Manage the functions of your LAN

What would a computer if it was not connected to the Internet or at least one or more other computers within a LAN ? Established almost systematically during the installation of your box and the first Internet connection from your PC, this network allows you to share devices (a printer for example) and files, making them available for all computers. This is handy if you have multiple PCs at home but also for a friend who is in you and want to take advantage of your access to Web resources or different, almost as if they were home.

Create a network between multiple computers

When your main computer is connected to the Internet through your box, thus forming the first link in the local network, a few clicks to add a new PC with Windows 7 at this network. It will have access to all shared items and probably the Internet. The result is exactly the same whether you connect the computer to your LAN via a cable connection or a wireless Wi-Fi, but the method differs somewhat.

With a wired connection

Please have a cable network called Ethernet and connect to the jack suitable for your computer to one side and an identical decision of your box or your router on the other side. They are generally marked LAN (for Local Area Network, LAN). One click connection is to be heard each time.

A window named "Specify a location system" appears automatically on the screen of the computer. Select the network that corresponds to your situation, a priori "Home Networking" and then wait for the connection to the network.

Then select the items you want to share with other computers on the network from Pictures, Music, Videos, Documents and Printers by checking or unchecking the boxes available and click Next.

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This action is tantamount to creating a Residential Group, which will allow you to share files and peripherals with another computer running Windows 7.

Note then the password that appears on the screen that lets you access the elements shared by other computers running Windows 7 and click "Finish".

You are now connected with this computer to your LAN. Check it by double-clicking the Network icon in the Office: network elements appear in the window that appears.

A priori, you are also connected to the Internet with this computer, via your local network. But it may also be required to do this one step further on your box or in the setting interface. Refer to the instructions for what to do exactly.

With a wireless Wi-Fi

First check that the chip Wi-Fi on your PC is working and that this was not the case, activate it by following the instructions of your computer. Also make sure that your Wi-Fi is active on your box.

In the taskbar of your computer, click the icon stairways blocked with a red cross to show the different Wi-Fi available close to your computer.

Select yours and click "Connect" possibly by checking the box "Connect automatically" if you do not want to do this each time you turn on your computer. Then enter the password to protect the connection if one exists. After a few moments, the connection is made and, if this is the first time that you connect this computer to your LAN, the window "Specify a location network" appears. Follow the instructions in "With a wired connection to finish setting up your network does.

Repair a faulty network connection

Once the local network and no longer available or if your computer has more access to Internet may be an external cause to Windows (Cable disconnected, down from your service provider, etc). or an internal fault though annoying. If you suspect a problem like this, you will have to use the tool to check and repair a network connection failing to address them.

In case of failure of your network connection, open the Control Panel by double-clicking its desktop icon or through the Start menu and click on "Network and Internet" then click "Network and Sharing Center". In the "Change your network settings" in the window that appears, click the "Troubleshoot". Diagnosis is made then and after a few moments, Windows offers a list of items that can cause problems in your network configuration. Click on one that fits your problem then in the dialog box that appears, click Next and answer the questions that are posed by the repair tool.

Click "Next" to confirm your answers and follow the instructions and steps that appear to restore your network connection up and running.

If the problem is not resolved, then close the window in the window "Network and Sharing Center, click on" Configure a new connection or network "to recreate a new connection. The former will become obsolete and no longer be used.

Residential use groups to share files

New Windows 7, the residential groups can facilitate the sharing of files and peripherals among multiple computers on a LAN. They only work between computers with Windows 7 and that the connection is configured as "Home Network".

With the Starter and Home Basic editions of Windows 7, you can only join a group residential, not create one.

Create a Group Residential

If you have not already been done when connecting your computer to your LAN, it must of course start by creating a group residential where you say what files and devices you want to share with other users on the LAN .

To do this, open the Control Panel by double-clicking its desktop icon or through the "Start" menu and click on "Network and Internet" then on "Residential Group."

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You can also access this function by opening an Explorer window and clicking on "Group residential computers" in the navigation pane on the left.

In the window that appears, click on "Create a local group" and then select the items you want to share with other computers on the network from Pictures, Music, Videos, Documents and Printers by checking or unchecking the boxes available and click "Next."

Note then the password that appears on the screen that lets you access the elements shared by other computers running Windows 7 and connected to your LAN and then click Finish.

Your Residential Group is now established. A summary window appears.

Take this opportunity to change the password to access your files from another residential group you can remember easily. Just click on the link "Change Password", click again on "Change Password", enter your new password, then click "Next" and then "Finish".

Go to the content of Residential Groups

To access the content shared by a user via the Group's residential computer (like yours is connected to the LAN), one must "join" that group.

For this, the new computer connected to the LAN, open the Control Panel by double-clicking its desktop icon or through the Start menu and click Network and Internet "then on" Select Options residential group and sharing. There, click "Join."

Select, from among the choices, what kind of files you want to share your lap from your computer with other network elements via the local residential Group then click Next. Then enter the password for the residential group to which you connect, click "Next" and then "Finish". Close the Options window that appears.

Now you can access shared files on the residential group. To do so, open an Explorer window and click in the navigation pane on the left, on "Group residential computers." Double-click on the icon of the user you want access to files to show the different libraries containing them.

Browse through these libraries to read, copy or modify the desired files.

Create a local network in Windows 7