Network in Windows

The main networking folder window thing in Windows is named, surprisingly, Network. Access it by opening the Network icon on the desktop, choosing Network from the Start button menu, or from a number of other places too numerous and confusing to list here.

The Network window lists various gizmos available on your computer's network. Specifically, you should see icons presenting other computers on the network. You might also see a network hard drive (if you have one) and perhaps other network stuff.

• The computers you see in the Network window form a workgroup. That term refers to the computers connected to the type of peer-to-peer networks found in most homes and small offices.
• In Windows Vista, network printers also show up in the Network window. In Windows 7, you find network printers in the Devices and Printers window.
• Windows Vista may also display the network's gateway, or router, in the Network window.
• If you don't see any icons in the Network window and you know that you have everything properly set up, you may not have activated "network discovery." See the section "Turning on network discovery," later in this tutorial.
• You can refresh the Network window by pressing the F5 key, which shows any new computers that have joined the network.
• The Network window is named My Network Places in Windows XP.