Windows 7 Made Simple

Checking Your Current Network Connections

Whether you have one computer or five, one of the first things you'll want to do is connect to the Internet. An Internet connection isn't just for e-mail or surfing the Web. Windows also depends on an Internet connection to activate your copy of Windows—which you may have already done the first time you started Windows 7—and to get the latest Windows updates.

TIP: Chapter 16: “Protecting Your Computer and Data” describes Windows updates and how to apply them to your copy of Windows 7.

Windows 7 provides a handy place to manage your network settings and tasks: the Network and Sharing Center. Even if you have not set up a home network, you can get a quick look at what kinds of network connections are ...