Make Sure Your Hardware Is Recognized

After plugging in your equipment, check in with the Device Manager to make sure it's recognized.

1. From the Desktop, right-click My Computer and choose Properties (Figure 7.1).

   Figure 7.1. Open My Computer so you can access the Device Manager.

   

2. Click the Device Manager tab (Figure 7.2).

   Figure 7.2. Choose the Device Manager tab to bring it forward.

   

3. From the list of devices, double-click the Network Adapters entry (or click the plus symbol next to Network Adapters in the list) (Figure 7.3).

   Figure 7.3. Double-click the Network Adapters entry.

   

   If you do not see your wireless network adapter, you should make sure that it is connected correctly to your PC. If you still do not see the network adapter, try reinstalling the drivers. (See Chapter 6 for a list of hardware vendors and their support sites, where you can download updated drivers.)

If your equipment is recognized, it's time to see whether your computer is ready to access the Internet. If not, we'll install some software that will allow your PCs to communicate with every other computer on the Internet.