Vista Connect to the Internet

Connecting to the Internet from a new PC used to be painful. First, you had to find out where the settings were, and then, you had to work through a cryptic set of dialog boxes to configure the connection. Not anymore. You'll find an icon for connecting to the Internet right in the Welcome Center, making it simpler than ever to get online.

• To connect to the Internet, follow these steps:
• In the Welcome Center, double-click Connect To The Internet.
• Select Set Up A New Connection.
• Select Wireless, Broadband, or Dial-Up.

For Wireless, select the wireless network to use, and click Connect. For Broadband, type your user name, password, and connection name, and then click Connect. For Dial-Up, type the phone number to dial, user name, password, and connection name. Click Connect. For each, select Allow Other People To Use This Connection if you have others on your network who will also use this connection to access the Internet.

Click Close.

If you can't connect to the Internet, try resetting any routers, cable modems, or receivers, and try testing phone outlets as applicable. Your best bet for broadband is to turn everything off, including the PC; restart the cable modem and wait for it to initialize; restart the router and wait for it to initialize; and then restart the PC. Additionally, verify that any dial-up settings are correct, verify that the telephone outlet is functional, and verify all user names and passwords (they're often case-sensitive).