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A network helps you make the most of resources such as an internet connection, a printer, a scanner and other peripherals in your home or office. It should also make collaborating on projects a lot easier, because people can move files around quickly and easily. But what do you do when your network starts playing up?

First of all, there's no need to panic. Although networks can sound very scary, they're not as hard to diagnose and fix as you'd expect. Here we'll talk you through the common problems and explain how to fix them. Even if you find a problem that you can't fix, being able to diagnose where it is and what's gone wrong can save you time and money when you call in professional help.

This guide assumes that you've got a working network with a problem. If you're having difficulties setting up your network in the first place, you should read the 'Networking for Beginners' feature on this month's cover disc; people looking to share files should read 'How To... Share a folder', which is also on the disc.

Finding the problem

When diagnosing a network problem, the first job is to determine where the problem is so that you can fix it quickly. This isn't difficult. First, are other computers working properly? If they are, the problem is with your computer; if they're not, then you've got a problem with your router and should restart it immediately. If this doesn't fix the problem, you'll most likely need to get it fixed professionally.

Second,

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can you connect to other network resources, such as a different printer or computer? If you can, the problem probably lies with the device to which you're trying to connect. Printers or other network hardware should be restarted to try and rectify the problem.

If none of this works, the problem is with the computer you're using. One of the most common networking errors is that the firewall on your computer is blocking access. To make sure that this isn't the problem you should disable the firewall on your PC and those on any other computer while you're trying to fix the problem. Enable it once you've got your network working again; if the problem reappears, you'll need to read the firewall's help files to configure it properly.

How you disable the firewall will depend on the software you're using. If you're using a third-party firewall, such as Norton Internet Security, read its manual for full details. If you're using the Windows firewall, you can disable it easily. In Windows XP, open the Control Panel and select Network Connections. Double-click the icon of the connection you're using, such as Local Area Connection, and click the Advanced tab. Under Windows Firewall click the Settings button and select Off (not recommended). Click OK to apply the settings.

In Windows Vista, you should open the Control Panel and select Network and Sharing Center. Click on the Windows Firewall link on the bottom left of the screen and select Off (not recommended). Click OK. Just reverse these steps to turn it back on.

I can't access the network

The easiest way to check this type of problem is to see what Windows is reporting. From the Start menu, open up the Control Panel and then select Network Connections, or Network and Sharing Center if you're using Windows Vista.

In Windows XP, you'll see an icon for each network adaptor on your PC. If you're connected using a cable, one of the Local Area Network icons should show as being connected; if you're using wireless, the Wireless Network Connection icon should show as being connected.