How to Set Up a Windows Network

This tutorial is Windows 7 Home Premium and Windows XP Home Edition, but also works well on Vista. We share a folder in Windows XP to the Windows 7 machine, but it works well in the other direction.

On the XP machine

Click Start, and then look for work. Workplace with the right mouse button and select Properties. Click the Computer Name tab and find the shift knob, which is located next to "To rename this computer or join a group, click Change." Click the button. Workgroup in choosing a name for your new network and click OK.

Next we will try to share some files. The best way to do this is to run the network wizard. Locate the folder you want to share, such as My Documents, then the right mouse button. Go to the Sharing tab, and locate the Network sharing and security. Under Network Sharing and Security, you will see the new network wizard. Click on it and follow the instructions. Once you are ready to restart the system.

After the restart the folder you want to share and right click. Go to the Sharing tab and you will see a box labeled "Share this folder on the network." Select the check box and give it a common name. If you want to edit other users files in your check "Allow network users to change my files." That's all for now XP to Windows 7

The Windows 7 computer

Go to Start, then right-click My Computer. Click Properties, and if "Show basic information about your computer" appears, click Change Settings, located at the lower right side. Search "To rename this computer click Change" and click Edit. Add the network name you chose for the Windows XP computer, click Workgroup, and then click OK.

Windows 7 will now try to find the network and when it does, it will ask if the network is public, private or professional. If this is your home network at home and so on.

Now, to the shared files. Go to Start and click My Computer, right-mouse button. Click on the network drive. Locate the shared folder on the XP machine and click Finish when folder. The shared folder will be seen as a network drive and the penetration of computers can be accessed.

Word on the firewall. If you installed the Windows Firewall, you should have no problem, because they open to communicate to enable the ports necessary computers. If you use a different firewall then either disable it (not recommended if you have another firewall between the computer and the router.) Or manually open the required ports And that's all.

To share files as opposed to the name of your workgroup Windows 7 in the same way as you did in XP, then right-click the folder you want to share. Click to parts, and then go to specific people. The operation to the disc is exactly the same card in XP.