software, such as spyware and worms and viruses.

If you don't want to turn them off birthday, you can still set them to a dissimilar level then they don't pop upwardly as frequently.

To do then, click System and Security in the Control Panel and then select "Modify User Business relationship Control Settings." You'll see a screen that looks like this:

If you drag the footling rectangle in the eye upward, you'll have the virtually secure organisation, but you'll encounter a permission screen any time a change is made to Windows, whether yous initiated it or not. If you drag the rectangle down, y'all won't run into the permission screens, but you lot likewise won't exist notified when any change is made to windows. That means a virus can install itself on your calculator and you'd never realize it.

Copying Music to iPods and Other Devices

Copying music to nigh MP3 players is incredibly easy. Windows recognizes them as just another deejay drive. You tin hands navigate to the device and drag your music into it. iPods, on the other hand, are not quite as simple. You can simply move music and movies to your iPod through iTunes, which is Apple tree's proprietary software. Just don't worry, it is Windows uniform and is available for free from the iTunes website. iTunes also organizes and plays your music and movies in much the same fashion that Windows Media Role player does.

Missing Menus

If you used any previous version of Windows, y'all may have already noticed the missing menus. By the aforementioned token, you lot may accept already forgotten all about them. What we're talking about are the carte bars that use to sit at the top of some open windows and looked like this:

It's like an quondam edifice that gets torn down in your neighborhood-after half dozen or 8 months, yous most forget it was ever in that location in the first identify.

If you have been missing these menus, though, yous tin can view them easily (and temporarily) by pushing the Alt key.

If you'd like to turn these menus dorsum on permanently, click the Organize button and so cullLayout > Carte du jour Bar.

Special Furnishings and Calculator Performance

In that location's no doubt that Windows seven has an attractive interface and some of the effects are pretty absurd. Those effects come with a price, however-they use upwards a flake of your computer's processor and memory. This hit to performance is negligible on loftier terminate machines, simply older or low-end computers may really feel it.

If y'all don't recollect Windows 7 is running equally fast as it could be, you might effort turning these effects off. To practice so, launch the Control Panel and click "System and Security" then "System." Now click "Advanced System Settings." You lot'll run across a new window that looks like this:

Select "Settings." A new Window will open upwardly.

From hither you can cull to disable private effects, or disable all of them by selecting "Adjust for best performance." Click Utilize.

Having to Log into Windows Constantly

When you walk abroad from your calculator for a period of fourth dimension and your screensaver "kicks in," you may find that when you lot return, you take to log back into Windows. It doesn't have to exist this way. You tin hands set it and so that when y'all wake your calculator upwards from the screensaver, your computer returns you to whatever program y'all had open. Asking you to sign back in is only a security feature -- ane that'south easily plenty undone.

To fix it and then you lot don't have to log into Windows constantly:

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

o Click Screen Saver in the bottom right corner (as shown in a higher place).

o Uncheck the On Resume, Display Logon Screen to deactivate this security feature.

o Click OK.

When the Taskbar Moves or Disappears

The taskbar, you lot may recall, is that strip that'south usually at the lesser of the screen. Unless the taskbar is locked, you may discover yourself accidently moving it all over the place. To lock the taskbar, correct-click on information technology and select "Lock the taskbar." You'll have to unlock the taskbar again before you can "pin" or "unpin" icons to it.

Another trouble is the disappearing taskbar. This happens if the "Auto-hide" office is active. In this example, unless you move your mouse to the lesser of the screen, the taskbar will not prove.

To fix this, move your mouse to the bottom of the screen so you tin can run across the job bar. Now correct-click on it and select "Properties."

Make certain the "Auto-hide the taskbar" box is not checked. Y'all can likewise use this menu to further personalize the taskbar. You lot tin 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 Runway of Open Windows

Keeping track of all your open windows doesn't accept to be aggravating! There's a secret key that Windows doesn't tell you about. Just hold down the ALT key and press the Tab key. A piffling bar will announced 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 will pop upwards.

Lining Upwards Windows on the Screen

Information technology is possible to line several windows up perfectly on the screen. To do so, brand sure both of the windows you want to line upward 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 "Prove windows side by side." If you have two windows open, this will testify them side by side, perfectly proportioned. If you take three, as in the example below, they volition announced in three equal columns.

You tin can likewise arrange windows the long way, on on acme of each other, by choosing "Bear witness windows stacked" as in the post-obit case.

If the Print Screen Primal Doesn't Work

This is actually more of a problem with labeling than a problem with Windows. The Print Screen primal (or Prt Scrn on some keyboards) doesn't actually send a motion-picture show of the screen to the printer. It should be labeled "Copy Screen" because that's more authentic. When y'all button the Print Screen button, Windows simply saves an image of that screen to the Clipboard. You tin can then paste information technology into a document. If yous're expressionless set on printing a copy of the screen, you can open a plan like Microsoft Paint or MS Word and paste the image into it, and so print it from that programme.