Physically Connecting to a Network or Broadband Modem
Before you connect your computer to a network, 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.
NOTE: Do not use a network cable with a telephone wall connector.
Network Setup Wizard
The Microsoft® Windows® XP operating system provides a Network Setup Wizard to guide you through the process of sharing files, printers, or an Internet connection between computers in a home or small office.
Click the Start button, point to All Programs® Accessories® Communications, and then click
Network Setup Wizard.
On the welcome screen, click Next.
Click 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 on the screen.
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 Internet, or 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
The order confirmation for your computer
Start Button and Connect To Option
Click the Start button.
Point to Connect To, and then click Show all connections.
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 your computer is set to the Classic Start menu option, you can view network connections by clicking the
Start button, pointing to Settings, and then pointing to Network Connections. If Wireless Network Connection
does not appear, you may not have a wireless network card.
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
Connecting 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.
Install any software required for your wireless router. Your wireless router may have been shipped with
an installation CD. Such CDs usually contain installation and troubleshooting information. Install the
required software according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Shut down your computer and any other wireless-enabled computers in the vicinity through the Start
menu.
Disconnect your broadband modem power cable from the electrical outlet.
Disconnect the network cable from the computer and the modem.
NOTE: Wait for a minimum of 5 minutes after disconnecting your broadband modem before you continue with the
network setup.
Disconnect the AC adapter cable from your wireless router to ensure that there is no power connected
to the router.
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.
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 via 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 operating system
To determine which wireless configuration utility is managing your wireless network card:
Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
Double-click Network Connections.
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.
For specific information about the wireless configuration utility installed on your computer, see your wireless network documentation in the Windows Help and Support Center.
To access the Help and Support Center:
Click the Start button and click Help and Support.
Under Pick a Help topic, click Dell User and System Guides.s
Under Device Guides, select the documentation for your wireless network card.
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. If the wireless networking function is turned on, press <Fn><F2> to disable it. If the wireless networking function is turned off, press <Fn><F2> to enable it.
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. Right-click the Dell QuickSet icon in your taskbar to select or deselect Wireless Activity Indicator Off to turn the wireless activity indicator on or 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 wireless activity indicator, see the Dell QuickSet Help file. For information about QuickSet and how to access the Dell QuickSet Help file, see Dell™ QuickSet Features.
Mobile Broadband or Wireless Wide Area Network
Much like a WLAN, a Mobile Broadband network (also known as a WWAN) is a series of interconnected computers that communicate with each other through wireless technology. However, a Mobile Broadband network uses cellular technology and therefore provides Internet access in the same varied locations from which cellular telephone service is available. Your computer can maintain the Mobile Broadband network connection regardless of its physical location, as long as the computer remains in the service area of your cellular service provider.
What You Need to Establish a Mobile Broadband Network Connection
To set up a Mobile Broadband network connection, you need:
A Mobile Broadband ExpressCard
NOTE: For instructions on using ExpressCards, see ExpressCards. Also, see the Quick Start Guide that came with
your ExpressCard.
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 (or on the CD that accompanied your card if you purchased it separately from your computer). To access the Help and Support Center, see Windows Help and Support Center.
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 Help and Support Center:
Click the Start button and click Help and Support.
Under Pick a task, click Use Tools to view your computer information and diagnose problems.
Under Tools, click My Computer Information and then click 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.
NOTE: The Mobile Broadband card is listed under Modems.
Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network
NOTE: These instructions only apply to Mobile Broadband ExpressCards. They do not apply to internal cards with
wireless technology.
NOTE: Before you connect to the Internet, you must activate Mobile Broadband service through your cellular
service provider. For instructions and for additional information about using the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility,
see the "Dell Mobile Broadband Utility User's Guide" available through the Windows Help and Support Center. To
access the Help and Support Center, see Windows Help and Support Center. The user's guide is also available on
the Dell Support website at support.dell.com and on the CD included with your Mobile Broadband card if you
purchased the card separately from your computer.
Your Mobile Broadband ExpressCard requires the Mobile Broadband Card Utility to connect to your service provider network. This utility is already installed if your ordered your mobile broadband ExpressCard with your computer. For information about this utility, see the Dell Mobile Broadband Utility User's Guide available through the Windows Help and Support Center or the CD included with your card.
Use the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility to establish and manage a Mobile Broadband network connection to the Internet:
Click the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility icon, , in the Windows taskbar, to run the utility.
Click Connect.
NOTE: The Connect button changes to the Disconnect button.
Follow the instructions on the screen to manage the network connection with the utility.
OR
Click the Start button, point to All Programs®Dell Wireless.
Click Dell Wireless Broadband and follow the instructions on the screen.
Internet Connection Firewall
The Internet Connection Firewall provides basic protection from unauthorized access to the computer while the computer is connected to the Internet. The firewall is automatically enabled when you run the Network Setup Wizard. When the 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 that enabling the Internet Connection Firewall does not reduce the need for virus-checking software.
For more information, see the Help and Support Center for the Microsoft® Window® XP operating system. To access the Help and Support Center, see Windows Help and Support Center.
