How to connect to wifi

Wifi is a wireless broadband connection that allows you to connect to the internet without using any cables. It’s particularly popular for use with laptops because they can then be used in any room of the house. Wifi is also available in lots of public places, such as pubs, cafés, hotels and even some buses!

This guide will help you to understand how to connect your computer to wifi. It’s based on Windows 7, but the procedure is very similar in other versions of Windows and in Mac OS X. 

 

What you’ll need:

 

• a wireless router
• a computer with a built-in wireless adaptor or a separate adaptor.

Follow these step-by-step instructions to connect to wifi

 

Step 1: Set up your wireless router - an example of which is on the right - (see How to connect to the internet for instructions). Most internet providers now supply wireless routers as standard. When setting up one, it’s important to provide appropriate security so that your computer can’t be entered by anyone but you. Instructions for this should be supplied with the router, but if in doubt, consult an expert.

 

Step 2: Check that your computer has a built-in wireless adaptor (see left). Up-to-date laptops generally have one, but most desktop computers don’t.

 

To check whether there’s a built-in adaptor, follow these steps:

 

 

 

• Click the Start button.
• Right-click Computer.
• Click Properties.

• Click Device Manager.

• Click the arrow next to ‘Network Adaptors’ to see if there’s a wifi adaptor listed.

If there is a wifi adaptor, a wifi icon should also appear in the system tray in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. In Windows 7, 

it looks like the one on the right.

 

If you don’t have a wireless adaptor, you’ll need to buy one to plug into one of your computer’s USB ports. The adaptor should be supplied complete with instructions on how to use it to connect to a wireless network.

 

Step 3: To connect to a wireless network, click the wifi icon. You should now see a list of available networks – an example is on the left.

 

Step 4: To connect to a network, just click on its name. If it’s a secure network and it’s the first time you’ve used it, you’ll need a password. If it’s your home network, your internet provider will have given you a password – sometimes it’s printed on a sticker attached to the router.

 

If you’ll be using the same connection regularly, you can tick the box to connect automatically.

 

Step 5: The first time you connect to a network, you’ll be asked to choose whether it’s a home, work or public network.

 

Warning: Be very careful if you connect to unsecured wireless networks such as wifi ‘hotspots’ in public places. While on them, it’s important not to use websites that require you to enter personal or financial details as other users of the network could gain access to these details.

PPTP VPN Client Setup in Windows Vista

Let me show you simple PPTP VPN client setup in Windows Vista, so that you can connect to XP/Vista PPTP VPN server in your home network from remote location (airport, library, office, restaurant, etc). The data packets will be encrypted if you use VPN connection, so that it won’t be sniffed by hackers using sniffing program.

Ok... Let's start, I will assume you are connected to the network, and here is how you can make it works:

1) Go to Start and right click on Network and then click Properties.

2) Network and Sharing Center window will appear, then click Set up a connection or network option.

Note: You can also click this Set up a connection or network option by going to Start->Connect To.

3) Set up a connection or network wizard will appear, proceed to selectConnect to a workplace option and then click Next.

4) Click on Use my Internet connection (VPN).

Note: I will assume you are connected to the network, so just choosecreate a new connection if you are asked whether to create a new connection or use an existing connection.

5) Ok, here you need to type the IP address or host name of the VPN server computer in your home network and also name the connection. Most of the time it’s the public WAN IP of your home network’s DSL/cable Internet connection if the VPN server is located behind router. Check thiswhat is my WAN IP article if not too sure about WAN IP of your home network's Internet connection.

Note: Also tick that Don’t connect now; just set it up so I can connect later option.

6) Type your user name and password that is permitted to connect to that VPN server, after that click Create.

7) Ok..Now the VPN connection is ready to use, just click Connect nowto establish the VPN connection.

8) Next time whenever you need to establish this VPN connection, just go to Start->Connect To and you will find the connection there.

Configuring PPTP VPN Client in Windows XP

Let’s learn on how to configure PPTP VPN client in Windows XP in this article, then connect to home network’s PPTP VPN server securely. Please note if your PPTP server is behind the router with DSL/Cable Internet connection and you try to connect to it from Internet, then you need to connect to public IP of your DSL/cable Internet connection.

Here is step-by-step instruction on how to configure PPTP VPN client:

1) Go to Start and open Control Panel.

2) Control Panel window will open, then double click Network Connections icon.

3) Click Create a new connection on Network Connections window.

4) New Connection Wizard window will appear, click Next.

5) Select Connect to my network at my workplace option and clickNext.

6) Select Virtual Private Network connection option and click Next.

7) You can then name this VPN connection. Here I put home VPN server. Click Next again.

8) If you have dial up connection setting on your computer, this Public Network window will appear. If you computer already connected to public network or hotspot, click Do not dial the initial connection option. If you need to dial Internet connection and then initiate VPN connection, then you need to select the other option, Automatically dial this initial connection.

9) Ok, here you need to type the IP address or host name of the VPN server computer in your home network. Most of the time it’s the public WAN IP of your home network’s DSL/cable Internet connection if the VPN server is located behind router. Check this what is my WAN IP article if not too sure about WAN IP of your home network's Internet connection.

10) Click Finish to complete the new connection wizard. Tick that Add a shortcut to this connection to my desktop option.

11) Now you can go to your desktop and double-click the new VPN connection icon, after that key in your username and password and click Connect button.

Note: If you did not create the shortcut in your desktop, you can locate this new VPN connection icon in Network Connections window.

Note: click the Properties button if you need to change the configuration.

12) Once you are connected to VPN server, the connected icon will be shown in Network Connections window.