Setting up a home network
You'll need a wired or wireless home network for your computer to communicate with an Extender.
This tutorial covers the following steps for setting up a home network:
A network can be one computer connected to the Internet, or two or more computers connected to each other (and also to the Internet). In a wireless network, the computers are connected by radio signals instead of wires or cables. Advantages of wireless networks include mobility and no unsightly wires. Disadvantages can include a slower connection than a wired network and interference from other wireless devices, such as cordless phones.
Wireless network with a shared Internet connection
Start by setting up one computer. Once you set up the network and you are sure that the first computer is working correctly, you can add additional computers or devices. This information is designed for people who have a broadband connection (usually DSL or cable) to the Internet rather than a dial-up connection.
Install network adapters in any computers that need them. (Follow the installation instructions in the information that came with each adapter.) A network adapter is a device that connects your PC to a network and is sometimes called a network interface card (NIC).
You don't need an Internet connection to set up a network, although most people want to use their network to share an Internet connection. To set up an Internet connection, you need a cable or DSL modem and an account with an Internet service provider (ISP). Then open the Connect to the Internet wizard and follow the instructions.
If you already have an Internet connection, you just need to verify that the connection is working. To do that, open your web browser and go to a website that you don't usually visit. (If you go to a website that you visit often, some of its webpages might be stored on your computer and will display correctly even if your connection is faulty.) If the website opens and you don't get any error messages, your connection is working.
There are several ways to connect computers—the configuration depends on the type of network adapters, modem, and Internet connection that you have. It also depends on whether or not you want to share an Internet connection among all the computers on the network. The following sections briefly describe some connection methods.
Wired networks – You need a hub, switch, or router to connect computers using Ethernet. To share an Internet connection, you need to use a router. Connect the router to the computer that is connected to the modem (if you haven't already done this).
Ethernet network with wired router and a shared Internet connection
Wireless networks – For wireless networks, run the Set Up a Wireless Router or Access Point wizard on the computer attached to the router. The wizard will walk you through the process of adding other computers and devices to the network.
Wireless network with a shared Internet connection
If your network is wireless, run the Set up a Wireless Router or Access Point wizard on the computer attached to the router.
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Open Set Up a Wireless Router or Access Point by clicking the Start button 
, clicking Control Panel, clicking Network and Internet, and then clicking Network and Sharing Center.
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In the left pane, click Set up a connection or network, and then click Set up a wireless router or access point.
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The wizard will walk you through the process of adding other computers and devices to the network.
It's a good idea to test your network to make sure that all of the computers and devices are connected and working properly. To test your network, do the following on each network computer:
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Click the Start button , and then click Network. You should be able to see icons for the computer you are on and all of the other computers and devices that you have added to the network.
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If the computer you are checking has a printer attached, the printer icon might not be visible on other computers until you enable printer sharing.
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It might take several minutes for computers running previous versions of Windows to appear in the Network folder.
Learn more:
FAQ: Wireless networks