Set Up and Manage Your Network

If you simply want to use your PC to surf the web and send e-mail, your network may be as basic as a PC connected to the Internet. Or perhaps you want to connect several PCs and devices. Windows Vista gives you the power to create the type of network you want—in less time and with less effort.

The Network Setup Wizard automates the process of creating a new network and adding devices to it. It automatically establishes network security settings to help protect your network from intruders. With Windows Connect Now, you can also save these settings to a USB flash drive to transfer them to another PC or device, making it very easy to add wireless devices to your network.

Easily create a new network with the Network Setup Wizard.

Network Center informs you about the network your computer is connected to and verifies whether it can successfully reach the Internet. It even visually displays the information in the Network Map, so you can immediately see your connectivity to the network and Internet.

The Network Map details your network and Internet connectivity.

Windows Vista also "remembers" the settings for the different networks you use, so it's easier to reconnect—whether you're at home, at the office, or at a friend's house. Windows Vista continuously tunes itself to receive data at the highest possible speed, so downloads are faster, and streaming media plays more smoothly. If a network problem comes up that requires your attention, Network Diagnostics can analyze the problem and recommend ways to fix it.

Network Diagnostics analyzes network problems and provides possible solutions.

Windows Vista works well with most networking devices and applications. But for the best experience, make sure to use products that bear the "Works with Windows Vista" logo. If a product has the logo, you can be confident that it will work well with the newest networking features in Windows Vista. Devices and applications with the "Certified for Windows Vista" logo provide even better integration. For example, routers bearing this logo allow you to transfer audio and high-definition video at high speeds to Media Center Extender devices, such as Microsoft Xbox 360.