How to Network Computers Together Using Windows 98/ME/2000/XP
Version 1.01

Windows XP's network managment is easier than ever. However, using the Network Setup Wizard may not be preferred as it does not give much control.

This document outlines the steps required to create a wired network of 2 or more computers. From the cabling to the setting up the actual IP addresses, this guide covers them all.

DISCLAIMER: Proceed at your own risk! The information here is accurate to the best of my knowledge. I will not be held responsible if this document causes your computer to explode or burst into flames. In real serious terms, if any corruption of data, hardware damage or any other kind of damage/losses/etc. arises from the use of this document, I will not be responsible for it. If you don't like this, please don't read any further.

ASSUMPTION: This guide assumes that all computers are running at least Windows 98 and have their Network Interface Card drivers installed.

1. Planning for the network

First, how many computers do you need to network together?

If it is exactly two computers only, you only need a Crossover Ethernet Cable to connect the computers to each other. This is the fastest connection as each computer directly communicates with the other computer.

Hub	Switch	Router

If it is more than two computers, you will need either a Hub, Switch or Router. A Hub is the cheapest but is NOT the way to go if you are on a budget as a Switch is only slightly more expensive. A Switch contains all features of a Hub, but it is much faster at handling heavy tasks. Notice that they look the same - it is only the internal handling of data that differs.

Finally, a Router contains features of a Switch, plus being able to be a standalone Internet Gateway - being able to provide internet access to all computers connected to it. When purchasing any of these options, ensure the number of ports that the device has meets or exceeds the number of computers. And remember to get Category 5 Ethernet Cables for each computer to connect to the device.

NOTE: With many broadband internet contracts, a router is provided free of charge or for a small top-up. Common brands are Linksys, D-Link, 2Wire, Netgear. The router would also normally come with one ethernet cable to connect your main PC.

Most folks would go by the Router method. Keep in mind that a Router has all features of a Switch/Hub. Once you have the equipment, hook them up together. The network device is the center - all computer's Network Interface Card's connect to it via the Ethernet cable.

2. Setting up the network

This step is not required if you are using a router (Skip to step 3). Routers dynamically allocate IP address to your computers. If you are using a switch or a hub, we have to manually give each computer a number. The order doesn't matter, but I personally prefer to give the Internet Sharing Computer or the master computer - the fastest one - the first number. The computer's IP address would be 192.168.1.<number>. So assuming we have 3 computers, they would be numbered as follows:

PC 1 - 192.168.1.1
PC 2 - 192.168.1.2
PC 3 - 192.168.1.3

Power up all computers and the switch. To configure the IP address for each individual computer:

1. Go to Start > Settings > Control Panel > Network Connections (double-click it)
   
2. Look for Local Area Connection
   
3. If the status is Network cable unplugged, check the cable connection. It should not show "Network cable unplugged" when you proceed to the next step.
   
4. Right-click Local Area Connection, Properties. Ensure the Internet Protocol is checked.
   
5. Also ensure that Client for Microsoft Networks and File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks is checked. This will enable you to share files across the network.
   
6. Highlight Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) by clicking it once, and click on Properties.
   
   s
   
   
7. The field "IP address:" is where we will input the IP address. The Subnet mask should be 255.255.255.0
   
8. If there is a Internet sharing computer in the network, the Default Gateway and Preferred DNS Server will be the Internet sharing computer's IP address. Otherwise, it would be blank. Hit OK two times and the setting should be saved.

Repeat the above for every computer.

Now go to Start > Settings > Control Panel > Network Connections (double-click it). If it still doesn't say Connected, right-click the connection, Disable. Wait a few moments, and right-click the connection, Enable. Now it should say under the status: Connected!

We've basically configured the computers so that they can find each other. Now how do we share folders and access them from the other computer? Or play LAN games?

3) Sharing folders and playing LAN games

1. Right-click any folder in Explorer, click Properties.
   
2. You will notice a new Sharing tab. Check the box "Share this folder on the network" under Network Sharing and Security. Check the 2nd box if you want to allow the other computer to modify your shared folder, else it will be read only. Remember the share name, you will need it to access the share from another computer.
   
3. To access the computer's shared folder, you would click on My Computer > Tools > Map Network Drive.
   
   
   
4. Here is the syntax:
   
   \\<ip address>\<share name>
   
   So if the computer is 192.168.1.2 and the share name is C, the Folder field would be "\\192.168.1.2\C". Check the "Reconnect at logon" if you want this drive to be available when you restart the computer.
   
5. That's it - once you click Finish, Windows XP will attempt to connect to the computer's share. Next you should see a new drive in your Explorer with the shared folder's contents.

For LAN gaming, it could not get any simpler! Most LAN games support the UDP Discovery method of detecting servers whereby you just have to go to the LAN games tab and the list of servers would be obtained automatically.

1. Start a server on the computer. Normally this will be indicated as Host Game.
   
2. Once the server is up and running, go to the other computer.
   
3. Select the option to join a network game. If there is a list, the server name should appear in the list. If yes, simple double click it to join. Otherwise, choose the "Enter IP" option.
   
4. Enter the IP address of the PC that is running the server.

4) Sharing one Internet connection with the other computers (WITHOUT router)

There are two options for sharing an Internet Connection. One is to use Windows Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) Wizard or the other is to use easy to use proxy software and configure it manually.

The Internet Gateway Way by using Windows XP ICS

This part will not be detailed in this guide.

The Proxy Way by using CCProxy

The disadvantages of using a proxy server is that you cannot use any application that requires a direct connection to the other party. Examples are P2P applications, Bit Torrent, Multiplayer Games and remote desktop controlling.

The free version supports up to 3 users which is sufficient for most home users. First download and install CCProxy from the website. Configure it by clicking on Account, changing the Permit Category to Permit Only, and manually adding each IP address by clicking on New. User/Group Name would be any name you want to give to that computer, Enable should be checked, IP Address/IP Range would be the clients address and WWW and Mail should be checked.

For each of the other clients, you have to configure their internet proxy server settings to point to the master computer, which in this case is 192.168.1.1.

Log on to the Internet in the master computer. In all client computers, the Internet should now be working.

5) Sharing one Internet connection with the other computers (WITH router)

For folks using the router, the Internet Gateway is in the router itself. Because each router has its own setup interface, here are some URLs to configure common routers.

If your router is not above, you can find the full list here but it may not be updated. Consult your router's user guide for the password. Most routers should work with cable connections out of the box. However, ADSL and other dial-up internet services require configuration such as username, password and PPoE selection. This is where the router's configuration page comes in.

6) Troubleshooting

Most networking issues are because of a Firewall being installed. The fix is to place all your home computers in the Trusted Zone of the Firewall - this will allow all traffic from your home computer undisturbed.

Last Updated 9th July 2008.

Errors? Omissions? Need Help? Know something? Post your queries in the Windows XP Discussion Forum.

You may be interested in our other Windows XP guides. including a comprehensive FAQ, dual booting with Windows 98 and how to dual boot with formatting.

This document is Copyright(©) 2001-2008 by G.Ganesh.

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22 Comments

NOTE: Please do NOT post problems below unless you wish to correct something above. Use the Forums (No Registration Required) instead to reduce clog. Thank you!

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DCRCOOL - 8 months ago - Reply - Permanent Link

Thanks, I've been surfing the web trying to find out how to do this and this guide is the best. Now I don't have to keep on unpluging & pluging in my external hard drive

jitendra - 11 months ago - Reply - Permanent Link

thank you very much & some of solution of problem is very nice & helping me

Rakesh - 1 year ago - Reply - Permanent Link

Thanks A Lots........

dengi - 1 year ago - Reply - Permanent Link

you know you are blessed man ,thanx a bunch i have been at this all night.......thanx a lot

adam - 2 years ago - Reply - Permanent Link

We are running two computers into a router and we are able to communicate through our lan just fine. But whenenver we want to play a lan game, we are unable to join and sometimes unable to even see the game. What is the problem. Hide 1 Replies

Admin - 2 years ago - Reply - Permanent Link try entering the IP address of the host manually. Also, ensure the firewalls installed in the PC allow the traffic to go through and the host to act as a listener

connie - 2 years ago - Reply - Permanent Link

Thanks! I had tried networking with Windows wizard in the past without any success, and your instrucctions worked like magic. However, you should mention that for those of us not assigning IP addresses (192.168.1.1 etc.) because the router assigns them automatically, then to Map the Network Drive you use the name of the computer, i.e. \\Officedesktop\C. But as I said, you solved my problem and I am very grateful :-)

Mengistu Jones - 2 years ago - Reply - Permanent Link

This is a great job you guys are doing,continue with the good works. NOW THIS IS A PROBLEM I AM FACING. i was trying to add a new computer to an existing wireless network,but i had a problem i couldn't do it.can you please help me on how i can get through this. Hide 1 Replies

Admin - 2 years ago - Reply - Permanent Link this guide only covers windows networking. Wireless networking is done at the router side and is out of scope.

Pravin Pindoria - 2 years ago - Reply - Permanent Link

Thanks lot Great stuff, owesome Thanks again for this information

bipolarmo - 2 years ago - Reply - Permanent Link

what if i'm using three computers and two routers ... ones wireless connected to the outsite world and then another router connected to the wireless via ethernet cable and two computers on the second router cannot see the one cabled on the wireless router. win xp ... all are on the same workgroup ... the two on the second router can see each other and we can map a network drive with the ip of the one on the wireless router ... but cannot see it in my network places without mapping the ip, the range for the two are 192.168.2.x whereas the wireless range is 192.168.15.x ... is that where my problem is? Hide 2 Replies

Admin - 2 years ago - Reply - Permanent Link your issue is too complex, either hire a network professional or post in a network forum.. this tutorial covers only basic home networking

George - 3 months ago - Reply - Permanent Link You must make both Ip addresses STATIC so they can see each other in network mode, I had this problem but now everything works just right.

apolo - 2 years ago - Reply - Permanent Link

thanks foe the info it realy helps me in my study

lkleon - 2 years ago - Reply - Permanent Link

Oh! Thanks very much!!!

LIAQATH - 2 years ago - Reply - Permanent Link

MANY THANKS////// NOW I CAN DO MY COURSEWORK AS I UNDERSTAND HOW LAN WORKS AND THE PRODUCTS NEEDED TO PERFORM THIS......

PC King - 2 years ago - Reply - Permanent Link

Lmao thanks for the advice. My 2 pcs aren't seeing each other, they are probably set on different ip adresses!

Komalsingh - 2 years ago - Reply - Permanent Link

Very good info...... atlast after many days i could connect my 2 pcs to net.... the only confusion i was having is .... my ISP provider gave me 10.18.X.X adress and i was trying 192.168.1.2 for second pc and which was not working ..... dont no why ..may be the first two values of address has to be same...any way thanks

Geoff - 2 years ago - Reply - Permanent Link

Brilliant. Thanks mate.

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