Gateway m520 User Manual

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Sharing your resources
Sharing an Internet connection
Internet sharing lets all computers on the network access the Internet at 
the same time using one Internet service provider (ISP) connection.
To set up Internet Explorer on each computer on your network:
1Make sure that the access point router is turned on and configured 
as instructed by your cable or DSL provider.
2Click Start, right-click Internet, then click Internet Properties. The 
Internet Properties dialog box opens.
ImportantThe Internet setup procedure uses the 
Windows XP New Connection Wizard and Internet 
Explorer. The example screens show those 
screens that typically appear in the course of using 
the wizard. If your Internet connection differs from 
that used in this example, you may encounter 
additional screens or screens with different 
selections. Make sure that you read each screen 
in the wizard and make your selections based on 
your particular Internet connection situation.
If you use a browser other than Internet Explorer, 
see the help provided with that browser for 
configuring it for use on a network.
ImportantIf you are using a dial-up modem instead of a 
broadband connection, see the documentation that 
came with your access point router for the correct 
procedure. 
						

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3Click the Connections tab.
4Click Setup. The New Connection Wizard opens.
5Click Next. The Network Connection Type screen opens. 
						

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6Click Connect to the Internet, then click Next. The Getting Ready screen 
opens.
7Click Set up my connection manually, then click Next. The Internet 
Connection screen opens.
8Click the type of Internet connection you are setting up, then click 
Next. 
						

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9Click Finish.
10Repeat this procedure for each computer on your network. Go to 
“Accessing the Internet” on page 128.
Accessing the Internet
To access the Internet from your computer:
1Make sure that the access point router is turned on.
2Open Internet Explorer.
Sharing drives and printers
With a network, you can share drives (for example hard drives, diskette 
drives, and CD or DVD drives) and printers among the computers 
connected to the network.
After the drives and printers on each network computer are shared, you 
can access them as though they were attached directly to your computer. 
Then you can:
■View a network drive
■Open and copy files stored on other network computers
■Print documents on network printers
Turning on Windows file and printer sharing
Before you can share your drives and printers, you need to turn on 
Windows file and printer sharing on all the network computers.
ImportantTo share a printer among the network computers, 
each computer must have the shared printer’s 
drivers installed. Follow the instructions included 
with your printer to install the printer drivers on 
each computer. 
						

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To turn on Windows file and printer sharing:
1Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. 
If your Control Panel is in Category View, click 
Network and Internet 
Connections
.
2Click/Double-click the Network Connections icon.
3Right-click the Local Area Network icon that you want to set up file 
and printer sharing on, then click 
Properties.
4Click Install.
5Click Service, then click Add.
6Click File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks.
7Click OK.
8If prompted, restart your computer.
9Repeat this procedure on every computer on the network.
Sharing drives or folders
If you want to share a drive or folder, use the following instructions.
To share drives or folders:
1Make sure that each computer on your network has Windows file 
and printer sharing turned on by following the steps in “Turning 
on Windows file and printer sharing” on page 128.
2In My Computer or Windows Explorer, right-click the drive or folder 
that you want to share, then click 
Sharing and Security. The folder 
properties dialog box opens.
If you share a drive, the entire contents of that drive will be available 
to everyone on your network. If you share a folder, only the contents 
of that folder will be available to everyone on the network. 
						

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3Click the Sharing tab.
4If you want to share the drive or folder with anyone on the network 
(network sharing), click to select the 
Share this folder on the network 
check box.
5Click OK.
Un-sharing drives, folders, and files
To un-share drives or folders:
1In My Computer or Windows Explorer, right-click the drive or folder 
that you want to un-share, then click 
Sharing and Security.
2Make sure that the Share this folder on the network check box is not 
selected.
3Click OK. 
						

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Sharing printers
To share printers:
1Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. 
If your Control Panel is in Category View, click 
Printers and Other 
Hardware
.
2Click/Double-click the Printers and Faxes icon. The Printers and Faxes 
window opens.
3Right-click the name of the printer you want to share, then click 
Sharing.
4Click Share this printer.
5Click OK.
Using the network
After the drives and printers on each network computer are shared, you 
can:
■View shared drives and folders
■Map a network drive
■Open and copy files stored on other network computers
■Print documents on network printers
Viewing shared drives and folders
To view shared drives and folders:
1Click Start, then click My Network Places. The My Network Places 
window opens.
2Click/Double-click Entire Network. The Entire Network window opens. 
If you do not see the contents of the network after you double-click 
Entire Network, click entire contents.
3Double-click Microsoft Windows Network. 
						

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4Double-click the name of your workgroup. The names of each of the 
computers in your workgroup are listed. For more information about 
workgroups, see “Naming the computers and the workgroup” on 
page 111.
5Double-click the name of the computer containing the drive or 
folder you want to view. All shared drives and folders are listed.
Mapping a network drive
After a drive or folder on one computer is mapped as a drive on another 
computer, the contents of the drive or folder can be accessed as if the 
drive were attached directly to the computer.
For example, the My Documents folder on computer 1 is mapped as the 
Z drive on computer 2. To access the My Documents folder on computer 
1 from computer 2, double-click the Z drive.
To map a network drive:
1Locate the drive or folder by completing the steps in “Viewing shared 
drives and folders” on page 131.
2Right-click the drive or folder, then click Map Network Drive. The Map 
Network Drive wizard opens.
3Click the arrow button to open the Drive list, then click the drive 
letter you want to map this drive or folder to.
4Click Reconnect at Logon if you want to reconnect to this drive or 
folder each time you log on to the network.
5Click Finish.
Opening files across the network
To open files across the network:
1Start the program for the file you want to open.
2Click File, then click Open. 
						

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3Browse to the network drive that contains the file you want to open.
4Double-click the folder containing the file, then double-click the file.
Copying files across the network
To copy files across the network:
1Click Start, then click My Computer. The My Computer window opens.
2Browse to the network drive that contains the file you want to copy.
3Browse to the file you want to copy.
4Click the file.
5Click Edit, then click Copy.
6Double-click the folder where you want to copy the file to.
7Click Edit, then click Paste.
Printing files across the network
To print files across the network:
1Open the file you want to print.
2Click File, then click Print.
3In the printer name list, click the network printer. 
4Click OK.
ImportantBefore you can print a file across the network, you 
must install the driver for the printer on the 
computer you are sending the file from. You can 
obtain the printer driver and installation instructions 
from the CD that shipped with your printer or from 
the manufacturer’s Web site. 
						

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Connecting to hotspots
A hotspot is a high-speed wireless Internet access point available in public 
locations such as airports, airline clubs, libraries, book shops, and coffee 
houses.
While you are away from your home office, hotspots let you send and 
receive e-mail, surf Web sites, or access your company’s network.
You usually need to sign up to get access through hotspot connections. 
During the sign-up process, the vendor will provide you with the 
necessary connection information.
To access any new network, obtain information about the network (such 
as the SSID, password key, and security settings to use) and enter that 
information. See “Configuring computer settings for an access point 
network” on page 120 for instructions.
ImportantIf you want to access your company’s network 
through a hotspot, contact your network 
administrator for setup information. You will 
probably be routed through a VPN connection for 
maximum security.
CautionBecause hotspots typically do not enable any 
security measures, the data that you are sending 
and receiving may be vulnerable.
Any of the files on your notebook that are marked 
for sharing may be accessible to other users on the 
network.