My comments below apply to a wireless network (the E1505 comes with a
built-in WiFi wireless card, and also a wired network interface also).
If you are only operating wired, none of this applies and you can petty
much just plug it in. A wired connection would probably set itself up,
but if not you may have to use the "new connection wizard" to get the
laptop to properly detect and configure everything.
Barry Watzman wrote:
> You don't have to do anything in the router setup, leave the router
> itself alone unless you are currently operating without encryption (see
> below).
>
> On the new laptop, you may have to set some things or you may not, I
> don't actually have a 1505, and in any case Dell offers multiple WiFi
> options. But here are the things that you may need to consider (some of
> these may get set automatically or may be semiautomatic (the laptop only
> asks you to select from a list), while others may require completely
> manual entry):
>
> 1. Channel. You may have to set the wireless channel on the Dell to
> match the router (on some laptops, some WiFi cards and with some
> software, the laptop will "search" all channels and find your network,
> in other cases it has to be explicitly set).
>
> 2. Network ID (SSID). You will either have to set this manually, or
> possibly (with some cards and some software on some laptops) the laptop
> will conduct a "survey" and will let you pick from all of the wireless
> LANs that it finds.
>
> 3. Encryption type: You may have to set this. The major choices are
> none (more about that later), WEP and WPA. There are some sub-types
> within both of these. Again, some cards with some software will be able
> to sort out some of this automatically, in other cases it will have to
> be manually set.
>
> 4. Encryption key: If you are using encryption, the key will have to
> be set. The laptop will never be able to set the key automatically (if
> it could, the whole point of encryption would be defeated).
>
> Note on encryption, you should not operate a wireless network without
> encryption, it's too dangerous, you neighbors may be able to see what
> you do, to use your internet connection, to see files on your computer,
> and even to modify or delete files on your computer. And in some cases,
> they could use your printer (although I can't imagine why ....).
> Operating a wireless network without encryption should just never be
> done except for brief periods while setting up the network. However, no
> encryption is the default for a new router "out of the box", and many if
> not most residential users never get around to setting up encryption
> (which can be difficult to configure in some cases).
>
> You will probably have a choice of WEP or WPA encryption. WEP is the
> older technology and is less secure. It can be broken, but some
> hardware (even some surprisingly recent hardware) doesn't support WPA.
> Although it's breakable, WEP is still probably adequate for most typical
> home users who are not involved in crime or national security. Sure, it
> can be broken, but only by a true "techie", and it takes some effort and
> some motivation, which generally means that no one is likely to hack a
> WEP encrypted home network unless they have a specific reason and
> motivation for doing so. And for most people, in most home network
> situations, that motivation just isn't present. All of that said, if
> all of the equipment involved supports WPA, use WPA, which is far more
> secure than WEP. There is no real downside to WPA as long as both the
> router and the WiFi adapter in all involved computers support it.
>
>
> Charliec wrote:
>> I have a couple of quetions and am looking for some suggestions. I
>> currently have a Dell Dim 8300 setup on DSL with a Linksys 4 Port
>> Router which I can connect my current Laptop to, to access the drive
>> on my desktop and the Internet. My current Laptop is a Gateway which
>> has just "died". I have ordered a Dell E1505 and it should be
>> delivered shortly. Now, my questions:
>>
>> - Since I have the Router setup and working properly, what would I
>> have to do to connect the new Dell Laptop to it. Just plug it in and
>> it will auto config?? Are do I have to do something in the Router to
>> config the new Laptop (IPCONFIG settings or something?)
>>
>> - I have my "E" drive on the Desktop set to share on the Local
>> Network, so I assume, once I have the new Laptop connected to the
>> Network, I should just have to "MAP" the Network Dirve on the Laptop
>> to see the "E" drive on my Desktop. My current Laptop was Mapped to
>> the Z drive on the Laptop. I just share files from the E drive to my
>> Laptop for traveling and research. So, would this work out OK?
>>
>> I might be missing some questions, so any input/suggestions you can
>> provide will be appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks and look forward to hearing from you all.
>> Charlie
>> ************************************************** ****
>> Charliec
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