{"id":597,"date":"2021-09-02T15:19:33","date_gmt":"2021-09-02T15:19:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.practicallynetworked.com\/?page_id=597"},"modified":"2021-10-05T17:00:00","modified_gmt":"2021-10-05T17:00:00","slug":"windows-vista-tips-for-networking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.practicallynetworked.com\/windows-vista-tips-for-networking\/","title":{"rendered":"Five Windows Vista Tips for Networking and File Sharing"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the hardest thing about using Vista is figuring out how to get to the settings and network configuration areas. Here are five tips that will help you manoeuvre\u00a0 through the networking options in Vista.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

by Vangie Beal<\/b><\/p>\n

If you decided to cash in on holiday sales, now might be the time you’re getting ready to use a Vista-enabled computer for the first time. The benefit of waiting to use Vista is that you can take advantage of what those who bought a year ago have learned. Vista’s interface is designed for the masses of consumers who are not necessarily technical or network savvy. As a result users who were able to manoeuvre quite well through networking and file sharing in XP will most likely find Vista a bit cumbersome to navigate.<\/p>\n

One of the hardest thing about using Vista is actually figuring out how to get to where the settings and network configuration areas are. To get you started, here are five tips that will help you manoeuvre like a pro \u2014 or at least as well as you did with XP \u2014 through the common networking options in Vista.<\/p>\n

TIP #1: How to Create a Network Desktop Icon<\/h3>\n

Unlike Windows XP, which by default offered a\u00a0My Network Places<\/i>\u00a0icon on the desktop, to get to\u00a0Network<\/i>\u00a0in Vista, if you make no changes from the default installation, you’ll need to maneuver through six different windows. If you start with the Control Panel. It may not be apparent at first but you actually can access\u00a0Network<\/i>\u00a0directly from the Vista Start Orb (Start Menu), or you can create and add a Network icon on the desktop yourself.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Right click on your desktop and choose Personalize.<\/li>\n
  2. On the left-hand side of the task pane select\u00a0Change desktop icons<\/i>.<\/li>\n
  3. Check the box for\u00a0Network<\/i>\u00a0in the\u00a0Desktop Icons Window<\/i>.<\/li>\n
  4. Click\u00a0Apply<\/i>. Then click\u00a0OK<\/i>.<\/li>\n
  5. Quit the\u00a0Personalize Window<\/i>\u00a0and the\u00a0Network<\/i>\u00a0icon should now be on your desktop.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \"\"
    From Desktop Icon Settings you can add (or remove) Computer, User’s Files, Network, Recycle Bin, and Control Panel icons on the desktop.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    TIP #2: How o Change Sharing Options or the Public Folder<\/h3>\n

    Vista offers easy sharing with the\u00a0Public<\/i>\u00a0folder, which is shared with other users on your network and also with additional user accounts on your computer. By default the\u00a0Public<\/i>\u00a0folder will contain sub folders for the following:\u00a0Public Desktop<\/i>,\u00a0Public Documents<\/i>,\u00a0Public Downloads<\/i>,\u00a0Public Music<\/i>,\u00a0Public Pictures<\/i>,\u00a0Public Videos<\/i>,and\u00a0Recorded TV<\/i>. To share any files out on the network with other users you can simply drag and drop (or save) the files in the\u00a0Public<\/i>\u00a0folder or any Public sub-folder. The capability to automatically share your Public folder, however, changes when you are connected to a public network, like Wi-Fi hotspots for example. When you initially set-up\u00a0Vista Networking<\/i>\u00a0options you’re required to specify the type of network you are connecting to a\u00a0Home<\/i>,\u00a0Work<\/i>\u00a0or\u00a0Public<\/i>\u00a0network. If you connect to a Public network then Vista will default disable sharing, including Public folder sharing.<\/p>\n

    Still, there will be some users who, when connected to a Home network, might not want these folders shared out at all. To disable sharing of the Public folders you will need to make the change in the\u00a0Network and Sharing Center<\/i>. The easiest way to access the\u00a0Network and Sharing Center<\/i>\u00a0is to do the following:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Locate the Network Status icon in the system tray.<\/li>\n
    2. Left click the icon and select\u00a0Network and Sharing Center<\/i>.You can also access the\u00a0Network and Sharing Center\u00a0this way:
      \nFrom the Vista Start Orb select\u00a0Control Panel
      \nFrom the Control Panel left-click\u00a0Network and Sharing Center<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

      Under\u00a0Sharing and Discovery<\/i>\u00a0you’ll see a series of green and grey lights to indicate which features are currently turned on or off. Click the down arrow to the right of Public folder sharing and you will see the following three options available to you:- Turn on Sharing so anyone with network access can open files
      \n– Turn on Sharing so anyone with network access can open, change and create files
      \n– Turn off sharing (people logged in to this computer can still access this folder).<\/li>\n

    3. Check the radio button for\u00a0Turn off<\/i>\u00a0sharing.<\/li>\n
    4. Click Apply<\/li>\n
    5. This will prompt the User Account Control (UAC) to bring the “Windows needs your permission to continue…” window to come up. Click Continue.<\/li>\n
    6. Wait a moment for Vista to make the changes, and your Public folders should no longer be shared on the network.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \"\"
      Default Public Folders and sub-folders<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
      \"\"
      The Network status icon in the system tray is the quickest
      way to access the Network and Sharing Center<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
      \"\"
      Use the Network and Sharing Center to choose
      Public folder sharing options.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

      TIP #3: How to Enable Network Discovery<\/h3>\n

      In Vista you’ll find a setting called\u00a0Network Discovery<\/i>. This setting changes based on whether computers and devices as well as shared files and folders on the network are visible from your computer system. There are two Network Discovery settings: on and off. Here is how you turn on Network Discovery:<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. From the Vista Start Orb select\u00a0Control Panel<\/i><\/li>\n
      2. From the Control Panel left-click Network and Sharing CenterQuicker Network & Sharing Access:
        \nLocate the\u00a0Network Status\u00a0icon in the system tray.
        \nLeft click the icon and select\u00a0Network and Sharing Center.<\/i><\/span><\/li>\n
      3. Select\u00a0View network status and tasks<\/i><\/li>\n
      4. Under\u00a0Sharing and Discovery<\/i>\u00a0click the drop down arrow. Here you will see the following options:- Turn on network discovery
        \n– Turn off network discovery<\/li>\n
      5. Click the radio button beside\u00a0Turn on network discovery<\/i><\/li>\n
      6. This will prompt the User Account Control (UAC) to bring the “Windows needs your permission to continue…” window to come up. Click\u00a0Continue<\/i>.<\/li>\n
      7. Wait a moment for Vista to make the changes, and you should then be able to see other computers, devices, shared files and folders on your network.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        \"\"
        Network and Sharing Center: Sharing and Discovery Options<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

        TIP #4: How to See Vista PCs on Your Windows XP Systems<\/h3>\n

        One issue those running XP and Vista systems on the same network might have is being unable to see the computers running Vista from the XP computers. If this happens, the first thing to check is the workgroup name that is being used on the XP computer and make sure the same workgroup name being used on the Vista computers. Here is how you check the workgroup name in Windows XP and in Vista:<\/p>\n

        On the Windows XP Computer:<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n

          \n
        1. From the Start Menu select Control Panel<\/li>\n
        2. In the Control Panel select\u00a0\u00a0Performance and Maintenance<\/i>, and then click\u00a0System<\/i>.<\/li>\n
        3. Click the tab for Computer name. here you will see the workgroup name. Use the change button to use another workgroup name.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          On the Vista Computer:<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n

            \n
          1. From the Start Orb select\u00a0Control Panel<\/i><\/li>\n
          2. In the Control Panel choose System and Maintenance then select System.<\/li>\n
          3. Under the Computer name, domain and workgroup settings you will see the Workgroup name. It can be changed by clicking the\u00a0Change Settings<\/i>\u00a0link.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Even if you use the default workgroup names rather than choosing your own, the default name in XP is not the same as the default name in Vista. Once you have set the workgroup names the same on both XP and Vista systems you should then be able to see the network Vista computers from your Windows XP system.<\/p>\n

            \"\"
            Changing the Workgroup name in Vista<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
            \"\"
            Changing the Workgroup name in XP<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

            TIP #5: Run an Application in Admin Mode<\/h3>\n

            In Windows XP, most people will use their computer in Admin login mode. With Vista you can login as any user but still perform administrator tasks. One thing you’ll notice right away in Vista is that some of your applications need to be run in administrator mode, especially some older applications or utilities you use that aren’t supported by Vista. Here is how you can launch applications in Administrator mode:<\/p>\n

              \n
            • The quick way is to simply right-click on the desktop icon for the program and select\u00a0Run as administrator<\/i>. You will need to do this each time you want to run that specific application in admin mode.<\/li>\n
            • You can also set the program to always launch in admin mode. To do this right click on the desktop icon for the program and choose\u00a0Properties<\/i>. Under the shortcut tab click\u00a0Advanced<\/i>. Select\u00a0Run as Administrator<\/i>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
              \"\"
              Right Click to Run Application as Administrator<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
              \"\"
              Change the application properties to Run as Administrator<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

              HOTKEY TIP: Instantly Bring Up The Task Manager in Vista<\/h3>\n

              Its been almost a year since I’ve used Windows XP, but I do know that one hotkey shortcut combo I used quite frequently with XP was the\u00a0CTRL + ALT + DEL<\/b>\u00a0combination to instantly bring up the Task Manager. In Vista,\u00a0CTRL + ALT + DEL<\/b>\u00a0brings up a full dialog screen, similar to the main logon screen. From here you can choose to start the Task Manager along with other options. The most useful hotkey tip I can offer for Vista is\u00a0CTRL + SHIFT + ESC<\/b>. This combination will what will instantly bring up the Task Manager in Vista.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              One of the hardest thing about using Vista is figuring out how to get to the settings and network configuration areas. Here are five tips that will help you manoeuvre\u00a0 through the networking options in Vista. by Vangie Beal If you decided to cash in on holiday sales, now might be the time you’re getting ready to use a Vista-enabled computer for the first time. The benefit of waiting to use Vista is that you can take advantage of what those who bought a year ago have learned. Vista’s interface is designed for the masses of consumers who are not <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5598,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.practicallynetworked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/597"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.practicallynetworked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.practicallynetworked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.practicallynetworked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.practicallynetworked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=597"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.practicallynetworked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/597\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.practicallynetworked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5598"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.practicallynetworked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=597"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.practicallynetworked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=597"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.practicallynetworked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=597"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}