Ok, so I've got Windows 7 Ultimate all nice and installed on my laptop. I'm a bit of a curious type and I'll admit i click stuff sometimes just to see what happens without fully knowing what is going to happen. My question is if you click on the networking icon and Windows 7 brings up the Networking window and starts to find everything thats on your Network. From other PC's to Xbox 360's Windows 7 finds everything, even your router. So why does the router come up as an icon? Why is it there? I decided well I'll figure it out if i just click on it. Now i am using my laptop and it is wireless so i assumed it would just log me in to my router and i could configure it just as if i had typed my default IP into a IE window. Well it did'nt. I then got limited conectivity from my wireless connection. I then went downstairs to where my modem and router are along with my PC thats hardlined and it had no access. So basically i came to the conclusion that Windows 7 had crashed my network. So i just power cycled the the modem and router and everything came back online. So why is that icon there? Is it supposed to log me in to my router but just didnt work cause Windows 7 is new a bit buggy? Is it cause i tried to do it wirelessly? I mean I've been able to log on to my router wirelessly before i know not to change much cause it can cause issues i know any changes should be made with a PC thats hardlined. So whats the deal?

Hi, Do you mean that it is an icon for your network location? If so, please also refer to the following article: Choosing a network location If it is not, to make this question clear, please capture a screenshot for what you concerned: Capture a screenshot ============== 1) Press the Print Screen key (PrtScn) on your keyboard. 2) Click the "Start" menu, type "mspaint" in the Search Bar and Press Enter. 3) In the Paint program, click the "Edit" menu, click "Paste", click the "File" menu, and click "Save". 4) The "Save As" dialogue box will appear. Type a file name in the "File name:" box, for example: "screenshot". 5) Make sure "JPEG (*.JPG;*.JPEG;*.JPE;*.JFIF)" is selected in the "Save as type" box, click Desktop on the left pane and then click "Save". Please use Windows Live SkyDrive to upload the screenshots and share its URL with us. Thanks.Nicholas Li - MSFT

This is a screen shot off my Laptop running Vista. I switched my HDD back cause of all the trouble i was having with Windows 7. I just want to know why my router comes up here as an icon.What use does it have?Last time i tried to click on it, it crashed my whole network. (when i was running 7)

i did the same thing but im using my neighbors interent..so i did it to their router but they are still on the internet..how do i fix it..i cant connect to his internet anymore..plz help ..and i have windows vista

Hi there! My router used to appear in Network, and there I could open ports and change the defenitions. Is thery any way to make it appear again? Cuz it doesn't appear anymore since I rebooted the router. Thx