A laptop is without a doubt one of the most useful tools for business travelers, but staying connected can be a challenge. While networking technologies have improved greatly over the past few years, problems can still occur that require some basic knowledge of how Windows Networking works. This document is intended to familiarize the reader with the basic components of Windows Networking, and offer some general troubleshooting steps for common problems. These instructions are intended for Windows XP computers. Windows XP Service Pack 2 is highly recommended, in particular for wireless users, as it offers many ease-of-use benefits. Further, it is assumed that the network you will be connecting to will allow you to connect to the Internet and your primary goal is to either gain Internet access, or use your VPN client to connect to KUMC-Wichita resources via the Internet. Typically this will involve connecting at home using your broadband cable modem or DSL, to a hotels broadband internet service, a wireless hotspot in a café or airport, or perhaps publicly available connections provided by training centers or conferences. If you find yourself in a situation where you are connecting to a network for other purposes, likely there will be additional steps you must take to successfully connect. In this case it is best to seek help from the networks administrative staff.