Connecting To A Network - HP Notebook PC User Manual

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Connecting to a network

Your computer can travel with you wherever you go. But even at home, you can explore the globe
and access information from millions of websites using your computer and a wired or wireless
network connection. This chapter will help you get connected to that world.
Connecting to a wireless network
Wireless technology transfers data across radio waves instead of wires. Your computer may be
equipped with one or more of the following wireless devices:
Wireless local area network (WLAN) device—Connects the computer to wireless local area
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networks (commonly referred to as Wi-Fi networks, wireless LANs, or WLANs) in corporate
offices, your home, and public places such as airports, restaurants, coffee shops, hotels, and
universities. In a WLAN, the mobile wireless device in your computer communicates with a
wireless router or a wireless access point.
For more information about wireless technology, the Internet, and networking, see the information
and website links provided in Help and Support. From the Start screen, type help, and then select
Help and Support.
Using the wireless controls
You can control the wireless devices in your computer using one or more of these features:
Wireless button, wireless switch, wireless key, or airplane mode key (referred to in this chapter
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as the wireless button) (select models only)
Operating system controls
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Using the wireless button
The computer has a wireless button, one or more wireless devices, and, on select models, one or two
wireless lights. All the wireless devices on your computer are enabled at the factory, and if your
computer has a wireless light, the wireless light is on (white) when you turn on the computer.
The wireless light indicates the overall power state of your wireless devices, not the status of
individual devices. If the wireless light is white, at least one wireless device is on. If the wireless light
is off, all wireless devices are off.
NOTE: On some models, the wireless light is amber when all wireless devices are off.
Because the wireless devices are enabled at the factory, you can use the wireless button to turn on or
turn off the wireless devices simultaneously.
Using operating system controls
The Network and Sharing Center allows you to set up a connection or network, connect to a network,
and diagnose and repair network problems.
To use operating system controls:
Connecting to a wireless network 15