How to Set Up a Home Network So You Can Share Files and Printers

Setting up a home network is pretty easy nowadays.

Windows XP

With Windows XP, all you have to do is go to START>MY NETWORK PLACES>and click on “Set up a Home Network” sidebar. It will ask you to give a “description” of your computer and a “name” for your computer. The “name” is the name of your computer on the network. You can name the “description” and the “name” the same thing if you want.

It will then ask you the “name” of the WORKGROUP. The “name” of the WORKGROUP will be the same on all of the computers on the network. When you name the WORKGROUP, you are actually naming the NETWORK. So, you can name it HOME, HOME NETWORK, YOUR NAME, or whatever you want. But again, just make sure you use the same WORKGROUP name for all of the computers on the network. Otherwise, they will not be on the same network.

Windows 2000

For Windows 2000 computers, go here for instructions:

How to set up a network on Windows 2000 machines

Network with both Windows XP machines and Windows 2000 computers

If want to set up a network with computers where some of the computers have Windows XP and the others have Windows 2000, you still use the above steps for each type of computer.

After they are configured, reboot

After you set up all of the computers on the network with the above steps, you will need to reboot all of the computers in order for the changes to take affect. It is best to have all of the computers off at the same time before you reboot. Then, just reboot the computers. You can either reboot them one at a time or all at once. It doesn’t matter. May be less taxing on your electrical system to boot them one by one, however.

Viewing the Computers, Files, and Printers on the Network

When the computers have all been rebooted, you should be able to go into My Network Places and see the other computers on the network. You should also be able to view the files, folders and printers that you have opted to share by double-clicking on that computer. And, if you have opted to share the printers, then you will be able to print on any printer that is hooked up to one of the computers on the network! If you try and are unable to print, then that means one of two things:

1. You have not opted to share that printer, in which case you would not even see the printer on the network
2. You simply need to double-click on the printer you want to print on in My Network Places from the computer from which you would like to print. Once it finishes its quick installation, just reboot that computer.

The only equipment you need to do this is a router. It does not even have to be an access point.

Printing on a Printer on the Network Wirelessly

You can even do this with a wireless router. So, you can have a printer hooked up to your desktop, have your laptop on the network wirelessly, and print from your laptop (while in front of your TV) to the printer that is hooked up to your desktop in your office! Pretty cool.