How to Override Work Site Server Settings When at Home

When your laptop is configured for a secure work environment, it will work as expected when you are at work. However, when you return home, the laptop will continue to search for the server and the various network and server settings. If it does not find them, it may not work as you expect and it is unlikely you will be able to find any network, much less the Internet. If you have permission, you will be able to change a few settings that will allow your computer to work in nearly any environment.

Things You'll Need

• Administrator permissions on the computer

Instructions

1. Open up your computer's Network center. Depending on your operating system, this may be in different locations. If you are using Windows XP, it will be through your control panel. If you are using Windows Vista, it will be under the Network option. This setting will show information about your network.

2. Open the window to manage your network connections. If you have a laptop that connects at work through a wireless connection and you want to use a wired connection at home, you will see two connections: a local area connection and a wireless connection. If your laptop will be using a wireless network at home and at work, you will need to set up a new wireless connection.

3. Decide which type of connection you will use at home. If you want to use a different type of connection than you use at work, you will configure the other connection in step 4. If you want to use wireless connections at work and at home, you will need to set up a new wireless connection.

4. Configure your home connection as determined by Step 3. If you do not know how to configure your home network, contact whoever set up your home network. If you have a wireless router set up at home, your laptop should locate that wireless connection and configure itself. If you have a wired home connection, simply plugging in the wire should allow your computer to be configured.

5. Restart the computer. Most computers will require a restart once you change the network configuration for the computer. As the computer restarts, it will connect to your home network.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't forget to reverse this process when you get back to work.

• If your work network is on a domain, you will need to remove the domain for your computer to work at home. You may not have permission at the work network to add yourself back to the domain. Check with your system administrator before removing the domain.