Many typical problems fall under the heading of network issues. "The Internet is down" may be one of the most-frequently aired complaints that online support professionals hear. Microsoft tackles many of these problems in Windows Vista, with a Network Center that offers numerous avenues for troubleshooting and problem-solving. The Assistant does more than tell users what to do - it also attempts to configure Internet connections automatically, a process that works especially well on small home networks.

Once a network connection is established, it's easy to determine if a new update file should be downloaded.

Many network problems all show the same symptom: an Internet connection cannot be established.

The Network Map shows a simplified network topology diagram.

The Network Center is the primary control point for network connections.