Dell 140M, PP19L Connecting to a Wireless Local Area Network, Determining Your Network Type

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NOTE: Selecting the connection method This computer connects directly to the Internet enables the integrated firewall provided with Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) or later.

4Complete the checklist and required preparations.

5Return to the Network Setup Wizard and follow the instructions on the screen.

Connecting to a Wireless Local Area Network

NOTE: These networking instructions do not apply to internal cards with Bluetooth® wireless technology or cellular products.

Determining Your Network Type

NOTE: Most wireless networks are of the infrastructure type.

Wireless networks fall into two categories—infrastructure networks and ad-hoc networks. An infrastructure network uses routers or access points to connect several computers. An ad-hoc network does not use routers or access points and consists of computers that broadcast to one another. For additional assistance with setting up your wireless connection, go to support.dell.com and search for the keyword wireless setup.

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1 infrastructure network 2 ad-hoc network

Connecting to a Wireless Network in Microsoft® Windows® XP

Your wireless network card requires specific software and drivers in order to connect to a network. The software is already installed. If the software is removed or corrupted, follow the instructions included in the user's guide for your wireless network card.

The user’s guide is located on the optional Drivers and Utilities CD in the "User’s Guides- Network User’s Guides" category. The user’s guide is also available on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com and may also be located on your computer desktop.

NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities CD is optional and may not be available for your computer or in certain countries.

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Setting Up a Home and Office Network