User manual DELL INSPIRON 8500

[. . . ] DellTM InspironTM 8500 Owner's Manual w w w. c o m Notes, Notices, and Cautions NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer. NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the problem. CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death. Abbreviations and Acronyms For a complete list of abbreviations and acronyms, see the Tell Me How help file (see page 104). ____________________ Information in this document is subject to change without notice. [. . . ] c o m 88 Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia 6 SECTION 6 Setting Up a Home and Office Network Connecting to a Network Adapter Network Setup Wizard Network Problems Connecting to Wireless Local Area Networks w w w. c o m Connecting to a Network Adapter Before you connect your computer to a network, the computer must have a network adapter installed and a network cable connected to it. To connect a network cable: 1 NOTE: Insert the cable until it clicks into place, and then gently pull it to ensure that it is secure. NOTE: Do not use a network cable with a telephone wall jack. network adapter connector on computer 2 Connect the network cable to the network adapter connector on the back of your computer. Connect the other end of the network cable to a network connection device, such as a network wall jack. network cable 90 Setting Up a Home and Office Network Network Setup Wizard The Microsoft® Windows® XP operating system provides a Network Setup Wizard to guide you through the process of sharing files, printers, or an Internet connection between computers in a home or small office. 1 2 3 4 5 Click the Start button, point to All Programs Accessories Communications, and then click Network Setup Wizard. Complete the checklist and required preparations. Return to the Network Setup Wizard and follow the instructions on the screen. NOTE: Selecting the connection method This computer connects directly to the Internet enables the integrated firewall provided with Windows XP . Network Problems C H E C K T H E N E T W O R K C A B L E C O N N E C T O R -- Ensure that the network cable connector is firmly connected to the optional connector on the computer and the network wall jack. C H E C K T H E N E T W O R K L I G H T S O N T H E N E T W O R K C O N N E C T O R -- Green indicates that the network connection is active. If the status light is not green, try replacing the network cable. Amber indicates that the optional network adapter driver is loaded and the adapter is detecting activity. RESTART T H E C O M P U T E R -- Try to log on to the network again. C O N T A C T Y O U R N E T W O R K A D M I N I S T R A T O R -- Verify that your network settings are correct and that the network is functioning. Setting Up a Home and Office Network 91 w w w. c o m Connecting to Wireless Local Area Networks NOTE: These networking instructions do not apply to Bluetooth or cellular products. Before you can connect to a wireless Local Area Network (LAN), you must have specific information about your network. Be sure to get the name of your wireless network along with any special security settings from your network administrator. These settings are unique to your network and cannot be provided by Dell. Determining your Network Type NOTE: Most wireless networks are the infrastructure type. Consult your network administrator if you are unsure of the type of network you are connecting to. Wireless networks fall into two categories -- infrastructure networks and ad-hoc networks. An infrastructure network uses routers or access points to connect several computers together. An ad-hoc network does not use routers or access points and consists of computers that broadcast to one another. Infrastructure Network Ad-Hoc Network 92 Setting Up a Home and Office Network Connecting to a Network in Windows XP Your wireless network card requires proper software and drivers in order to connect to a network. This software is pre-installed from the factory. If the software is removed or corrupted, follow the instructions listed in the User's Guide for your wireless card. The User's Guide is located on your Drivers, Utilities, and Applications CD (that came with your computer) in the "User's Guides-Network User's Guides" category. [. . . ] Please refer to the reverse side of this card for complete warranty details. Intel's Commitment to Quality Intel is committed to producing the highest quality processors available. That's why we have hundreds of people dedicated to continuously improve our design, manufacturing, and testing technology. We put every one of our Pentium® and Celeron® processors through a rigorous battery of tests during the design and manufacturing processes. [. . . ]