MSFT Article : 4 steps to set up your home wireless network

Nice Article for Setting up Wireless Network @ Home

Original Article @ Microsoft site with diagram
Refer to https://www.microsoft.com/athome/moredone/wirelesssetup.mspx

You can use a wireless network to share Internet access, files, printers, and more. Or you can use it to surf the Web while you're sitting on your couch or in your yard. Plus, it's easier to install than you think.

There are 4 steps to creating a wireless network:

1.
Choose your wireless equipment

2.
Connect your wireless router

3.
Configure your wireless router

4.
Connect your computers


For Windows XP users, Windows XP Service Pack 2 is not required for wireless networking, but it does make things much easier. Service Pack 2 also helps protect you against hackers, worms, and other Internet intruders. To install Service Pack 2, visit the Protect Your PC site.

1.
Choose your wireless equipment

The first step is to make sure that you have the equipment you need. As you're looking for products in stores or on the Internet, you might notice that you can choose equipment that supports three different wireless networking technologies: 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g. We recommend 802.11g, because it offers excellent performance and is compatible with almost everything.

Shopping list

• Broadband Internet connection

• Wireless router

• A computer with built-in wireless networking support or a wireless network adapter


A wireless router

The router converts the signals coming across your Internet connection into a wireless broadcast, sort of like a cordless phone base station. Be sure to get a wireless router, and not a wireless access point.

A wireless network adapter

Network adapters wirelessly connect your computer to your wireless router. If you have a newer computer you may already have wireless capabilities built in. If this is the case, then you will not need a wireless network adapter. If you need to purchase an adapter for a desktop computer, buy a USB wireless network adapter. If you have a laptop, buy a PC card-based network adapter. Make sure that you have one adapter for every computer on your network.

Note: To make setup easy, choose a network adapter made by the same vendor that made your wireless router. For example, if you find a good price on a Linksys router, choose a Linksys network adapter to go with it. To make shopping even easier, buy a bundle, such as those available from D-Link, Netgear, Linksys, Microsoft, and Buffalo. If you have a desktop computer, make sure that you have an available USB port to plug the wireless network adapter into. If you don't have any open USB ports, buy a hub to add additional ports.

2.
Connect your wireless router

Since you'll be temporarily disconnected from the Internet, print these instructions before you go any further.

First, locate your cable modem or DSL modem and unplug it to turn it off.

Next, connect your wireless router to your modem. Your modem should stay connected directly to the Internet. Later, after you've hooked everything up, your computer will wirelessly connect to your router, and the router will send communications through your modem to the Internet.


Next, connect your router to your modem:

Note: The instructions below apply to a Linksys wireless router. The ports on your router may be labeled differently, and the images may look different on your router. Check the documentation that came with your equipment for additional assistance.

• If you currently have your computer connected directly to your modem: Unplug the network cable from the back of your computer, and plug it into the port labeled Internet, WAN, or WLAN on the back of your router.

• If you do not currently have a computer connected to the Internet: Plug one end of a network cable (included with your router) into your modem, and plug the other end of the network cable into the Internet, WAN, or WLAN port on your wireless router.

• If you currently have your computer connected to a router: Unplug the network cable connected to the Internet, WAN, or WLAN port from your current router, and plug this end of the cable into the Internet, WAN, or WLAN port on your wireless router. Then, unplug any other network cables, and plug them into the available ports on your wireless router. You no longer need your original router, because your new wireless router replaces it.


Next, plug in and turn on your cable or DSL modem. Wait a few minutes to give it time to connect to the Internet, and then plug in and turn on your wireless router. After a minute, the Internet, WAN, or WLAN light on your wireless router should light up, indicating that it has successfully connected to your modem.


3.
Configure your wireless router

Using the network cable that came with your wireless router, you should temporarily connect your computer to one of the open network ports on your wireless router (any port that isn't labeled Internet, WAN, or WLAN). If you need to, turn your computer on. It should automatically connect to your router.

Next, open Internet Explorer and type in the address to configure your router.

You might be prompted for a password. The address and password you use will vary depending on what type of router you have, so refer to the instructions included with your router.

As a quick reference, this table shows the default addresses, usernames, and passwords for some common router manufacturers.

Router Address Username Password
3Com
http://192.168.1.1
admin
admin

D-Link
http://192.168.0.1
admin


Linksys
http://192.168.1.1
admin
admin

Microsoft Broadband
http://192.168.2.1
admin
admin

Netgear
http://192.168.0.1
admin
password


Internet Explorer will show your router's configuration page. Most of the default settings should be fine, but you should configure three things:

1.
Your wireless network name, known as the SSID. This name identifies your network. You should choose something unique that none of your neighbors will be using.

2.
Wireless encryption (WEP) or Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), which help protect your wireless network. For most routers, you will provide a passphrase that your router uses to generate several keys. Make sure your passphrase is unique and long (you don't need to memorize it).

3.
Your administrative password, which controls your wireless network. Just like any other password, it should not be a word that you can find in the dictionary, and it should be a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. Be sure you can remember this password, because you'll need it if you ever have to change your router's settings.


The exact steps you follow to configure these settings will vary depending on the type of router you have. After each configuration setting, be sure to click Save Settings, Apply, or OK to save your changes.

Now, you should disconnect the network cable from your computer.

4.
Connect your computers

If your computer does not have wireless network support built in, plug your network adapter into your USB port, and place the antenna on top of your computer (in the case of a desktop computer), or insert the network adapter into an empty PC card slot (in the case of a laptop). Windows XP will automatically detect the new adapter, and may prompt you to insert the CD that came with your adapter. The on-screen instructions will guide you through the configuration process.

Note: The steps below only apply if you're using Windows XP Service Pack 2. If you're running Windows XP and you don't have Service Pack 2 yet, plug your computer into your wireless router and download and install Service Pack 2 from the Protect Your PC site.

Windows XP should show an icon with a notification that says it has found a wireless network.


Follow these steps to connect your computer to your wireless network:

1.
Right-click the wireless network icon in the lower-right corner of your screen, and then click View Available Wireless Networks. If you run into any problems, consult the documentation that came with your network adapter. Don't be afraid to call their tech support.

2.
The Wireless Network Connection window should appear and you should see your wireless network listed with the network name you chose. If you don't see your network, click Refresh network list in the upper-left corner. Click your network, and then click Connect in the lower-right corner.

3.
Windows XP prompts you to enter a key. Type the encryption key that you wrote down earlier in both the Network key and Confirm network key boxes, and then click Connect.

4.
Windows XP will show its progress as it connects to your network. After you're connected, you can now close the Wireless Network Connection window. You're done.


Note: If the Wireless Network Connection window continues to show Acquiring Network Address, you may have mistyped the encryption key.

Vista RC1 Sept 2006 CPP released

Microsoft has just released an updated version of Windows Vista to technical beta testers. Build 5728 is available in either x86 or x64 flavors right now on Microsoft Connect.

http://download.windowsvista.com/preview/rc1/en/download-5728.htm
x86
vista_5728.16387.060917-1430_x86fre_client-LRMCFRE_EN_DVD.iso, 2,622.25 MB

http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/rc1/en/x86/iso/vista_5728.16387.060917-1430_x86fre_client-lrmcfre_en_dvd.iso

x64
vista_5728.16387.060917-1430_x64fre_client-LRMCxFRE_EN_DVD.iso, 3,628.64 MB

http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/rc1/en/x64/iso/vista_5728.16387.060917-1430_x64fre_client-LRMCxFRE_EN_DVD.iso


Note: Your Beta 2/RC1 product keys will still be valid for this version.

Windows Vista RC1 CPP Download

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/preview/start.mspx

http://download.windowsvista.com/preview/rc1/en/download.htm

http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/rc1/en/x86/iso/vista_5600.16384.060829-2230_x86fre_client-lr1cfre_en_dvd.iso

http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/rc1/en/x64/iso/vista_5600.16384.060829-2230_x64fre_client-lr1cxfre_en_dvd.iso

http://download.windowsvista.com/preview/rc1/de/download.htm

http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/rc1/de/x86/iso/vista_5600.16384.060829-2230_x86fre_client-lr1cfre_de_dvd.iso

http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/rc1/de/x64/iso/vista_5600.16384.060829-2230_x64fre_client-lr1cxfre_de_dvd.iso

http://download.windowsvista.com/preview/rc1/jp/download.htm

http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/rc1/jp/x86/iso/vista_5600.16384.060829-2230_x86fre_client-lr1cfre_ja_dvd.iso

http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/rc1/jp/x64/iso/vista_5600.16384.060829-2230_x64fre_client-lr1cxfre_ja_dvd.iso

You will need to sign up to get a trial Product Key

New Signup for Trial will start in coming weeeks

150th Comic @TheComicProject

Mega 150th Comic up on TheComicProject

Also new download link posted

http://thecomiclinks.blogspot.com/

Microsoft Windows XP Fundamentals for Legacy PCs

New OS released for old hardware from MS

Nice article on Bink.nu

Virtual Server for Free

MS Virtual Server 2005 R2
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/virtualserver/default.mspx

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/virtualserver/software/default.mspx

Microsoft Virtual PC 2004
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtualpc/default.mspx

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtualpc/downloads/sp1.mspx

VMware Server 1.0
http://www.vmware.com/products/server/

http://download3.vmware.com/software/vmserver/VMware-server-installer-1.0.0-28343.exe
http://download3.vmware.com/software/vmserver/VMware-server-linux-client-1.0.0-28343.zip
http://download3.vmware.com/software/vmserver/VMware-server-win32-client-1.0.0-28343.zip
http://download3.vmware.com/software/vmserver/VMware-server-1.0.0-28343.i386.rpm

Tech Doc
http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/

Windows Vista Beta2 CPP Download

http://download.windowsvista.com/preview/beta2/en/x86/download.htm

http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/beta2/en/x86/iso/vista_5384.4.060518-1455_winmain_beta2_x86fre_client-LB2CFRE_EN_DVD.iso
http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/beta2/en/x64/iso/vista_5384.4.060518-1455_winmain_beta2_x64fre_client-LB2CxFRE_EN_DVD.iso

http://download.windowsvista.com/preview/beta2/de/x86/download.htm

http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/beta2/de/x86/iso/vista_5384.4.060518-1455_winmain_beta2_x86fre_client-LB2CFRE_DE_DVD.iso
http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/beta2/de/x64/iso/vista_5384.4.060518-1455_winmain_beta2_x64fre_client-LB2CxFRE_DE_DVD.iso

http://download.windowsvista.com/preview/beta2/jp/x86/download.htm

http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/beta2/jp/x86/iso/vista_5384.4.060518-1455_winmain_beta2_x86fre_client-LB2CFRE_JA_DVD.iso
http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/beta2/jp/x64/iso/vista_5384.4.060518-1455_winmain_beta2_x64fre_client-LB2CxFRE_JA_DVD.iso

You will need to sign up to get a trial Product Key

2007 Office Beta 2 Download

Microsoft Office 12 renamed to Microsoft Office 2007 System and now named as 2007 Microsoft Office System Beta 2 has been released to testers.

Everyone can download trial version from Ms site

http://www.microsoft.com/office/preview/programs/default.mspx

Gmail Hosted Invite

Just received invitation for previous beta testing forms submitted.

nikhilbendre.info

bendre.org

nikhilbendre.com

August23.info Update

Just got accepted for Gmail Email hosting
Now Email hosting for August23.info now hosted on "Gmail for Domain"

Access to Control Panel for managing settings and users @

http://www.google.com/hosted/august23.info

and can access Emails from Gmail Site

MS OfficeLive Beta Testing

Just recd a MS OfficeLive ProductKey.

Registered a new Domain bendre.org for Beta testing.

Getting the site setup in coming days...

Nikhil

Nikhil is a word in Hindi and Sanskrit that means "All", "Entire", "Complete", or "Whole" as in the Universe. Sanskrit fragmentation of the word yields: Ni (without) + Kh (sky or boundary) + L (agreed or liked) . It is also a popular male name amongst Hindus. Akhil is a similar-sounding synonym of Nikhil in Hindi and Sanskrit.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikhil

Windows Starter 2007

Windows Starter 2007 Beta edition now listed on Ms Connect site for testing.

You can sign-up for this on http://connect.microsoft.com
Click Available Programs and click apply to Windows Starter 2007 Beta

Still no Downloads or ProductKeys listed.

Upgrade Windows 2003 to Windows 2003 R2

This article discusses how to upgrade Microsoft Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1 (SP1) to Windows Server 2003 R2. This article does not discuss how to upgrade earlier versions of the Windows operating system to Windows Server 2003 R2. This article assumes that Windows Server 2003 SP1 is already installed.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;912309

100th Comic

TheComicProject just posted 100th comic...

This site just brings back old memories :-)

Keep the good work going fellows .. awaiting the next century