Is my PC ready?
Step 1 - Do I have an Ethernet port on my computer?
Your Ethernet port will often be located at the back of your computer. It will be symbolised by an icon looking very similar to this:
This symbol will be located next to the Ethernet port. Here are some examples of Ethernet ports on a desktop computer and a laptop:
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If you are unable to locate an Ethernet port on your computer you may not actually have one installed. You can quickly identify whether you have a Network card present in your machine.
- Right-click on ‘My Computer’ (found on your desktop or in your Start menu) and left-click on ‘Properties’
- Left-click on the ‘Hardware’ tab and then ‘Device Manager’
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- You will now see a list of all hardware devices installed onto your computer. Click on the + symbol next to ‘Network adapters’
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If you have an Ethernet port installed on your computer, you should see an Ethernet device under the ‘Network adapters’ heading. If you cannot see a ‘Network adapter’ heading or an Ethernet entry under this, there is no Ethernet device installed.
Don’t fret – you can buy an Ethernet card from any high-street or online PC retailer
If there is a yellow exclamation mark or red cross next to the Ethernet device then it is not functioning correctly. You will need to seek advice from your computer or hardware supplier.
Step 2 - Is my Local Area Connection enabled?
For Windows XP
- Go to Start on your desktop
- Then Settings, then Control Panel, then Network Connections
For Windows Vista
- Go to Start on your desktop
- Then Network, then Network and Sharing Centre, then Manage Network Connections
…and then
- Right click on the icon named ‘Local Area Connection’
- If you see ‘Disable’ in the right-hand menu, then your Connection is enabled. If you see ‘Enable’ this means your connection needs enabling. You can do this by left-clicking on ‘Enable’.
Note: If you do not have a Local Area Connection then you will need to consult your Computer supplier. You may not have a Network Card installed in your computer.
Step 3 - Is my Browser setup to accept a Broadband Router device?
- Open Internet Explorer
- Click on Tools, then Internet Options, then Connections.
- If you have a dial up connection listed in the ‘Dial-up and Virtual Private Network settings’ field, ensure ‘Never dial a connection’ is selected and click ‘Apply’
- Click on ‘LAN Settings’. Remove any ticks from any of the boxes and click ‘OK’. Click ‘OK’ once more to exit the Internet Options. You will now be back at the Internet Explorer page.
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Your computer is now configured to accept a Broadband Router device. You should now configure your Broadband Router as shown in your Broadband Router Setup Guide.
