Synopses & Reviews
Teach yourself how to use the built-in networking features of Windows to connect all of the computers in your home, even if they use different operating systems. With this practical, learn-by-doing tutorial, you'll get exactly what you need from your networked home -- from configuring your network hardware to file sharing and media streaming.
Discover how to: Configure your network adapters -- wired and wireless Connect computers running Windows, Mac OS, and Ubuntu Linux Tweak network settings to get all of your machines to talk to each other Make it easy for everyone in your home to share content and devices Share information and digital media at home and over the Internet Help keep Windows computers on your network secure with security features such as User Account Control and Windows Firewall Troubleshoot common issues and perform easy network maintenance
Your step by step digital content includes: Fully searchable online edition of this book -- with unlimited access on the Web
Synopsis
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
About the Author
Ciprian Rusen is a technology aficionado, working as an IT Project Manager for a major consumer goods corporation. During work hours, he manages complex rollouts of enterprise IT solutions, and, in his spare time, loves to experiment with the latest technologies, learn how to best use them, and share his knowledge with others. He coordinates the 7 Tutorials team: Florina Muntenescu, Chuck Houghton, Maximilian Robu, Jack Busch and George Grigorita. Together, they write tutorials for Windows 7 users, helping them to get the best possible computing experience.
Table of Contents
Dedication; Acknowledgments; Introducing Home Networking; Operating Systems Covered in the Book; Assumptions; Minimum System Requirements; How to Access Your Online Edition Hosted by Safari; How to Download the Online Edition to Your Computer; Features and Conventions of This Book; Getting Help; Getting Help with This Book; Getting Help with Windows 7 and Homegroup; More Information; Chapter 1: Setting Up a Router and Devices; 1.1 Installing Hardware and Drivers; 1.2 Interacting with External Devices Through Device Stage; 1.3 Preparing to Install and Configure a Router; 1.4 Installing and Configuring a Belkin N+ Wireless Router; 1.5 Installing and Configuring a D-Link DIR-615 Router; 1.6 Key Points; Chapter 2: Setting User Accounts on All Computers; 2.1 What Is a User Account and How Many Do You Need?; 2.2 Accessing the User Accounts Control Panel; 2.3 Creating a New User Account; 2.4 Switching Between User Accounts; 2.5 Turning the Guest Account On or Off; 2.6 Creating a Password for a User Account; 2.7 Changing the Password for a User Account; 2.8 Removing the Password for a User Account; 2.9 Changing a User Account Picture; 2.10 Changing a User Account Name; 2.11 Changing a User Account Type; 2.12 Deleting a User Account; 2.13 Logging on to Windows 7 Automatically; 2.14 Key Points; Chapter 3: Setting Up Your Libraries on All Windows 7 Computers; 3.1 Accessing the Libraries Defined on Your Computer; 3.2 Creating a New Library; 3.3 Adding Folders to a Library; 3.4 Removing Folders from a Library; 3.5 Editing the Properties of a Library; 3.6 Quick Sorting the Content of a Library; 3.7 Deleting a Library; 3.8 Key Points; Chapter 4: Creating the Network; 4.1 Opening the Networking and Sharing Center; 4.2 Configuring Network Adapters; 4.3 Enabling or Disabling a Network Adapter; 4.4 Connecting to a Wireless Network; 4.5 Connecting to a Hidden Wireless Network; 4.6 Setting Up an Ad Hoc Wireless Network Between Computers; 4.7 Exporting and Importing Wireless Network Settings; 4.8 Setting the Network Location; 4.9 Setting the Workgroup; 4.10 Key Points; Chapter 5: Customizing Network Sharing Settings in Windows 7; 5.1 Finding the Network Sharing Settings; 5.2 Configuring the Network Sharing Settings; 5.3 Key Points; Chapter 6: Creating the Homegroup and Joining Windows 7 Computers; 6.1 Creating the Homegroup; 6.2 Finding Your Homegroup Password; 6.3 Changing the Password of a Homegroup; 6.4 Joining a Homegroup; 6.5 Accessing Homegroup Computers; 6.6 Leaving a Homegroup; 6.7 Key Points; Chapter 7: Sharing Libraries and Folders; 7.1 Enabling or Disabling the Sharing Wizard; 7.2 Using the Sharing Wizard to Share with the Homegroup; 7.3 Using the Sharing Wizard to Share with Specific People; 7.4 Using the Sharing Wizard to Stop Sharing; 7.5 Using Advanced Sharing to Share Your Folders or Partitions; 7.6 Using Advanced Sharing to Stop Sharing Your Folders or Partitions; 7.7 Mapping a Shared Network Folder as a Network Drive; 7.8 Mapping an FTP Server as a Network Drive; 7.9 Deleting a Mapped Network Drive; 7.10 Key Points; Chapter 8: Sharing and Working with Devices; 8.1 Sharing a Printer with Computers on Your Home Network; 8.2 Sharing a Printer with Your Homegroup; 8.3 Stop Sharing the Printer; 8.4 Sharing a Removable Disk Drive; 8.5 Transferring Files Between Mobile Phones and Your Windows 7 Computer via Bluetooth; 8.6 Enabling Bluetooth on Your Computer and Allowing Connections; 8.7 Turning On Bluetooth on Your Mobile Phone; 8.8 Pairing Your Computer with Your Mobile Phone, Starting from Your Phone; 8.9 Pairing Your Computer with Your Mobile Phone, Starting from Your Computer; 8.10 Exchanging Files Between Your Computer and Your Mobile Phone; 8.11 Exchanging Files Between Your Mobile Phone and Your Computer; 8.12 Removing the Pairing Between Your Mobile Phone and Your Computer; 8.13 Key Points; Chapter 9: Streaming Media Over the Network and the Internet; 9.1 Setting Up Windows Media Player 12; 9.2 Adding Files to Your Windows Media Player 12 Library; 9.3 Searching in Windows Media Player 12; 9.4 Creating Quick Playlists in Windows Media Player 12; 9.5 Creating Advanced Playlists in Windows Media Player 12; 9.6 Streaming Your Windows Media Player 12 Library Over the Network; 9.7 Setting Up Media Streaming with the Homegroup; 9.8 Streaming Your Windows Media Player 12 Library Over the Internet; 9.9 Key Points; Chapter 10: Sharing Between Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 Computers; 10.1 Setting the Workgroup on Your Windows XP Computer; 10.2 Enabling Computer Browser and Print Spooler Services in Windows XP; 10.3 Enabling Sharing in Windows XP; 10.4 Accessing Shared Network Folders from Windows XP; 10.5 Accessing Windows XP Shared Folders from Windows 7 Computers; 10.6 Installing Drivers for a Shared Network Printer in Winddddddows XP; 10.7 Installing a Shared Network Printer in Windows XP; 10.8 Setting the Workgroup on Your Windows Vista Computer; 10.9 Configuring Network and Sharing Settings in Windows Vista; 10.10 Sharing Folders in Windows Vista; 10.11 Installing Drivers for a Shared Network Printer in Windows Vista; 10.12 Installing a Shared Network Printer in Windows Vista; 10.13 Key Points; Chapter 11: Sharing Between Mac OS X and Windows 7 Computers; 11.1 Setting the Workgroup on Your OS X Computer; 11.2 Setting Up Mac OS X to Share with Windows 7; 11.3 Accessing OS X Shared Folders from Windows 7 Computers; 11.4 Setting Up Windows 7 to Share with OS X; 11.5 Accessing Windows 7 Shared Folders from OS X Computers; 11.6 Automatically Mount Your Windows 7 Shared Folders on OS X; 11.7 Accessing a Windows 7 Shared Printer from OS X; 11.8 Installing a Windows 7 Shared Printer in OS X; 11.9 Key Points; Chapter 12: Sharing Between Ubuntu Linux and Windows 7 Computers; 12.1 Installing the Sharing Service in Ubuntu Linux; 12.2 Setting the Workgroup on Your Ubuntu Linux Computer; 12.3 Sharing Folders in Ubuntu Linux; 12.4 Accessing Ubuntu Shared Folders from Windows 7 Computers; 12.5 Accessing Windows 7 Shared Folders from Ubuntu Computers; 12.6 Accessing a Windows 7 Shared Printer from Ubuntu Computers; 12.7 Mounting Windows 7 Shared Partitions and Folders in Ubuntu; 12.8 Key Points; Chapter 13: Keeping the Network Secure; 13.1 Understanding User Account Control; 13.2 What Is UAC?; 13.3 How UAC Works; 13.4 Changes Requiring Administrative Privileges; 13.5 The Differences Between UAC Levels; 13.6 Configuring UAC; 13.7 Keeping Your System Up to Date; 13.8 Opening Windows Update; 13.9 Configuring Windows Update Settings; 13.10 Checking for and Installing Updates Manually; 13.11 Restoring Hidden Updates; 13.12 Reviewing Your Windows Update History; 13.13 Removing Installed Updates; 13.14 What Is Windows Defender?; 13.15 Opening Windows Defender; 13.16 Using Windows Defender; 13.17 Turning Off Windows Defender; 13.18 What Is the Windows Firewall?; 13.19 Understanding How the Windows Firewall Works; 13.20 Opening the Windows Firewall; 13.21 Turning the Windows Firewall On or Off; 13.22 Customizing the List of Allowed Programs; 13.23 Adding New Programs to the Allowed List; 13.24 Removing Programs or Disabling Rules from the Allowed List; 13.25 Creating a New Rule; 13.26 Enabling, Disabling, or Deleting an Existing Rule; 13.27 Restoring the Windows Firewall Default Settings; 13.28 Protecting Your Computer from Viruses and Other Security Threats; 13.29 Using the Action Center; 13.30 Opening the Action Center and Reviewing Its Messages; 13.31 Configuring the List of Messages Displayed by the Action Center; 13.32 Key Points; Chapter 14: Setting Up Parental Controls; 14.1 Turning On Parental Controls; 14.2 Setting Time Limits and Application Restrictions; 14.3 Setting Restrictions for Games; 14.4 Key Points; Chapter 15: Troubleshooting Network and Internet Problems; 15.1 Fixing Problems Using the Network and Internet Troubleshooting Wizards; 15.2 Changing the Date and Time Settings on Your Computer to Resolve a Password Error; 15.3 Configuring Port Forwarding Settings on Your Router; 15.4 Finding Troubleshooting Help on the Web; 15.5 Key Points; Glossary; About the Authors; Ciprian Rusen; 7 Tutorials Team;