How to Track Network Connections in Windows Vista

If you are a windows Vista user that is also using internet or has a local network, you might find it quite difficult to get to the actual place where your connections are listed. Of course, they are located as expected in Control Panel, but they are well hidden, as if the manufactures were afraid that end-users might mess them up. After digging deeply you will eventually find them, and maybe make a shortcut or even better, add them of the start list. The major advantage of this trick is that you don't have to search for different network connections and you can add multiple connections all at one place. Even if you are not using a particular connection then there is no need to delete the same. When I first experienced Windows Vista I was totally frustrated because I could not find the required network connection to connect to the internet but then I made some research and eventually found this trick of getting everything at your ease.

In order to do this, click the 'Start Menu' button and select 'Settings' and then 'Control Panel'. In the Control Panel window look for 'Network Connections' and double click to open the same. If you are unable to find 'Network Connections' then look on your desktop for 'Network' icon and right click on it. From the pop-up menu select 'Properties' to open up the Network Connection window.

Vista lets you give different names to every network connection you have, so you can easily remember what a particular network connection is for. Local Area Connection 123 means nothing to me, but if I type in In-House LAN, then it all becomes clear. You can rename all the connections in the list according to your wish.

Go back to the 'Start Menu' and there create a folder and name it as you wish (Network Connection would be the easiest) and then click and drag each and every connection you wish to see there:

Once you are done, the 'Start Menu' automatically adds them to its search list. So when you will type wireless, it will display the status of you wireless connection. When you type Intranet, you will see you business intranet connection and so on.

If you have only few connections then you can also add them directly to the 'Start Menu' without the need to create a folder, simply by dragging them to the 'Start Menu'. So, now you know the trick you can easily add any number of network connections to the 'Start Menu' for easy one click access.