Here’s how the story usually goes: Your brand new PC arrives perfectly wrapped up and packed in a shiny box. You take it out, turn it on, and set it up. But there’s one problem. You can’t figure out how to connect it to the internet. So now what?
You may have already purchased home internet access, which is a necessary step in the right direction. And, like almost everyone, you probably want to access the internet to browse all the wonderful sites on the web, set up an email account, and maybe even join a really cool social network to catch up with friends. But before you get to that, you must first learn how to set up your internet connection.
No worries. That’s what we’re here for.
There are several ways to go about this. You can connect your new computer to the internet utilizing an Ethernet cable or you can use a home wireless network, more commonly known as Wi-Fi. The latter is perhaps the better choice because it allows you to connect to the Internet from any part of your home.
Today I’m going to show you two simple ways to access your home internet. This way, you won’t have to ask an IT professional to do it for you.
Not only is this tutorial free of charge, it’s also as easy as it gets.
Method 1: How to Connect to the Internet Using an Ethernet Cable (Without WiFi)
Since Windows comes pre-configured for Internet access via Ethernet, this is probably one of the easiest ways to get online. You just have to plug in a cable, and you’re good to go. The only caveat with this method is that you’ll only be able to use the internet around the area where your modem is situated. That’s why most people, including me, prefer a WiFi connection.
With that said, here’s what you need to do:
- Connect the power cable to the broadband modem, if you haven’t already. Wait for the modem to connect to your ISP (Internet Service Provider). You’ll know it’s connected when the lights on the front of your modem turn solid. If you’re also using a router, connect the power cord to the router and wait a few seconds until it establishes a connection with your modem.
- Connect one end of an Ethernet cable to the back of your broadband modem. Or to be more precise, connect it to the back of your cable modem on the port labeled “Internet” or “Ethernet.”
- Now insert the other end of the Ethernet cable to the Ethernet port on your computer. Your computer’s Ethernet port may be located on the side or on the back of your PC, depending on the brand and model. Again, if you’re using a router, this end of the cable should connect to the first port from the left on your wireless router. You can repeat this process to add as many computers as you want, or can, but you will need to use the other available ports on the router.
- Open a web browser like Chrome or Explorer to check to see if your computer is able to browse the web. If it works, there’s nothing else you need to do. If it doesn’t, keep on reading.
- Launch the “Start” menu and click “Control Panel.”
- Type “Network” in the search box and then click on “Network and Sharing Center.”
- Click “Set up a new connection of network” and then double-click “Connect to Internet.” Windows will take a few seconds to connect your computer to the Internet.
- Finally, open a web browser, enter a URL in the address bar, and press “Enter” to test your internet connection.
Method 2: How to Connect with WiFi
Any computer, be it laptop or desktop, can connect to a WiFi network just as easily as a mobile device. Plus, it has other benefits too. For example, you can set up your workspace anywhere, which means you won’t be limited just to the area where the modem is located.
Here’s how it works:
- First, make sure that your desktop or laptop computer has a wireless network adapter. To do this, simply open the “Start” menu, type “Device Manager” in the search box, and then select “Device Manager” when it shows up. Expand “Network Adapters” and look for a network adapter that says “Wireless.” If there’s a network adapter that says Wireless, it means you have a wireless adapter and do not need to order one.
- Now click on the WiFi icon in the notification area of the taskbar to see the list of available networks (SSIDs).
- Select the network to which you want to connect and click “Connect.”
- If the network is secured, you’ll be prompted to enter the network password. If that’s the case, enter the network’s security key and click “Next.”
- Now open a web browser, enter a URL in the address bar, and press “Enter” to see if your internet connection is working.
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