Microsoft Vista Home Networking Setup and Options
The most daunting part of upgrading to Windows Vista may be trying to figure out where in the layers of menus the networking and file-sharing options are hidden.
Tips for Securing Your Home Router
Seemingly minor and easily overlooked settings can still have profound security implications. Here are some steps you can take to make sure your wired or wireless home router — and by extension, your network — is as secure as possible.
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If you're using a UMAX UGate Plus and all of your
computers have lost contact with the Internet, follow the steps below:
First, check to see if all of your computers
can no longer access the Internet. If some of your computers can connect, but others
can't, try first rebooting the computers that are having trouble connecting. If that
doesn't work, go to Step 5.
Login to the UGP and check the Status panel
Open your web browser and type 192.168.0.1 in the address box. You should
see the UGP's administration screen (shown below).
Click on the Status link and you should see the following screen:
If you see 0.0.0.0 in the IP address and Default Gateway
fields, go on to Step 3. (Don't worry, you'll be able to read the information in your
window! The information in the above diagram has been intentionally concealed.)
If you see numbers other than 0.0.0.0 in those fields, the problem is probably
not in the UGP. Try Step 5.
Reset the UGP
Locate the small black button on the side of the UGate Plus. It's right next to the power
input jack. Press it once and wait for the lights to stop blinking. Click on
the Reload button on your browser and see if you now have IP address information
in the IP address and Default Gateway fields. If you do, go to Step
5, if you don't, go to Step 4.
Power cycle the Modem and UGP
Unplug power from the UGate Plus
Unplug power from your modem
Wait 5-10 seconds
Plug in your modem and wait for it to finish its power-up cycle.
Plug in the Ugate Plus and wait for the lights to stop blinking
Press the Reset button on the UGP and wait for the lights to stop
blinking.
Click on the Reload button on your browser and you should now
have IP address information in the IP address and Default Gateway
fields.
Renew your Client DHCP leases (PC only)
This step assumes that your Client computers' TCP/IP IP Address Properties are set to
"Obtain an IP Address automatically" (or obtain from a DHCP server).
Click on the Windows Start button, select Run and type winipcfg.
A window will appear. Click on the "More Info" button to get the version
of the window shown below:
Notice the drop down selection box where the adapter type name is displayed. You may
have more than one Adapter on your computer. Do not select
"PPP Adapter" if it is shown.
Once you have selected the Ethernet adapter for your computer, click the Release
button at the bottom of the window. If there was IP address information in the
window, it should go away.
Now click the Renew button. You should see IP address information similar
to that in the window below. Click OK to close the window.
Launch your web browser and verify that your Internet connection is working. Good
job! It's probably a good idea to reboot your computer at this point.