Safety First

• Protect your laptop from infection. If your laptop is new, you probably have pre-installed virus protection software already. Generally this software is “free” for some period of time, from 30 to 90 days, at which time you are required to pay for it if you wish to continue using it. You are not required to do so. Any number of free anti-virus programs for single users are available on the Internet, a few rated as high as, or higher than, the paid products. The paid versions do offer a few bells and whistles not present on the free software. Whichever way you choose to go, make certain anti-virus software is installed and running before you venture into the Internet.
  
  

Network Connections

• Start your laptop and open the Programs dialog box by depressing the Microsoft key in the lower left hand corner of the laptop keyboard. Go to “Network” located in the right hand column in all Windows operating systems that are using the standard view. Check to see that your computer appears in the right side of the page. This means that your laptop is functioning properly. Next, go to “Control Panel” below “Network.” Open the “Network and Sharing Center” and click on “Manage Network Connections.” You should see at least two icons: “Local Area Connection” and “Wireless Network Connection.” If you connect directly to your internet service provider by a CAT-5 wire running from your modem to your laptop, the “Local Area Connection” icon shows five graduated green bars. Otherwise you see a red “X.” If you are connected wirelessly through your laptop’s WiFi adapter, you will see the same five green bars or fewer, depending on your position in relation to the wireless broadcast site.
  
  

WiFi Set-up

• If you do not detect any connectivity, you need to install a router with wireless broadcast capability. Open your laptop and go to “Connect To” on the right side of your Windows Start menu. Your wireless router name will appear. Double-click its name or icon and you will be asked to enter the security code, type of encryption, and in some rare instances, your name. Follow these instructions and press “Connect.”
  
  

Email

• If you have an email address and use an email client, such as Outlook, install the email client and enter your address, user name and password, as well as the incoming and outgoing protocol addresses supplied by your ISP or email originator. If you do not yet have an email address, go to the website of a provider, or your ISP, and register. They will help you acquire your own email address, log-in name and password.