Home Wireless Networking in a Snap By Joe Habraken Publisher: Sams Pub Date: March 15, 2006 Print ISBN-10: 0-672-32702-3 Print ISBN-13: 978-0-672-32702-5 Pages: 408 Table of Contents | Index These days, nobody really wants to learn everything there is about their hardware and software And even if you did, who has the time to endlessly tinker and play with it until you figure everything out? You just want a book that will quickly show you how to set up your home wireless network Home Wireless Networking in a Snap is designed specifically for busy people like you This book covers the things that aren't already covered in the documentation that came with your equipment and the things you can't just figure out on your own It is organized into a series of well-organized, bite-sized, quickly accomplished tasks, that lets you zero right in on particular tasks you want to accomplish This hands-on approach to setting-up a secure home wireless network will have your network up and running in no time Home Wireless Networking in a Snap By Joe Habraken Publisher: Sams Pub Date: March 15, 2006 Print ISBN-10: 0-672-32702-3 Print ISBN-13: 978-0-672-32702-5 Pages: 408 Table of Contents | Index Copyright About the Author Acknowledgments We Want to Hear from You! Reader Services Part I: Networking and Windows Fundamentals Chapter 1 Start Here Why Create a Wireless Home Network? How Computers Communicate How Wireless Networking Works Selecting Wireless Network Components Getting the Most Out of a Home Network Sorting Out Broadband Internet Connections Chapter 2 Navigating Windows XP Section 1 About the Windows XP Environment Section 2 Navigate the Windows Desktop and Start Menu Section 3 Browse and Search for Files and Folders Section 4 About My Network Places Section 5 Use the Control Panel Section 6 View the Windows Security Center Section 7 Get Help in Windows Section 8 About Windows Update Section 9 Use Windows Update Chapter 3 Sharing a Home Computer Section 10 About Sharing a Windows XP Computer Section 11 Create a User Account Section 12 Change the Account Picture Section 13 Password Protect a User Account Section 14 Change the Account Type Section 15 Configure a NET Passport for a User Account Section 16 Log On to Windows Section 17 Switch Users Section 18 Delete a User Account Part II: Creating the Home Network Chapter 4 Installing and Configuring the Wireless Router Section 19 About Installing the Wireless Router Section 20 Install the Router Section 21 About Configuring the Wireless Router Section 22 Access Router Configuration Section 23 About Internet Settings Section 24 Configure Internet Settings Section 25 About Wireless Settings Section 26 Configure Router Wireless Settings Chapter 5 Installing and Configuring Wireless Adapters Section 27 About Wireless Network Adapters Section 28 Determine Upgradeability of Current Computers Section 29 Install a Wireless Adapter Section 30 Install Adapter Software Utility Section 31 Check WiFi Adapter Installation Section 32 About Configuring the Wireless Adapter Section 33 Configure Adapter and Connect to the Wireless Router Section 34 Configure Adapter for Computer-to-Computer Networking Section 35 Create Configuration Profiles Section 36 About Updating an Adapter Driver Chapter 6 Configuring the Windows Home Network Section 37 About Configuring PCs for Networking Section 38 Run the Network Setup Wizard Section 39 Name the Computer and Join a Workgroup Section 40 Open Connection Properties and Enable Clients, Protocols, and Services Section 41 Add a Network Client or Service Section 42 Configure TCP/IP Settings Section 43 Check WiFi Adapter Status Section 44 Verify Workgroup Membership and Access Network Neighborhood Part III: Using the Home Network Chapter 7 Sharing Network Resources Section 45 About Sharing Network Resources Section 46 Share a Printer Section 47 Share a Folder Section 48 About Accessing Network Resources Section 49 Access Shared Folders and Open Shared Files Section 50 Map a Network Drive Section 51 Connect to a Shared Printer Section 52 Search for Network Computers Section 53 Add a Network Place Chapter 8 Filtering Content and Enabling Game Services Section 54 About Content Filtering and Opening Ports Section 55 Block Access to Websites Section 56 Block Access to Internet Services Section 57 Set Up a Filter Schedule Section 58 Configure Port Forwarding and Port Triggering Chapter 9 Taking Advantage of Wireless HotSpots Section 59 About Wireless Hotspots Section 60 Use the Web to Locate Hotspots Section 61 Detect WiFi Hotspots and Connect Section 62 Fine-Tune Hotspot Connection Parameters Section 63 About Wardriving Part IV: Protecting and Securing the Wireless Network Chapter 10 Protecting Your System and Data Section 64 About Backing Up and Restoring Data Section 65 Use the Windows Backup Wizard Section 66 Use Advanced Backup Features Section 67 Restore Backed Up Data Section 68 Create a System Restore Point Section 69 Restore the System Chapter 11 Securing the Wireless Network Section 70 About Basic Network Security Section 71 About Firewalls Section 72 Configure Router Firewall Settings Section 73 Change Router Password Section 74 Back Up Router Configuration Section 75 Turn Off Server Set IDs (SSIDs) Broadcasts Section 76 About 802.11 Security Strategies Section 77 Configure Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) Security Section 78 Configure WiFi Protected Access (WPA) Security Section 79 About Network Interface MAC Addresses Section 80 Create a WiFi Network MAC Access List Section 81 Configure Remote Management Chapter 12 Protecting the Wireless Network Section 82 About Malware Section 83 Install and Use Antivirus Software Section 84 Update Antivirus Software Section 85 Activate the Windows XP Security Center Section 86 About Spyware Section 87 Install AntiSpyware Section 88 Use AntiSpyware Section 89 About Spam Email and Outlook Express Section 90 Configure Outlook Express Rules Chapter 13 Troubleshooting and Monitoring Network Connections Section 91 About Network Connection Problems Section 92 Reset WiFi Adapter Section 93 Check Router Status Section 94 View Attached Devices Section 95 View Router Log Section 96 About Command-Line Tools Section 97 Use Command-Line Tools Section 98 About Upgrading Router Firmware and Adapter Drivers Contents at a Glance Key Terms Index Copyright Home Wireless Networking in a Snap Copyright © 2006 by Sams Publishing All rights reserved No part of this book shall be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions Nor is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2004092816 Printed in the United States of America First Printing: March 2006 09 08 07 06 4 3 2 1 Trademarks All terms mentioned in this book that are known to be trademarks or service marks have been appropriately capitalized Sams Publishing cannot attest to the accuracy of this information Use of a term in this book should not be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark or service mark Warning and Disclaimer Every effort has been made to make this book as complete and as accurate as possible, but no warranty or fitness is implied The information provided is on an "as is" basis The author and the publisher shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damages arising from the information contained in this book Bulk Sales Sams Publishing offers excellent discounts on this book when ordered in quantity for bulk purchases or special sales For more information, please contact U.S Corporate and Government Sales 1-800-382-3419 corpsales@pearsontechgroup.com For sales outside of the U.S., please contact International Sales 1-317-428-3341 international@pearsontechgroup.com Acquisitions Editor Betsy Brown Development Editor Alice Martina Smith Managing Editor Charlotte Clapp Project Editor George Nedeff Production Editor Benjamin Berg Indexer Ken Johnson Technical Editor Dallas G Releford Publishing Coordinator Vanessa Evans Interior Designer Gary Adair Cover Designer Gary Adair Page Layout Patricia Ratcliff Michelle Mitchell Dedication To my wonderful wife Kim, my brother Pete, my sister Sue, and of course my mom and dad About the Author Joe Habraken is a best-selling author and information technology and new media professional who has written more than 25 books on networking, desktop operating systems, and computer software applications such as Microsoft Office and OpenOffice.org Joe serves as an assistant professor at the University of New England, where he teaches a variety of information technology and communication courses His recent book titles include the Absolute Beginner's Guide to Networking (Fourth Edition), Skinning Microsoft Windows XP, and Novell Linux Desktop 9 User's Handbook Acknowledgments It definitely takes a team to create a book and I have a number of people to thank I would like to thank all the folks at Sams who had a hand in creating this book A big thanks to my acquisitions editor, Betsy Brown, who pulled the editorial team together for this book and managed the book-creation process from initial idea to published manuscript I would also like to thank Dallas Releford, the technical editor on the project, and Alice Martina Smith, the development editor Also a big thanks goes out to Vanessa Evans and Ben Berg Last but not least, I would like to thank the project editor, George Nedeff And if I've forgotten anyone else: Thank you! Advanced Wireless Settings page Apply button Respond to Ping on Internet Port option WAN Setup page Wireless Card Access Setup page Wireless Settings page 2nd satellite broadband connections Set Password command SSID 2nd status, checking switches 2nd TCP/IP settings, configuring Test button URL information, finding weak signals, troubleshooting web address information, finding web content, blocking Block Sites page (Router Configuration web page) filter schedules free speech keyword lists 2nd trusted computers trusted IP addresses WEP security protocol WiFi Card Access lists WPA security protocol 2nd WRT54G Wireless-G Broadband Routers (Linksys) wififreespot.com website wildcard searches Windows Firewall Windows Help and Support Center, troubleshooting network adapters Windows Search window (My Network Places window) Windows System Information utility, determining computer upgradability Windows System Tray antivirus software, opening spyware alerts, receiving Update Antivirus button Windows Update 2nd Windows Wireless Connection Monitor Windows Wireless Connection utility Access Point (Infrastructure) option Apply button network adapters, configuring 2nd Scan option Windows Wireless Networking Properties dialog (Advanced Security dialog) Windows XP application windows maximizing/minimizing opening/closing switching between Automated System Recovery (ASR) Wizard Backup or Restore Wizard All information on this computer option Always start in wizard mode check box Back up files and settings option Backup Process dialog Backup Utility, installing Choose a place to save your backup drop-down list box data, restoring Everyone's documents and settings option Items to Back Up screen Let me choose what to back up option My documents and settings option My Network Places icon Backup utility Advanced Mode window automated data recovery Backup Wizard (Advanced) 2nd CD/DVD backups copy backups daily backups differential backups file compression incremental backups installing local folders versus shared folders normal backups Restore Wizard (Advanced) 2nd Command window exiting gateways opening ping command-line tool tracert command-line tool Computer Administrator accounts 2nd NET Passports changing account pictures changing account type deleting logging on/off passwords 2nd 3rd Context menu, Status option Control Panel accessing Network and Internet Connection window Categories view Classic view Local Area Connection Properties dialog Network and Internet Connections window Switch to Category View link Switch to Classic View link viewing local area connections desktop attaching My Computer window icon to navigating notification area Device Manger checking network adapter installation disabling network adapters hardware, locating navigating updating drivers files/folders, saving Found New Hardware Wizard, network adapter installations Guest accounts Help and Support Center window 2nd icons adding to desktop notification area, viewing in Quick Launch toolbar, viewing in Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties dialog limited user accounts 2nd NET Passports changing account pictures changing account type deleting logging on/off passwords 2nd Local Area Connection Properties dialog Log Off Windows dialog box, Switch User feature Minimize button My Computer window My Documents folder 2nd My Network Places window 2nd Name Changes dialog Network and Internet Connection window network resources, accessing Network Setup Wizard adding computers to workgroups configuring file/print sharing naming computers naming workgroups Network Setup Disks selecting connection method starting This computer connects directly to the Internet option This computer connects to the Internet through a residential gateway or through another computer on my network option Turn on file and print sharing option Open Backup File dialog Owner accounts [See Computer Administrator accounts.] Performance and Maintenance window, System Restore feature Properties dialog Client for Microsoft Networks 2nd Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Quick Launch toolbar Restore files and settings option Restore Progress dialog Search tool security Security Center 2nd antivirus software Automatic Updates dialog box disabled components Firewall dialog Turn on Automatic Updates button updates upgrading to Virus Protection dialog web links Select File to Catalog dialog 2nd Select Network Client dialog Select Network Service dialog Start menu System Properties dialog changing computer names changing workgroup names computer upgradability Device Manager, disabling network adapters opening Windows Update button System Restore feature Create a restore point option opening 2nd Restore my computer to an earlier time option Safe Mode turning on/off TCP/IP Properties dialog TCP/IP protocol, disabling updates Automatic Updates dialog box installing Windows Update user accounts changing account pictures creating limited user accounts 2nd naming selecting type of User Accounts window Change the account type task Change the picture task changing account pictures Create a password task creating user accounts Delete the account task naming user accounts selecting user account type Set up my account to use a NET Passport task Welcome screen, logging in/out of user accounts Windows Help and Support Center, troubleshooting network adapter installations Windows System Information utility, determining computer upgradability Windows Update Windows Wireless Connection utility Access Point (Infrastructure) option Apply button configuring network adapters 2nd Scan option windows, switching Wireless Connection utility, network adapters Wireless Network Connection Properties dialog enabling/disabling TCP/IP protocol Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties dialog Select Network Client dialog Select Network Service dialog Uninstall button Wireless Network Connection Status dialog workgroups connection limitations early Windows versions, compatibility with wired networks, converting to wireless Wireless Card Access Setup page (Router Configuration page) Wireless Connection utility, network adapters Wireless Network Connection Properties dialog Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties dialog Select Network Client dialog Select Network Service dialog TCP/IP protocol, enabling/disabling Uninstall button Wireless Network Connection Status dialog (WiFi Adapter Context Menu) 2nd Wireless Settings page (Router Configuration page) Apply button Key Lifetime text box WEP (Wired Equivalency Privacy) button 2nd WPA-PSK (Wi-Fi Protected Access Pre-Shared Key) option wizards NET Passport Wizard Automated System Recovery (ASR) Wizard 2nd 3rd Backup or Restore Wizard All information on this computer option Always start in wizard mode check box Back up files and settings option Backup Process dialog Backup Utility, installing Choose a place to save your backup drop-down list box Everyone's documents and settings option Items to Back Up screen Let me choose what to back up option My documents and settings option My Network Places icon restoring data Backup Wizard (Advanced) Back up selected files, drives or network data option Drive drop-down list Restore and Manage Media tab Save As dialog Schedule Jobs tab Select the type of backup drop-down list Set Schedule dialog Verify data after backup check box Welcome tab Network Place, adding network places to My Network Places window Network Setup Wizard adding computers to workgroups configuring file/print sharing naming computers naming workgroups Network Setup Disks selecting connection method starting This computer connects directly to the Internet option This computer connects to the Internet through a residential gateway or through another computer on my network option Turn on file and print sharing option Restore Wizard (Advanced) 2nd Open Backup File dialog Restore files and settings option Restore Progress dialog Select File to Catalog dialog WLAN (wireless local area networks) operational frequency range SSID versus LAN workgroups computers assigning to configuring connection limitations drive sharing 2nd file sharing 2nd 3rd folder sharing IP addressing 2nd membership, verifying naming 2nd NetBIOS names 2nd 3rd network computers, searching for network configurations adding clients/services clients enabling installed items network protocols services viewing local area connection properties viewing network connections Network Setup Wizard printer sharing activating configuring 2nd 3rd local printers shares limitations security viewing Windows, compatibility with early versions wireless hotspot connections worms WPA (WiFi Protected Access) security protocol 2nd WPA-PSK (Wi-Fi Protected Access Pre-Shared Key) option (Wireless Settings page) WRT54G Wireless-G Broadband Routers (Linksys) Index [SYMBOL] [A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I] [J] [K] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R] [S] [T] [U] [V] [W] [Y] [Z] Yes, automatically keep Microsoft Antispyware updated button (Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware) Yes, help keep me secure button (Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware) Yes, I want to help fight spyware button (Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware) Index [SYMBOL] [A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I] [J] [K] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R] [S] [T] [U] [V] [W] [Y] [Z] Zip drives (Iomega) ZoneAlarm ... regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark or service mark Warning and Disclaimer Every effort has been made to make this book as complete and as accurate as possible, but no warranty or fitness is implied... www.samspublishing.com/register for convenient access to any updates, downloads, or errata that might be available for this book Part I: Networking and Windows Fundamentals In This Part CHAPTER 1 Start Here CHAPTER 2 Navigating Windows XP... Linux Desktop 9 User's Handbook Acknowledgments It definitely takes a team to create a book and I have a number of people to thank I would like to thank all the folks at Sams who had a hand in creating this book A big thanks to my