Troubleshooting connection can be a challenge because there are so many possible causes. Try these steps first:
Open Network Diagnostics right-clicking the network icon in the notification area, then clicking Diagnose and repair. Ensure that all cables are connected (for example, make sure the modem is connected to a telephone or cable socket function either directly or through a router). If you try to connect to another computer, make sure it is on and that has enabled file and printer sharing network. For more information, see Configuring network home computers running different versions of Windows. If the computer has a wireless network adapter, Windows will automatically detect nearby wireless networks. To see a list of wireless networks detected by Windows, click Start button Picture of Start button, then click Connect to. If Windows does not detect a network that you think are in the area of your computer, open Help and Support and search for Troubleshoot problems finding wireless networks.
If the problem began after you installed new software, check if you have changed the connection settings.
1. Open Network Connections clicking the Start button, click Control Panel, the Network and Internet, Network and Sharing Centre, then click Manage network connections.
2. Right-click the connection, and then click Properties. Administrator permission required if you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
Check your router. Network through new features of Windows Vista, some older network routers are not fully compatible Windows Vista and may pose a problem. Test to see if the router is fully compatible with Windows Vista by running the Internet Connectivity Evaluation tool. Or, for a list of routers compatible with Windows Vista, visit the Web site list of products with the Windows logo. If these steps do not solve the problem, look for a specific problem in the following list.
I can not connect to other computers on my home network or not they share files and printers.
This can happen in one of the following reasons:
Network Discovery feature is disabled.
To activate network discovery
1. Open Network and Sharing Centre by clicking the Start button, click Control Panel, the Network and Internet, then Network and Sharing Centre.
2. If network discovery is off, click the arrow button image arrow button to expand the section, click Enable network discovery, and then click Apply. Administrator permission required if you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
To share files: Click the arrow button Picture of the arrow button to expand the File sharing section, click Turn on file sharing, then click Apply. Administrator permission required if you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation. To share files using the Public folder: Click the arrow button Picture of the arrow button to expand the public folder sharing section, click either Turn on sharing so anyone with network access can open files or Turn on sharing, so anyone with network access can open, modify and create files, then click Apply. Administrator permission required if you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation. To share a printer: Click the arrow button Picture of the arrow button to expand the Printer sharing section, click Turn on printer sharing, then click Apply. Administrator permission required if you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
Perform these steps on your computer and any network computer running Windows Vista and want to connect.
When password protected sharing is enabled, people using other computers on the network can’t access shared folders or printers unless they have a user account on your computer there are two ways to enable file sharing or printer:
Create identical user accounts on all computers in the workgroup (recommended). For more information, see creating a user account.
Disable password protected sharing. To disable password protected sharing, follow these steps:
1. Open Network and Sharing Centre by clicking the Start button; click Control Panel, the Network and Internet, then Network and Sharing Centre.
2. Under Sharing and Discovery, click the arrow next arrow button Picture of password protected sharing.
3. Click disable password protected sharing, and then click Apply. Administrator permission required if you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
Cannot establish a connection to the home network.
Make sure your router and modem are on.
If you use a wired connection, make sure the Ethernet cable into the network adapter on your computer. Each end of an Ethernet cable looks like this:
If you use a wired connection, make sure the network cable was not damaged. Try using another cable so that you know is working correctly. Make sure you connect the cable to the appropriate port on the router. Cable is not connected to port “uplink”. In addition, some routers disable the port next to the uplink port and then try using another port. If you try to connect from a mobile PC to a wireless network, make sure wireless switch is turned on the computer. The switch is usually on one side of the computer. It may be problems with the network adapter. Please check your local area network (LAN). Open Network Connections clicking the Start button, click Control Panel, the Network and Internet, Network and Sharing Centre and then click Manage network connections. Network Icon Picture of network icon changes depending on the LAN connection status, and the adapter is not functioning properly, the icon provides information. Also, if a LAN cable is disconnected, it displays an icon in the notification area of the state.
