ConfigFree

Useful Features of ConfigFree


Use Connectivity Doctor to quickly fix any network connection problems.
Create ConfigFree profiles for automatic switching between preset network settings and devices, even if there is a change in the network environment.

·         Automatic switching between several wireless LAN environments.

·         Automatic switching to a wireless LAN if the cable is disconnected when using both a wired and wireless LAN.

·         You can also easily switch LAN environments manually.

Using ConfigFree for the first time


Let's say that you use your PC at the office everyday to send and receive e-mail, browse information on the Internet, and access the company network to create and store data. You often use your PC with different network environments.

 

1

 Setting up the PC in which ConfigFree is installed

 

Windows XP or Windows 2000 PC

Let's say you are now using a Toshiba PC for the first time.

The PC uses Windows XP and has ConfigFree preinstalled.
The PC also has a wired and wireless network device.

 

2

 Starting ConfigFree for the first time

 


Result of network diagnosis: A problem was found

Point 1

Connectivity Doctor fixes the problem.

Point 2

Connectivity Doctor lets you know the connection problem and how to solve it.


Click Connectivity Doctor on the left-click menu of the icon in the system tray.

System tray icon

  


Additional InformationWhen the PC is not connected to the network, the ConfigFree icon is displayed with "x".



The Connectivity Doctor window opens and an alert sounds.
The window displays the message Problem was found.

Connectivity Doctor found a problem.

The Warningsymbol appears on the wired network device and on the antenna of the wireless network.

This is displayed in the area inside the orange frame.

1

The problem of the selected area is displayed.

2

Connectivity Doctor explains how to fix the problem.

The problem was that the cable was not connected properly and the wireless LAN antenna was turned off.

 

3

 Fixing the communication problem

 

Connectivity Doctor did not find any problems.


You configured the wired and wireless LAN networks to match the office environment.

The wired LAN cable was connected properly and the wireless LAN antenna was turned on.
Let's now see the diagnosis of the Connectivity Doctor.

The window displays the message No Problem found.

Your PC is now connected to the network.


Additional InformationWhen the PC is connected to the network, the system tray icon is displayed in blue.
When an IP address is retrieved, a balloon appears indicating this.

Notification window indicates retrieval of IP address

 

4

 Creating a profile of the network settings for the current connection

 

Network settings for office wired LAN


Point 3

The current network settings can be saved as a profile.

 




Switching profiles when the cable is disconnected


Let's say you use a wired LAN at your desk for work.

After the network administrator at your office helps you configure your PC and you are connected to the network, you create a profile for the current network settings. You name the profile Office and select the Office Iconas the icon for the profile.
From now on, if you change the network settings, you can use this profile to easily return the settings and connect to the office network.

<Items that can be configured in a profile>

 

Internet Icon

Internet Settings

Browser home page address, proxy settings, etc.

Devices Icon

Devices

Enable/disable settings related to wired and wireless connection

TCP/IP Icon

TCP/IP Settings

DHCP setting (retrieve IP address automatically) and IP address setting

Internet Connection 
Firewall Settings

Personal firewall settings

Dial-up Connection Icon

Default Dial-up

Default Dial-up settings

Printer Icon

Default Printer

Default Printer settings

File and Printer
 Sharing Settings 

File and  Printer sharing settings

Bluetooth Security Level

Security level status of Bluetooth settings


The office network settings are saved in a profile.

Useful Features

Auto Switch when cable is disconnected function
This function can be used to automatically switch to the wireless LAN network when the cable of the wired LAN network is disconnected. When the cable is reconnected, the connection to the wired LAN is re-established.


Let's say you occasionally take your PC with you to a conference room in the office.
When you configure the Auto Switch when cable is disconnected setting and disconnect the wired LAN cable, a connection to the wireless LAN is established automatically.
You can still use the network without having to change any settings.

When you return to your desk and connect the wired LAN cable to the PC again, the wireless device is disabled and the connection to the wired LAN is re-established.



5

 Creating a profile when connecting to a network with a new network environment

 

Advice

Create a new profile when changing the network environment.


Let's say you occasionally visit a client company to attend meetings.
You configure the wireless LAN network settings to match that environment and connect to the network.

When you are connected, you create a profile for those network settings.
Building IconMobile

You also create a profile to connect to your home network.
Home IconHome

 

6

 Switching to a profile when the network environment changes

 

Advice

Switch profiles when the network environment changes.

Point 4

When you switch profiles, the network and device settings change automatically.


Let's say you visit the client company to attend a business meeting.
By simply clicking the Building IconMobile profile icon when you are in the wireless LAN network environment of the client company, the network settings are automatically switched and you are connected to the network.

You return home.
Now when you click the Home IconHome profile icon when you are in the home wireless LAN network environment, you are connected to your home network.

Useful Features

Auto Switch using SSID function
This function can be used to automatically switch to the profile corresponding to the current wireless LAN network environment.
The SSID is the name of the wireless LAN network. This is also called the ESS-ID or, simply, the network name. A device cannot connect to the network if the SSID on the device does not match the SSID of the network.

 


Using the ConfigFree functions for easier use of multiple networks

7

 During the afternoon, you visit a client company to attend a business meeting.

 

In a meeting using the wireless LAN environment of the client company
Giving a presentation with a wireless LAN projector at a client company


You arrive at the conference room of the client company and start your PC.
The other individuals in the meeting configure their network settings to correspond to the wireless network environment of the conference room.

But you're not sure which settings to use.

But wait! You remember that you created a profile when you last connected to the network in the conference room. With the Auto Switch using SSID setting, you are able to easily connect to the network.

The meeting continues and now you want to use your Toshiba wireless LAN projector to give a presentation.
With ConfigFree, it's a breeze! By using the Quick Connect function of ConfigFree, you can easily establish a wireless connection to the projector.

Useful Features

Quick Connect function
This function can be used to instantaneously start up a Toshiba wireless LAN projector from the connection setup screen on the projector or the connection utility on the PC.

 

8

 On the way home, you connect to a wireless LAN access area.

 

Wireless LAN access area environment



Notification window of wireless LAN access area


After the meeting, you head home.

On the way home, you want to use a wireless LAN access area to check the train transfer times on the Internet.
ConfigFree can also help you easily connect to a wireless LAN access area.

You start your PC and connect to the SSID in the local area, and a notification window automatically pops up in the lower right-hand corner of the screen.

You click the window.
A login screen for connecting to the network automatically appears.

You enter your user name and password and are now free to connect to the Internet.

This is possible because you had created a Wireless LAN Access Area profile and set it to Notify and switch when SSID connected.

Useful Features

Wireless LAN access area connection function
ConfigFree contains a supported wireless LAN access area profile. When the PC connects to the designated SSID, a notification window appears. You can then click this window to connect to the wireless LAN access area.

Quick change of a security setting
-In case like using wireless LAN at mobile place, a security setup can be changed immediately and conveniently on 'Security Setting' screen.


Note: You must have an account with a service provider before you can use this function to connect to a wireless LAN access area.

 

9

 At home

 

Wireless home environment



Point 5

For the automatic switching by SSID setting, you can select either to automatically switch profiles or switch profiles after displaying a notification window.

 




Switching to Home profile and notification window


After returning home, you turn on your PC.

When you connect to the SSID of your home network, the profile switches automatically and you are once again connected to the network.

This is possible because the profile of your home network setting was set to Automatic switching by SSID.

When a profile is set to Automatic switching by SSID, a notification window appears when the PC is connected to the SSID.
When the switch button is clicked, the profile is switched and the network settings are changed.



As the profile is switched, the connection to the Internet is started automatically.

This is because the program start-up function was configured when this profile was created.

Useful Features

Program start-up function
This is used to start up a designated program after a profile is selected.


If you're ever unable to connect to a network, you can use ConfigFree's Connectivity Doctor to diagnose the problem.
This program identifies the problem and offers advice on how to fix it so you don't have to spend time researching the problem.
ConfigFree also enables you to select the appropriate profile corresponding to the current network environment so you can smoothly connect to the network.
You are now ready to make the most of the many useful features in ConfigFree!