Dell Latitude D530: Setting Up and Using Networks

®

Setting Up a Network in the Microsoft

®

Windows

XP Operating System

1

Click

Start

→

All Programs

→

Accessories

→

Communications

→

Network

Setup Wizard

→

Next

→

Checklist for creating a network

.

NOTE: Selecting the connection method labeled This computer connects

directly to the Internet enables the integrated firewall provided with Windows

XP Service Pack 2 (SP2).

2

Complete the checklist.

3

Return to the Network Setup Wizard and follow the instructions in the

wizard.

Setting Up a Network in the Microsoft Windows

®

Vista

Operating System

1

Click the Windows Vista Start button

,

and then click

Connect To

→

Set up a connection or network

.

2

Select an option under

Choose a connection option

.

3

Click

Next

, and then follow the instructions in the wizard.

Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)

A WLAN is a series of interconnected computers that communicate with

each other over the air waves rather than through a network cable connected

to each computer. In a WLAN, a radio communications device called an

access point or wireless router connects network computers and provides

Internet, or network, access. The access point or wireless router and the

wireless network card in the computer communicate by broadcasting data

from their antennas over the air waves.

What You Need to Establish a WLAN Connection

Before you can set up a WLAN, you need:

• High-speed (broadband) Internet access (such as cable or DSL)

• A broadband modem that is connected and working

• A wireless router or access point

80 Setting Up and Using Networks

• A wireless network card for each computer that you want to connect to

your WLAN

• A network cable with a network (RJ-45) connector

Checking Your Wireless Network Card

Depending on what you selected when you purchased your computer, the

computer has a variety of configurations. To confirm that your computer has

a wireless network card and to determine the type of card, use one of the

following:

•The

Start

button and the

Connect To

option

• The order confirmation for your computer

Start Button and Connect To Option

In Microsoft Windows XP, click Start→ Connect To→ Show all connections.

NOTE: If your computer is set to the Classic Start menu option, click Start

→

Settings

→

Network Connections to view your network connections.

In Microsoft Windows Vista, click → Connect To→ View network

computers and devices.

If Wireless Network Connection does not appear under LAN or High-Speed

Internet, you may not have a wireless network card.

If Wireless Network Connection appears, you have a wireless network card. To

view detailed information about the wireless network card:

1

Right-click

Wireless Network Connection

.

2

Click

Properties

.

The

Wireless Network Connection Properties

window appears. The

wireless network card’s name and model number are listed on the

General

tab.

NOTE: If Wireless Network Connection does not appear, you may not have a

wireless network card.

The Order Confirmation for Your Computer

The order confirmation that you received when you ordered your computer

lists the hardware and software that shipped with your computer.

Setting Up and Using Networks 81

Setting Up a New WLAN Using a Wireless Router and a Broadband

Modem

1

Contact your Internet service provider (ISP) to obtain specific information

about the connection requirements for your broadband modem.

2

Ensure that you have wired Internet access through your broadband

modem before you attempt to set up a wireless Internet connection (see

"Connecting a Network or Broadband Modem Cable" on page 79).

3

Install any software required for your wireless router. Your wireless router

may have been shipped with an installation CD. Installation CDs usually

contain installation and troubleshooting information. Install the required

software according to the instructions provided by the router

manufacturer.

4

Shut down your computer and any other wireless-enabled computers in

the vicinity through the

Start

or menu.

5

Disconnect your broadband modem power cable from the electrical outlet.

6

Disconnect the network cable from the computer and the modem.

7

Disconnect the AC adapter cable from your wireless router to ensure that

there is no power connected to the router.

NOTE: Wait for a minimum of 5 minutes after disconnecting your broadband

modem before you continue with the network setup.

8

Insert a network cable into the network (RJ-45) connector on the

unpowered broadband modem.

9

Connect the other end of the network cable into the Internet network (RJ-

45) connector on the unpowered wireless router.

10

Ensure that no network or USB cables, other than the network cable

connecting the modem and the wireless router, are connected to the

broadband modem.

NOTE: Restart your wireless equipment in the order described below to prevent a

potential connection failure.

11

Turn o n

only

your broadband modem and wait for at least 2 minutes for

the broadband modem to stabilize. After 2 minutes, proceed to step 12.

12

Turn on your wireless router and wait for at least 2 minutes for the wireless

router to stabilize. After 2 minutes, proceed to the step 13.

82 Setting Up and Using Networks

13

Start your computer and wait until the boot process completes.

14

See the documentation that came with your wireless router to do the

following in order to set up the wireless router:

• Establish communication between your computer and your wireless

router.

• Configure your wireless router to communicate with your broadband

router.

• Find out your wireless router’s broadcast name. The technical term for

the name of your router’s broadcast name is Service Set Identifier

(SSID) or network name.

15

If necessary, configure your wireless network card to connect to the wireless

network (see "Connecting to a WLAN" on page 83).

Connecting to a WLAN

NOTE: Before you connect to a WLAN, ensure that you have followed the

instructions in "Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)" on page 80.

NOTE: The following networking instructions do not apply to internal cards with

®

Bluetooth

wireless technology or cellular products.

This section provides general procedures for connecting to a network using

wireless technology. Specific network names and configuration details vary.

See "Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)" on page 80 for more information

about how to prepare for connecting your computer to a WLAN.

Your wireless network card requires specific software and drivers for

connecting to a network. The software is already installed.

NOTE: If the software is removed or corrupted, follow the instructions in the user

documentation for your wireless network card. Verify the type of wireless network

card installed in your computer and then search for that name on the Dell™ Support

website at support.dell.com. For information on the type of wireless network card

that is installed in your computer, see "Checking Your Wireless Network Card" on

page 81.

Determining the Wireless Network Device Manager

Depending on the software installed on your computer, different wireless

configuration utilities may manage your network devices:

• Your wireless network card’s client utility

Setting Up and Using Networks 83

• The Windows XP or Windows Vista operating system

To determine which wireless configuration utility is managing your wireless

network card in Windows XP:

1

Click

Start

→

Settings

→

Control Panel

→

Network Connections

.

2

Right-click the

Wireless Network Connection

icon, and then click

View

Available Wireless Networks

.

If the Choose a wireless network window states Windows cannot configure

this connection, the wireless network card’s client utility is managing the

wireless network card.

If the Choose a wireless network window states Click an item in the list

below to connect to a wireless network in range or to get more information,

the Windows XP operating system is managing the wireless network card.

To determine which wireless configuration utility is managing your wireless

network card in Windows Vista:

1

Click

→

Connect To→ Manage wireless networks.

2

Double-click a profile to open the wireless network properties screen.

For specific information about the wireless configuration utility installed on

your computer, see your wireless network documentation in Windows Help

and Support (see "Windows Help and Support" on page 18).

Completing the Connection to the WLAN

When you turn on your computer and a network (for which your computer is

not configured) is detected in the area, a pop-up appears near the network

icon in the notification area (in the lower-right corner of the Windows

desktop).

Follow the instructions provided in any utility prompts that appear on your

screen.

Once you have configured your computer for the wireless network that you

selected, another pop-up notifies you that your computer is connected to that

network.

Thereafter, whenever you log on to your computer within the range of the

wireless network that you selected, the same pop-up notifies you of the

wireless network connection.

84 Setting Up and Using Networks

NOTE: If you select a secure network, you must enter a WEP or WPA key when

prompted. Network security settings are unique to your network. Dell cannot

provide this information.

NOTE: Your computer can take up to 1 minute to connect to the network.

Enabling/Disabling the Wireless Network Card

NOTE: If you are unable to connect to a wireless network, ensure that you have all

the components for establishing a WLAN (see "What You Need to Establish a WLAN

Connection" on page 80), and then verify that your wireless network card is enabled

by pressing <Fn><F2>.

You can turn your computer’s wireless networking function on and off by

pressing the <Fn><F2> key combination.

Monitoring the Status of the Wireless Network Card Through Dell QuickSet

The wireless activity indicator provides you with an easy way to monitor the

status of your computer’s wireless devices. To turn the wireless activity

indicator on or off, click the QuickSet icon in the taskbar and select Hotkey

Popups. If Wireless Activity Indicator Off is not checked, the indicator is on.

If Wireless Activity Indicator Off is checked, the indicator is off.

The wireless activity indicator displays whether your computer’s integrated

wireless devices are enabled or disabled. When you turn the wireless

networking function on or off, the wireless activity indicator changes to

display the status.

For more information about the Dell QuickSet wireless activity indicator,

right-click the QuickSet icon in the taskbar and select Help.

Mobile Broadband/Wireless Wide Area Network

(WWAN)

A Mobile Broadband network, also known as a Wireless Wide Area Network

(WWAN), is a high-speed digital cellular network that provides Internet

access over a much wider geographical area than a WLAN, which typically

covers only from 100 to 1000 feet. Your computer can maintain Mobile

Broadband network access as long as the computer is within a cellular-data

coverage zone. Contact your service provider for coverage of a high-speed

digital cellular network.

Setting Up and Using Networks 85

NOTE: Even if you are able to make a call from your cellular phone in a specific

geographical location, that location may not necessarily be within a cellular-data

coverage zone.

What You Need to Establish a Mobile Broadband Network Connection

NOTE: Depending on your computer, you can use either a Mobile Broadband

ExpressCard or Mini-Card, but not both, to establish a Mobile Broadband network

connection.

To set up a Mobile Broadband network connection, you need:

• A Mobile Broadband ExpressCard or Mini-Card (depending on your

computer’s configuration)

NOTE: For instructions on using ExpressCards, see "Using Cards" on page 89.

• An activated Mobile Broadband ExpressCard or activated Subscriber

Identity Module (SIM) for your service provider

• The Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility (already installed on your

computer if you purchased the card when you purchased your computer, or

on the CD that accompanied your card if purchased separately from your

computer)

If the utility is corrupted or deleted from your computer, see the Dell

Mobile Broadband Card Utility user’s guide for instructions. The user’s

guide is available through Windows Help and Support (see "Windows

Help and Support" on page 18) or on the CD that accompanied your card

if you purchased it separately from your computer.

Checking Your Dell Mobile Broadband Card

Depending on what you selected when you purchased your computer, the

computer has a variety of configurations. To determine your computer

configuration, see one of the following:

• Your order confirmation

• Microsoft Windows Help and Support Center

To check your Mobile Broadband card in the Windows Help and Support

Center:

1

Click

Start

→

Help and Support

→

Use Tools to view your computer

information and diagnose problems

.

86 Setting Up and Using Networks

2

Under

Tools

, click

My Computer Information

→

Find information about

the hardware installed on this computer.

On the My Computer Information - Hardware screen, you can view the type

of Mobile Broadband card installed in your computer as well as other

hardware components.

NOTE: The Mobile Broadband card is listed under Modems.

Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network

NOTE: These instructions only apply to Mobile Broadband ExpressCards or Mini-

Cards. They do not apply to internal cards with wireless technology.

NOTE: Before you connect to the Internet, you must activate Mobile Broadband

service through your cellular service provider. For instructions and for additional

information about using the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility, see the user's guide

available through Windows Help and Support (see "Windows Help and Support" on

page 18). The user's guide is also available on the Dell Support website at

support.dell.com and on the CD included with your Mobile Broadband card if you

purchased the card separately from your computer.

Use the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility to establish and manage a

Mobile Broadband network connection to the Internet:

1

Click the

Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility icon

on the Windows

desktop, to run the utility.

2

Click

Connect

.

NOTE: The Connect button changes to the Disconnect button.

3

Follow the instructions on the screen to manage the network connection

with the utility.

Or

1

Click

Start

→

All Programs

→

Dell Wireless

.

2

Click

Dell Wireless Broadband

and follow the instructions on the screen.

®

®

Microsoft

Windows

Firewall

Windows Firewall provides basic protection from unauthorized access to your

computer while it is connected to the Internet. Windows Firewall is

automatically enabled when you run the Network Setup Wizard.

Setting Up and Using Networks 87

When Windows Firewall is enabled for a network connection, the firewall

icon appears with a red background in the Network Connections section of

the Control Panel.

NOTE: Enabling Windows Firewall does not reduce the need for virus-checking

software.

For more information, click

Start

→

Control Panel

→

Security

→

Windows

Firewall

, or see "Windows Help and Support" on page 18

88 Setting Up and Using Networks