Configuring the home network on Windows XP.

After having configured your router, you will need to configure your home network on your computers. Even if you only have one computer, it is a good idea to do this configuration. The first thing you will have to do is click on the "Start" button on the lower left of your desktop and go to the control panel. Fomr there click on the "Network Connections" link.

From this screen you will note a link in the left side panel titled "Network Taskes". The second task down is the one you want. Clsik on the link "Setup a home or small ofice network."

That will bring you to the first screen of hte wizard which basicallly welcomes you to the wizard and reviews some of the things you will be able to do after setting up the network. So go ahead and click on the "Next" button or press "Alt+N".

That will bring you to the next screen which reminds you of some tasks you must first accomplish before continuing. If you are not sure of everything that you must do, click on the link "checklist for creating a network". After reviewing the checklist to assure you have accomplish everything you need to to setup a network, click on the "Next" button or press "Alt+N".

The next screen will show you the network connections to configure. You will not that your wireless card is not listed here. Only you ethernet connection is listed. If your are setting up a wired network then click on the "Next" button or press "Alt+N". Otherwise, you must select the checkbox by "Ignore disconnected netwrok hardware", then click on the "Next" button or press "Alt+N".

The next screen will show you the shared connection that it found going through the router that you previously configured. You can either use the recommended selection of using that connection or choose to usea different one. Since the purpose here is to share a connection or avoid running wires, stick with the first selection and click on the "Next" button or press "Alt+N".

The following screen is where you will descibe the computer so that others on the netwrok know what its function is and then give it a name. After filling out your choices, click on the "Next" button or press "Alt+N".

The next screen is where you will name the domain or workgroup. This has to be the same as that on the router and every host on the network. If you do not name all of them the same, that can't talk to each other. Fill in the name of your workgroup and then click on the "Next" button or press "Alt+N".

The following screen is where you decide to turn on file and print sharing. This is the primary purpose of a shared netwrok. You will share the Internet connection, the printer and the files that you will pass to your assistant to work on. This only allows the sharing of your "Shared" folder. Your private folders will not be accessible to other on the network. After making your selection, click on the "Next" button or press "Alt+N".

The following screen gives a review of what you are about to accomplish. After you click on the "Next" button or press "Alt+N", you will be taking you to the final screen that just congratulates you on having setup the network. Click the "Finish" button and you are finished. You should then repeat the same procedure on all of the computers on your network.

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