Re: Setting up network - run wizard or not?

On Mon, 27 Nov 2006 18:50:09 -0600, Peabody
<waybackNO784SPAM44@yahoo.com> wrote in <6JLah.28$g22.8@newsfe20.lga>:

>I have an XP MCE2005 computer and a 98SE computer. At this point,
>each is set up to connect directly to the internet through a
>cablemodem, with no networking of the two computers at all.I want to
>set up a LAN for these computers using a NAT router. Both computers
>will initially connect to the router by ethernet cable, but later
>the 98SE computer will be replaced by a laptop which will connect
>wirelessly.
>
>At this point the XP computer is set up with no network, with the
>Local Area Connection being set up for directly connecting to my
>cablemodem. I don't see any Network Neighborhood or anything like
>that.

That _is_ a network even though there are only two devices on it.
Windows XP doesn't have Network Neighborhood -- the closest equivalent
is My Network Places (which combines all networks). Check the System
Tray (lower right corner of Task Bar) and you should see the wired
network adapter (unless it's been hidden).

>When I set up the network with the router, do I need to run the
>Network Setup Wizard, or just make changes to the existing Local
>Area Connection settings? If I run the wizard, will it just change
>the existing Local Area Connection settings, or create a new
>connection? If it creates a new one, what do I do with the old one?

If the cable modem is configuring your network adapter by DHCP, you
probably only need to move the cable from the cable modem to a LAN port
of the router, which then connects to the cable modem from its
WAN/Internet port with another cable.

>And then, what about the 98SE computer? What do I do there?

Connect by cable to another LAN port on the router, and make sure the
wired connection is configured for DHCP (the default).

>In general, is there a detailed How-To posted anywhere that covers
>EXACTLY how to set up a router-based LAN where one machine is XP Pro
>and the other is 98SE - so that file sharing works?

Microsoft has some very good documents on setting up Microsoft
Networking. See wikis below for links, and lots of non-Microsoft
resources.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

On Tue, 28 Nov 2006 16:49:15 -0600, Peabody
<waybackNO784SPAM44@yahoo.com> wrote in
<N13bh.1657$g22.1475@newsfe20.lga>:

>John Navas says...
>
> >> At this point the XP computer is set up with no
> >> network, with the Local Area Connection being set up
> >> for directly connecting to my cablemodem. I don't see
> >> any Network Neighborhood or anything like that.
>
> > That _is_ a network even though there are only two
> > devices on it. Windows XP doesn't have Network
> > Neighborhood -- the closest equivalent is My Network
> > Places (which combines all networks). Check the System
> > Tray (lower right corner of Task Bar) and you should see
> > the wired network adapter (unless it's been hidden).
>
>I have the icon in the System Tray, and I see My Network
>Places in Windows Explorer (nowhere else), but there's
>nothing in there.

There won't be unless it finds Microsoft Network shares. The cable
modem doesn't have any of those.

You are checking Help and Support _before_ asking questions here --
right?

> > If the cable modem is configuring your network adapter
> > by DHCP, you probably only need to move the cable from
> > the cable modem to a LAN port of the router, which then
> > connects to the cable modem from its WAN/Internet port
> > with another cable.
>
>Ok. I just thought that in order to access other computers
>on the LAN, there would be something that let me choose
>which computer I wanted to exchange files with. Will the
>other local computers show up in My Network Places
>automatically when the physical connections to the router
>are in place?

They will _if_ discovery is turned on (as it is by default), and _if_ no
personal firewalls are in the way, and _if_ any shares are available.

>I don't have to "set up" a network beyond the
>way it is now (for file sharing, I mean - I can see that
>internet access would not require any changes)?

That depends on how your machines are configured now.

Use Help and Support to find setup instructions for File and Printer
Sharing, which should answer most of the questions you've been asking.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

On Wed, 29 Nov 2006 08:32:32 -0600, Peabody
<waybackNO784SPAM44@yahoo.com> wrote in
<4Sgbh.3358$g22.3104@newsfe20.lga>:

>John Navas says...
>
> > You are checking Help and Support _before_ asking
> > questions here -- right?
>
>Yes, but I don't have it set to go outside my computer. ...

That prevents you from accessing the Knowledge Base and online articles,
which can be very helpful.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>