Internet Access With Your HP - OSCOT - Because Education Should Be Free

Internet Access With Your HP

Here is HP’s quick stop to configuring your Internet connection. Whether it be plugged in via network cable or wirelessly, this program provides a quick and painless way to deal with tricky internet connections. Let’s look at the process hp has defined for us here.

Upon clicking the Internet Connection button within the HP Total Care Advisor, you will be taken to a screen where you can choose two options for Internet access. The first being the link that reads “Launch Easy Internet Services” and the other is “Launch Internet Connection Wizard”. At the bottom, there is a link that will provide you with HP’s Help and Support .

Internet Access With Your HP

The Launch Easy Internet Services tab brings up some providers you can choose from for dial-up and dsl/cable type services.

Internet Access With Your HP

Launch Internet Connection Wizard is the option of choice when you already have an existing wireless connection you just want to hook into.

Internet Access With Your HP

Here we are presented with which kind of connection we want to set-up. Since I already have a wireless setup and like to work from comfortable locations instead of actual “workspaces,” we will choose the wireless option for this exercise.

Internet Access With Your HP

Our initial screen was a bit deceiving because it informed me that I was unable to find any networks. However, I knew there are networks in the surrounding area, particularly mine! I remembered that a lot of newer HP’s included a manual control for wireless networks in order to save battery and for travel flexibility. I found the switch to initialize the wireless card and that was the end of that problem. The diagram below shows where it is located on this specific laptop.

Internet Access With Your HP

Upon enabling the Wireless Switch it now scans for local networks that you have a signal strong enough to connect to.

Internet Access With Your HP

The Network here is named “3’s Company.” Now highlight the “3’s Company” network within the Window and choose “Connect” on the bottom right of the open window.

Internet Access With Your HP

Upon clicking “Connect” you will notice it trying to establish a connection with the router in order to access the internet.

Internet Access With Your HP

Since my router is locked through a WEP encryption, their wizard now prompts me for the network key. I have it saved on my Blackberry device, so pull it up and enter the key into the box provided. You can check the radial box next to the text “Display characters” to display what you are typing instead of an encrypted pass phrase that you can’t see. This will enable you to review it the 26 digit encryption key and make sure that it is correct before clicking “Connect” to finalize the connection.

Internet Access With Your HP

The wizard will not show the progress bar again and continue to establish a connection, which should resolve into an ip address from the router.

Internet Access With Your HP

Once completed it enables you to “Save this network” and “Start this connection automatically”. This will enable your pc to automatically connect to it within range every time, which makes it that much easier to access a connection.

Internet Access With Your HP

Clicking “Next” will prompt the wizard to test your Internet connection.

Internet Access With Your HP

Once completed, you will be prompted with this screen and the option to “Browse the Internet now” and “Close”. “Browse the Internet now” will prompt Internet Explorer to open. Clicking “Close” will prompt the wizard window to close and the wizard to end. The Internet Connection screen now shows the strength of the connection and its type, in this case, wireless.