I am just starting to learn how to set up a home network and it's very confusing. My brother-in-law gave me a Dell XPS 410 computer with Vista Home Premier on it. I plan to upgrade that to Windows 7. He also gave me a HP PHotosmart C6100 All-in-One. I'm presently using a Dell Dimension 8200 with XP service pack 3. I plan to set up a wireless network (God willing) but connect the XPS wired to the cable modem and the XP computer as wireless so I can run it upstairs. Cablevision, my ISP, requires a wireless system for a remote computer. I have a wireless router and a wireless adapter on hand for the XP computer. Here are my questions:
1) If I connect the XPS computer to the cable modem directly by wire, I assume I wouldn't need a wireless adapter for that computer, is that correct? And I assume would then set up the wireless adapter through the USB port on my XP computer
2) The Photosmart C6100 All-in-One manual confuses me regarding the network setup. The unit has wireless capability but my questions are: do these units come with an internal wireless adapter and if so, how to I determine that? The manual says nothing about that. I assume I need a wireless adapter for any component attached to the wireless network.
I'm almost afraid to start because I see all these terms like access point and embedded web server and I am confused because it appears that an embedded Webserver isn't a server but some functionality within the printer and that an access point is included in a wireless router so I won't need to purchase an access point. I wish that these manuals stopped using acronyms like AP for access point because unless you're computer savvy, you would think AP is a news service.
1) If I connect the XPS computer to the cable modem directly by wire, I assume I wouldn't need a wireless adapter for that computer, is that correct? And I assume would then set up the wireless adapter through the USB port on my XP computer
2) The Photosmart C6100 All-in-One manual confuses me regarding the network setup. The unit has wireless capability but my questions are: do these units come with an internal wireless adapter and if so, how to I determine that? The manual says nothing about that. I assume I need a wireless adapter for any component attached to the wireless network.
I'm almost afraid to start because I see all these terms like access point and embedded web server and I am confused because it appears that an embedded Webserver isn't a server but some functionality within the printer and that an access point is included in a wireless router so I won't need to purchase an access point. I wish that these manuals stopped using acronyms like AP for access point because unless you're computer savvy, you would think AP is a news service.