Connecting a single computer to the Internet is usually done using an analogue modem, ISDN adaptor or a broadband modem. It can also be done using wireless (WI-FI) in which case is setup as in computer networking.

Items Required

Dial Up Analogue Modem

• Internal or External modem (56kbits/sec is standard).
• Telephone connection
• Dial Up Account with an ISP (Internet service provider)

Dial Up ISDN

• Internal or External ISDN modem (56kbits/sec USA or Europe 64kbits/sec).
• ISDN telephone connection
• Dial Up ISDN Account with an ISP (internet service provider)

Broadband DSL/ADSL

• Broadband DSL modem
• DSL filter
• Account with an ISP (Internet service provider)
• Software for the DSL/broadband modem

Basic Setup Procedure

Before you can create a new connection you need to ensure that the device drivers for the modem (analogue, ISDN, broadband) have been installed. Usually your hardware will come with a setup disk to install the hardware or Windows will auto detect the hardware and install it or prompt for the setup disk. Many broadband ISPs provide a set up disk that not only installs the hardware but also creates the network connection.

If the setup software asks for username/password information then it is also trying to create a network connection. You may want to see the section below on common connection properties before trying to setup your connection. To check that it has been created then go to start> connect to and select show all connections ( windows XP) or start> control panel > Network and dial up connections ( windows 2000)

You should see a connection icon with a name that you recognise from your setup (see below). You should give the connection a suitable descriptive name, if it doesn’t have one then right click the icon and rename it. This is especially important if you have more than one connection (below I have two).

If the setup program hasn’t created a network connection then you can create one manually. To create a connection (windows 2000) go to control panel > Network and dial up connections and click Make a new Connection. To create a connection (windows XP) go to start> connect to and select show all connections and click Make a new Connection from the Network tasks.

The Internet connection Wizard appears. You are going to configure a dial up connection to the Internet so for Windows XP select connect to Internet and then select the set up connection manually or ISP option and follow the Wizard.

Once you have created the connection you can then connect to the internet using that connection as follows (windows XP):

Select start> connect to and choose the connection or start> connect to and select show all connections and a window opens with all the connections displayed.

You will notice that some connections are grayed -these are inactive connections and others are in blue -these are active connections. To connect using a connection then right click the connection and select connect from the menu.

A login window appears enter the username and password for you account and tick the box to save the password.

To change connections settings then right click the connection and select properties from the menu or select properties in the login window when you are connecting.

Configuring Automatic Connection

Rather than dial the connection manually each time you can have the computer automatically connect when you need access to a resource on the internet. This is accomplished in Internet Explorer by configuring the following:

To do this open Internet explorer select Tools>internet options and make sure either always dial my default connection or dial whenever a network connection is not present radio box is enabled.

Common Connection Properties

All computers connected to the Internet require an IP address and a DNS server address(es). It is normal to configure the connection to obtain these automatically. When you create the connection you will be asked to choose or they will be configured by default.

To view the setting or change them you need to change them on the TCP/IP properties window.

To access this window then:

1. Right click the connection and select properties from the menu.
2. Select the networking tab.
3. Click the TCP/IP component so that it is highlighted (note: don’t uncheck the check box).
   
4. Select properties and the window will open as shown below:

Related Articles and Resources:

• Internet and Networking Components
• Internet Connection Methods

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