Windows XP for Dummies

_________________________
Chapter 9: Sharing It All on the Network

161

Ignore this step if you’re networking all Windows XP computers. You can insert your Windows XP CD into those computers, choose Perform Additional Tasks, and select Set Up Home or Small Office Networking.

8. Click Finish.

That should do the trick. A The wizard does a reasonably good job of casting its spells on your computers. If the computers are all connected correctly and restarted, chances are they’ll wake up in bondage with each other. If they don’t, try restarting them all again. A Your newly networked Windows XP computers should list cur- rently shared folders in their My Network Places areas. Unless you’ve shared additional files on your own, you’ll probably see a single folder called Shared Documents that contains My Music and My Pictures. A To run the wizard on Windows 95 or 98 computers that aren’t run- ning Windows XP, insert your Network Setup disk into the com- puter you want to network. Open My Computer, double-click your .oppy drive, and double-click the file named,

netsetup

. The com- puter asks a few questions, tweaks itself, and reboots. (Just run the Network Wizard on networked Windows Me computers, if Win- dows XP didn’t already set them up.) A All of your networked computers should now be able to share any shared files, your modem connection, and any printers. A If everything doesn’t proceed as merrily as described here, don’t worry. Networking will work. However, you need to make some more advanced tweaks that I can’t describe here or the book would cost too much. Pick up a copy of Brian Livingston’s Windows

XP Secrets published by Hungry Minds, Inc. (It’s around 1,200

pages.)