Windows XP: Set up your computer for home networking

Set up your computer for home networking

Published: August 15, 2006
Microsoft Windows XP makes it easy to configure your computer for home networking. The Network Setup Wizard walks you through the process, asking you for information one item at a time. After you add your computer to your home network, you'll be able to print to a printer on your home network (the printer will no longer need to be attached directly to your computer), and to access the other computers and devices connected to your home network. You'll be able to share files, which means you can get data from any computer you connect to the network. You can even share one Internet connection among all your computers.
Before you set up your computer for home networking, make sure you have:
•Contacted an Internet service provider (ISP) to acquire an Internet connection to your home. For more information, read Connect to the Internet.
•Installed a network adapter—wired or wireless—in your computer.
To use the Network Setup Wizard to set up your computer for home networking, follow these steps on each computer in your home network
1.
Log on as a member of the Administrators group.
2.
Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

3.
Click Network and Internet Connections.

4.
Under or pick a Control Panel icon, click Network Setup Wizard.

5.
The Network Setup Wizard starts. On the Welcome page, click Next.

6.
On the Before you continue page, click Next.

7.
If the wizard informs you that it has found disconnected hardware, make sure your network adapter is connected as described in Add a computer to your network. It's okay to have a disconnected network adapter if you're using a wireless network connection or if you connect to the network using a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable. If you're sure everything has already been properly connected, select Ignore disconnected network hardware. Otherwise, connect your network cables, and leave the check box cleared. Then click Next.

8.
If you connect your computer directly to the modem provided by your ISP, click This computer connects directly to the Internet. If you connect your computer to a router, click This computer connects to the Internet through a residential gateway. If you're not sure, leave the default setting. Then click Next.


9.
If the Select your Internet connection page appears, click Next.


10.
On the Give this computer a description and name page, type a computer description (such as "Kid's Computer") and computer name (such as "Desktop"). Click Next.

11.
On the Name your network page, type Workgroup. Then click Next.

12.
If you have files or a printer that you want to share with other computers on your home network, select Turn on file and printer sharing. Otherwise, leave Turn off file and printer sharing selected. Then click Next.

13.
On the Ready to apply network settings page, click Next.


14.
The Network Setup Wizard sets up your computer. On the You're almost done page, click Just finish the wizard. Then click Next.

15.
On the Completing the Network Setup Wizard page, click Finish.

16.
When prompted to restart your computer, save any open files, and then click Yes.

After your computer restarts, you'll be connected to the network with the settings you provided.
Now that you are connected to the network, you should consider taking some optional steps to further improve the security of your computer and the privacy of your data:
•Join Microsoft Windows Live OneCare, a subscription service from Microsoft that automatically protects your computer from most Internet threats using antivirus, antispyware, and firewall software. If you aren't sure what these terms mean, OneCare is perfect for you, because it requires no technical knowledge to use. In addition, it automatically takes care of the following three items:
•Visit Microsoft Update and install all critical updates and service packs.
•Install antivirus software.
•Install Windows Defender or other spyware-fighting software.




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