Network Your Computer & Devices Step by Step

Description

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

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;