Windows 7: configuring the network from A to Z. All the secrets of setting up a Wi-Fi network on Windows 7

It's hard to imagine what features the operating system of Windows 7 has. Setting up a network is one of the features that it provides for home and corporate users. It is worth considering the features of this process for different types of networks and connections, so that you have a full understanding of the principles of operation and use of the network capabilities of this system. Next, you will learn how to create Windows 7 workgroups. Configuring the network, how to communicate between machines, will also be described. In addition, it is worth considering a place from which you can make convenient control over the shared resources of each computer.

Configuring a Windows 7 Network for a Home Group

Computers will work properly on the network only if they synchronize the time between them. On all machines, the current time should be set, and it must be done so that it does not get off. Next, you need to set all IP addresses that will be on the same network. This function is traditionally owned by a router or router. It is he who sets each computer address from a certain range. When there is no router, you need to manually set the addresses in Windows 7. Setting up the network in this case is a bit complicated, but this is not a problem. This is done so. You need to open the Network Management Center, and then change the adapter parameter. In the window that appears before you, the network connections of the PC will be displayed. You should choose the one through which it will be paired with the home network. This can be a wired or wireless connection, or some other. Select this option, and then call its context menu. Next you need to open "Properties". If there are no checkboxes next to each item, then you need to install them. Then select "Internet Protocol" version 4 (TCP / IPv4) and call its properties. In the window that opens, you need to specify your IP address and subnet mask. On other computers, you must do the same, just specify the next address in the selected range. And here it is important to understand that this parameter should be absolutely unique for each machine.

Features

In case of connection to the Internet, it's best to install a router, where the automatic distribution of addresses will be configured. Next, for all computers on the network, the same workgroup must be created. This parameter is set by calling the context menu of the "Computer" item, where you want to display its properties. The name of the workgroup is best set to WORKGROUP, if it is not, then it should be changed. When everything meets the specified requirements, it's time to create and configure a Windows 7 workgroup. Setting up the network in this case is not particularly difficult.

Working with a home group

Before you start working on these settings, you need to know about the moment, such as the location of the network. When you first connect to the network, you are asked to specify it. For each of the locations, different connection and firewall settings are used.

Locations

In Windows 7 there are four locations:

- Public network. This parameter is used when connecting in a public place. For example, at a train station, in a cafe or at an airport. Firewall security settings in this case are used the most stringent, disabling the ability to form homegroups and discover the network. It turns out that the computer does not see the other participants, but at the same time itself is not visible to them. In this case, the maximum security settings are not a guarantee of absolute protection. You do not need to use any important resources where you need to authorize.

- Enterprise network. Network discovery is enabled, but there is no way to form homegroups.

- Home network. In this case, the option to create homegroups and network discovery is enabled. If you know all the computers belonging to this network, then you should choose this option.

- Domain network. Typically, for this location, it is assumed that all settings will be set by the network administrators of the enterprise.

Process of creation

Creating a home group is feasible when choosing the third type of location. This is done so. The Network Management Center needs to select "Public Network". In the window open before you, you need to select the "Home network" item. Now you can create a group or join an existing one.

Setting up a Windows 7 Peer-to-Peer network allows you to create only one homegroup. It can be organized on one of the computers included in the selected group. The others will join her. To do this, absolutely any version of Windows is suitable. And creation is possible only in the version above "Home" and "Initial". You can get information on the version of the operating system in the properties of the computer.

Subtlety of the configuration process

In the "Home Group" window, you need to click the "Create" button. Next, you need to select the libraries to which you want to be granted access, after which you can continue. After that a password will be generated for the home group, which is worth recording. You can click "Finish". Now when selecting "Home Group" you will have the opportunity to change its settings. Here you can see or change the password, leave the homegroup, and change the sharing settings and launch the troubleshooter. When the last participant leaves it, it ceases to exist. After all these manipulations, you already have a created home group with a specific set of settings and parameters. Next, you need to connect all the other computers to the network. This is the configuration of the local network Windows 7.

On the next computer you want to connect, you need to find the corresponding item, then click "Join", set the public access for libraries, and then click "Next". Now you need to enter the password that you previously recorded, and continue. This will connect the computer to the homegroup. Similar manipulations should be made on the rest of the machine.

Set up sharing

Setting up a Windows 7 work network assumes that you can easily perform other manipulations later. To make the users of the homegroup share, you need to do the following: open the explorer, find and select the folder to which you want to access. In the toolbar, click Share, and then select the options that suit you most.

For group users, you can share it like this. In Explorer, you must find the desired folder, select it, and then in the toolbar select the appropriate item, namely "Sharing." In the menu, you can choose one of two options: either read-only, or read-write. The second option assumes that users can make changes and delete files in this directory. There is also an opportunity for a complete denial of access, for which the point "None of the users" is intended. The icon of the folder will be marked with a lock.

How does it look to the user?

When creating or joining an existing home group, a section with the corresponding name appears in the navigation area in the explorer. From here it's quite simple and convenient to go to the shared folders of other computers on your network. After a while, you can completely forget about which folders are shared. You can remember this if you enter your computer through the network. This is rather convenient by means of an explorer, where the "Network" item is used in the navigation menu.

Working with the "Computer Management" utility

After opening the utility window, you can see the "Shared folders" item located in the console tree, there are "Shared resources". In the center there is a table in which all the shared folders are placed, and then you can quite simply stop accessing any of them. You can open access from this section, which is opened by the "Action" menu, in which "New share" is selected. After working with the "Wizard" you will have a new shared folder.

Library sharing is by default read only. And from the Explorer you can give access to the recording. First, you need to select the desired folder in the navigation area, call the context menu, and then select "Shared", then "Home Group" (read and write). So you can not only open and close access, but also reset the network settings of Windows 7.

Conclusion

Thanks to all these operations, you can not only perform network settings. It's worth saying that the network configuration of the enterprise Windows 7 is similar, only you need to specify which type of connection is selected, and all settings are usually configured by the network administrator. You already know how to create a homegroup, and also open and close shared resources. All this will allow not only to form the environment that you need, but also reset the network settings of Windows 7. You can give a few more recommendations about the security during work.

It is necessary to install all updates for the OS, especially important. This will close the gaps of the system, detected by specialists. To control the perimeter, you should use a firewall. Anti-virus on the computer should not only be installed, you should constantly update it to destroy everything that could "break through" through the firewall. The Windows 7 WiFi network is configured using the "Manage wireless networks" item. The assistant will guide you along the way. The principle of operation in an already created network is similar to that described earlier.