Customizing Your Network

When you first open the Network Center, in most cases, you won't have a profile set up for the network, so Windows 7 configures the network with three default settings:

• A default name, usually either Network or the SSID of the wireless network.
• The network type, which depends on the network location you chose when you first connected to the network.
  NOTE Windows 7 supports three types of network categories: home, work, and public. Home networks are usually home or small office networks where you need to work with a few nearby computers. To that end, Windows 7 turns on network discovery and file and printer sharing. Public networks are usually wireless hot spot connections in airports, coffee shops, hotels, and other public places. When you designate a network as public, Windows 7 turns off network discovery and file and printer sharing. The work category applies to networks that are part of a corporate domain.
• A default Network icon, which depends on the network location you chose when you first connected to the network.

To change any of these default, follow these steps:

1. Open the Network and Sharing Center, as described earlier (see "Accessing the Network and Sharing Center").
2. To change the network name and icon, in the View Your Active Networks section, click the Network icon to open the Set Network Properties dialog box.
3. Type a name in the Network Name text box.
4. To change the icon, click Change to open the Change Network Icon dialog box, select an icon, and then click OK.
5. Click OK to return to the Network and Sharing Center window.
6. To change the network type, in the View Your Active Networks section, click the network type that appears under the network name.
7. Click the network type that applies to your network (Home Network, Work Network, or Public Network). Windows 7 changes the network type and its associated settings. (For example, it turns off network discovery if you choose the public network type.)
8. Click Close. Windows 7 updates the Network and Sharing Center window with the new settings.

TIP The Change Network Icon dialog box initially shows you a small collection of icons from the %SystemRoot%\system32\pnidui.dll file. To get a larger choice of icons, type any of the following pathnames into the Look for Icons in This File text box (and press Enter after you enter the pathname):

• %SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
• %SystemRoot%\system32\pifmgr.dll
• %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe