Connecting to a wifi network on Vista

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I. Introduction to Wifi on Windows Vista
Maybe you did connect to a WiFi network on Windows XP, but do you know how to connect on Windows Vista. Or maybe you do not know how do you connect to a WiFi network simply. In all cases, this tutorial should help you connect to a WiFi network that is in range (that you receive) from your computer running on Windows Vista, and thus connect to the Internet without lan. This applies to any WiFi network, which must be active and functional before you can use this tutorial of course. This may be a public network, a WiFi network set up with an access point like Linksys, Freebox, Neufbox, or any wireless router, etc..

II. Explanations

1. Connect to a WiFi network on Windows Vista

1. To begin, click your start menu of Windows Vista and then click the menu "Network".
2. The Network window opens, click on "Network and Sharing Center"

In the network and sharing center, a message should tell you that your wireless networks are available, click on the link "Connect to a Network". If you do not have this post or this link, make sure that the WiFi is enabled on your computer and you are within the range of WiFi network. Then if you're not sure you (or you are sure but the link is still not), you can go through the menu "Manage wireless networks" on the left.

The login window appears in a network. In the drop-down list, click All networks to get "Wireless" optionsto show the available wireless networks. You'll get all the names of wireless networks that are within range of your computer and that you can potentially connect.

Locate the name of the WiFi network that you belong to (in general one that is best captured = with the most green bars on the right, unless you're away from your access point). Selected and click "Login".

You still need the key for the Wifi network security. This is the key that protects your wireless network connections from outside (eg neighbours :-), often called WEP or WPA settings depending on your Wifi access point.
Either you have configured this key and you must have or you can get the key from your provider who has to provide you with a Wifi key (default is the case with the Linksys for example). Enter your security key and click on "Connection".

Wait for the connection ...

If your WEP or WPA key is correct, then you should get a message telling you that the connection was successful. Leave the box "Save this network" and "Start this connection automatically" checked, if you want this connection to be stored and afterwards to be launched on its own the next time your computer picks up the WiFi network (it will be much faster than to always put the settings every time). And click "Close".

You can return to the Network and Sharing Center. If it makes you an icon called "Internet", it probably means that your internet connection is working already. Do not close this window, we will check whether the Internet works.

Open a window in your browser (via the Internet Explorer icon on your desktop for example) and enter the address "www.techarena.in" in the address bar. If the site appears or opens up than that you are connected to the Internet, you can stop reading the tutorial here cause you have done a successful connection.

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2. In case of internet connection problem
If the WiFi network has been connected before, but you still dont have the Internet, it is probably due to your TCP / IP. That is what we will check together. In the network and sharing center that I asked you to keep open, click "View status of your connection". Then in the window that opens, click "Properties".

It is possible that you have a security warning from Windows Vista which is asking if you want to continue this action, click "Yes". Then you'll get the next window. Select the "Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" and click on "Properties".

Here there are two configuration options:

1. Let your access point set to provide IP addresses automatically (called DHCP), then you can tick the boxes "obtain an IP address automatically" and "Obtain DNS server address automatically".
2. Let your access point does not provide IP addresses automatically, then you should put an IP address in the same IP range as your access point, set the IP address of your access point (router in general) in the "Default Gateway", and set the DNS servers by setting those of your ISP.

When you have made your changes, click "OK" and confirm all the following and close the windows.

III. Conclusion of the tutorial
This tutorial is now completely finished and it should allow you to connect to a WiFi network in Windows Vista and at the same time to the Internet.
There is just something that I have deliberately not addressed is where the WiFi does not connect when the security key is correct. This may be due to many reasons I can not mention all. Examples of common problems: the access point that allows certain PCs to connect to the network (via a restriction on the MAC addresses), a problem of compatibility of protocols, network problem that captures and many more.

If you are in the latter case and you really do not how to do this, please leave a message on our forum, our specialists will try to help you better.