Windows Vista Security: Praxisorientierte Sicherheit für Profis

Troubleshooting Problems with Windows Media Center

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automatically detect wireless networks within your area and configure them for use

in Windows Media Center. This option helps when you lose wireless connectivity or

need to set up a new wireless network connection.

The Microsoft web site offers additional information on troubleshooting Windows

Media Center. Visit http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/default.mspx

for more information. Many different web sites and blogs versed in troubleshooting

Windows Media Center problems exist on the Web and are easy to access using an

online search engine.

Troubleshooting Windows Media Center Networking Issues

If you have problems with network settings and configuration during the Setup Wiz-

ard, this section describes how to overcome common obstacles and get your net-

working issues corrected. First, you need to know what type of network card you

have installed in your system. Second, you need to have the latest driver from the

manufacturer.

Once you have the items you need to find your way around Device Manager in Win-

dows Vista, you can open Device Manager by selecting the Start menu, right-clicking

on the Computer icon, and selecting Manage. This opens Computer Management. In

Computer Management, double-click the Device Manager node in the left pane.

Then, in the right pane, click the + sign next to Network Adapters. This will show

you the networking devices connected to your system. Once you have identified that

a network card exists, right-click the appropriate icon and select Properties from the

context menu.

Under the General tab listing, you’ll see the device type, manufacturer, and location

of the device. You also should see the Device Status listing, which should say “This

device is working properly.” If you do not see that the device is working properly, you

need to click the Driver tab. The Driver tab has several buttons available for use. You

need to click the “Update driver” button for this example. Once you have clicked this

button, select “Browse my computer for driver software.” Select the path to the driver

you have for the network card and click the Next button. Windows Vista automati-

cally installs the driver from the listing you gave and updates the driver on your sys-

tem. Most of the time this will fix any problems you have with a network card.

If this procedure does not fix the problem, you may need to verify that the hardware

actually works. You can do this by inserting a second network card, or running utili-

ties available online. If you continue to have problems when you add a new card, you

need to determine whether the slot in the motherboard is working correctly. Move

the card into a new slot and see if Windows Vista picks it up after you reboot. Make

sure to turn off the system completely by unplugging the computer from the wall

outlet before you attempt to remove or install any hardware devices. Chapter 5 pro-

vides additional information on device troubleshooting.