Network Your Computers & Devices Step by Step

Book description

Teach yourself how to use the networking features in Windows 7 to connect your home computers, even if they use different operating systems. With Step by Step, you set the pace -- building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them!

  • Network your Windows 7-based PCs and set up security

  • Add a Mac or Linux-based computer

  • Share printers, devices, and files with everyone in your home

  • Stream media over your network or to a remote PC

  • Tweak your network and sharing settings

  • Troubleshoot problems and perform easy maintenance

  • Your Step by Step digital content includes:

  • Fully searchable online edition of this book -- with unlimited access on the Web

  • Table of contents

    1. Dedication
    2. Acknowledgments
    3. Introducing Home Networking
      1. Operating Systems Covered in the Book
      2. Assumptions
      3. Minimum System Requirements
        1. Windows 7
        2. Completing the Exercises
      4. How to Access Your Online Edition Hosted by Safari
      5. How to Download the Online Edition to Your Computer
    4. Features and Conventions of This Book
    5. Getting Help
      1. Getting Help with This Book
      2. Getting Help with Windows 7 and Homegroup
      3. More Information
    6. 1. Setting Up a Router and Devices
      1. Installing Hardware and Drivers
      2. Interacting with External Devices Through Device Stage
      3. Preparing to Install and Configure a Router
      4. Installing and Configuring a Belkin N+ Wireless Router
      5. Installing and Configuring a D-Link DIR-615 Router
      6. Key Points
    7. 2. Setting User Accounts on All Computers
      1. What Is a User Account and How Many Do You Need?
      2. Accessing the User Accounts Control Panel
      3. Creating a New User Account
      4. Switching Between User Accounts
      5. Turning the Guest Account On or Off
      6. Creating a Password for a User Account
      7. Changing the Password for a User Account
      8. Removing the Password for a User Account
      9. Changing a User Account Picture
      10. Changing a User Account Name
      11. Changing a User Account Type
      12. Deleting a User Account
      13. Logging on to Windows 7 Automatically
      14. Key Points
    8. 3. Setting Up Your Libraries on All Windows 7 Computers
      1. Accessing the Libraries Defined on Your Computer
      2. Creating a New Library
      3. Adding Folders to a Library
      4. Removing Folders from a Library
      5. Editing the Properties of a Library
      6. Quick Sorting the Content of a Library
      7. Deleting a Library
      8. Key Points
    9. 4. Creating the Network
      1. Opening the Networking and Sharing Center
      2. Configuring Network Adapters
      3. Enabling or Disabling a Network Adapter
      4. Connecting to a Wireless Network
      5. Connecting to a Hidden Wireless Network
      6. Setting Up an Ad Hoc Wireless Network Between Computers
        1. Creating an Ad Hoc Wireless Network
        2. Connecting Other Computers to an Ad Hoc Wireless Network
        3. Sharing Files on an Ad Hoc Wireless Network
      7. Exporting and Importing Wireless Network Settings
        1. Exporting the Wireless Network Settings
        2. Importing the Wireless Network Settings
      8. Setting the Network Location
        1. Changing the Network Location
      9. Setting the Workgroup
      10. Key Points
    10. 5. Customizing Network Sharing Settings in Windows 7
      1. Finding the Network Sharing Settings
      2. Configuring the Network Sharing Settings
      3. Key Points
    11. 6. Creating the Homegroup and Joining Windows 7 Computers
      1. Creating the Homegroup
      2. Finding Your Homegroup Password
      3. Changing the Password of a Homegroup
      4. Joining a Homegroup
      5. Accessing Homegroup Computers
      6. Leaving a Homegroup
      7. Key Points
    12. 7. Sharing Libraries and Folders
      1. Enabling or Disabling the Sharing Wizard
      2. Using the Sharing Wizard to Share with the Homegroup
      3. Using the Sharing Wizard to Share with Specific People
      4. Using the Sharing Wizard to Stop Sharing
      5. Using Advanced Sharing to Share Your Folders or Partitions
      6. Using Advanced Sharing to Stop Sharing Your Folders or Partitions
      7. Mapping a Shared Network Folder as a Network Drive
      8. Mapping an FTP Server as a Network Drive
      9. Deleting a Mapped Network Drive
      10. Key Points
    13. 8. Sharing and Working with Devices
      1. Sharing a Printer with Computers on Your Home Network
      2. Sharing a Printer with Your Homegroup
      3. Stop Sharing the Printer
      4. Sharing a Removable Disk Drive
      5. Transferring Files Between Mobile Phones and Your Windows 7 Computer via Bluetooth
      6. Enabling Bluetooth on Your Computer and Allowing Connections
      7. Turning On Bluetooth on Your Mobile Phone
      8. Pairing Your Computer with Your Mobile Phone, Starting from Your Phone
      9. Pairing Your Computer with Your Mobile Phone, Starting from Your Computer
      10. Exchanging Files Between Your Computer and Your Mobile Phone
      11. Exchanging Files Between Your Mobile Phone and Your Computer
      12. Removing the Pairing Between Your Mobile Phone and Your Computer
      13. Key Points
    14. 9. Streaming Media Over the Network and the Internet
      1. Setting Up Windows Media Player 12
      2. Adding Files to Your Windows Media Player 12 Library
      3. Searching in Windows Media Player 12
      4. Creating Quick Playlists in Windows Media Player 12
      5. Creating Advanced Playlists in Windows Media Player 12
      6. Streaming Your Windows Media Player 12 Library Over the Network
      7. Setting Up Media Streaming with the Homegroup
        1. Displaying Remote Media Libraries in the Navigation Pane
        2. Allowing Remote Control and Enabling the “Play To” Functionality
        3. Playing Media Remotely to Another Computer
      8. Streaming Your Windows Media Player 12 Library Over the Internet
        1. Creating and Linking an Online ID for Remote Media Streaming
        2. Allowing Internet Access to Home Media
        3. Playing Media Remotely over the Internet
      9. Key Points
    15. 10. Sharing Between Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 Computers
      1. Setting the Workgroup on Your Windows XP Computer
      2. Enabling Computer Browser and Print Spooler Services in Windows XP
      3. Enabling Sharing in Windows XP
      4. Accessing Shared Network Folders from Windows XP
      5. Accessing Windows XP Shared Folders from Windows 7 Computers
      6. Installing Drivers for a Shared Network Printer in Windows XP
      7. Installing a Shared Network Printer in Windows XP
      8. Setting the Workgroup on Your Windows Vista Computer
      9. Configuring Network and Sharing Settings in Windows Vista
      10. Sharing Folders in Windows Vista
      11. Installing Drivers for a Shared Network Printer in Windows Vista
      12. Installing a Shared Network Printer in Windows Vista
      13. Key Points
    16. 11. Sharing Between Mac OS X and Windows 7 Computers
      1. Setting the Workgroup on Your OS X Computer
      2. Setting Up Mac OS X to Share with Windows 7
      3. Accessing OS X Shared Folders from Windows 7 Computers
      4. Setting Up Windows 7 to Share with OS X
      5. Accessing Windows 7 Shared Folders from OS X Computers
      6. Automatically Mount Your Windows 7 Shared Folders on OS X
      7. Accessing a Windows 7 Shared Printer from OS X
      8. Installing a Windows 7 Shared Printer in OS X
      9. Key Points
    17. 12. Sharing Between Ubuntu Linux and Windows 7 Computers
      1. Installing the Sharing Service in Ubuntu Linux
      2. Setting the Workgroup on Your Ubuntu Linux Computer
      3. Sharing Folders in Ubuntu Linux
      4. Accessing Ubuntu Shared Folders from Windows 7 Computers
      5. Accessing Windows 7 Shared Folders from Ubuntu Computers
      6. Accessing a Windows 7 Shared Printer from Ubuntu Computers
      7. Mounting Windows 7 Shared Partitions and Folders in Ubuntu
      8. Key Points
    18. 13. Keeping the Network Secure
      1. Understanding User Account Control
      2. What Is UAC?
      3. How UAC Works
      4. Changes Requiring Administrative Privileges
      5. The Differences Between UAC Levels
      6. Configuring UAC
      7. Keeping Your System Up to Date
      8. Opening Windows Update
      9. Configuring Windows Update Settings
      10. Checking for and Installing Updates Manually
      11. Restoring Hidden Updates
      12. Reviewing Your Windows Update History
      13. Removing Installed Updates
      14. What Is Windows Defender?
      15. Opening Windows Defender
      16. Using Windows Defender
      17. Turning Off Windows Defender
      18. What Is the Windows Firewall?
      19. Understanding How the Windows Firewall Works
      20. Opening the Windows Firewall
      21. Turning the Windows Firewall On or Off
      22. Customizing the List of Allowed Programs
      23. Adding New Programs to the Allowed List
      24. Removing Programs or Disabling Rules from the Allowed List
      25. Creating a New Rule
      26. Enabling, Disabling, or Deleting an Existing Rule
      27. Restoring the Windows Firewall Default Settings
      28. Protecting Your Computer from Viruses and Other Security Threats
      29. Using the Action Center
      30. Opening the Action Center and Reviewing Its Messages
      31. Configuring the List of Messages Displayed by the Action Center
      32. Key Points
    19. 14. Setting Up Parental Controls
      1. Turning On Parental Controls
      2. Setting Time Limits and Application Restrictions
      3. Setting Restrictions for Games
      4. Key Points
    20. 15. Troubleshooting Network and Internet Problems
      1. Fixing Problems Using the Network and Internet Troubleshooting Wizards
      2. Changing the Date and Time Settings on Your Computer to Resolve a Password Error
      3. Configuring Port Forwarding Settings on Your Router
      4. Finding Troubleshooting Help on the Web
      5. Key Points
    21. Glossary
    22. A. About the Authors
      1. Ciprian Rusen
      2. 7 Tutorials Team
    23. Index
    24. About the Authors
    25. Copyright

    Product information

    • Title: Network Your Computers & Devices Step by Step
    • Author(s): Ciprian Adrian Rusen and 7 Tutorials
    • Release date: December 2010
    • Publisher(s): Microsoft Press
    • ISBN: 9780735657526