how do you set up a home network on xp pro from scratch?

Answer 1

I am going to assume you want Internet access as well as a network and that the Internet Service is either DSL or CATV (cable tv) provided with an ethernet hand off.

Purchase a gateway router. There are several avaliable for home use. Linksys, Netgear, D Link, and Belkin make cheap units of moderate quality. 3Com makes units slightly more expensive but more reliable. You get what you pay for. Many of these gateway routers have a built in 4 port network switch, meaning they can take 4 wired LAN devices in them without a network switch. If you have more than 4 LAN devices, you will need a network switch. Network switches require 1 port for the router and the other ports for downstream devices; buy one with more than enough ports.

I am assuming a wired LAN. Wireless can be done and it will be discussed below further.

You run CAT 5 cables from network switch to the pcs; you can run these in the walls and terminate them much like you do with a phone line or you can just dangle wires all over the place. You may need special hand tools to terminate the cables. Check your local home center for details.

All pcs require a RJ45 network port. Most come with this built in but older units may requrie a Network Interface Card added into the pc in the pci slot or in the pcmcia slot if it is a notebook.

You will need cat5 patch cables as well. These are already terminated with RJ45 connection.

Connect the router to the ISP feed with the ISP feed going into the router WAN port. Some routers require a cross CAT5 patch cable for this, some a straight CAT5 patch; check the manual for this. If you are using a network switch, connect the router LAN port to the switch via a straight CAT5 patch cable. Connect 1 pc to the network switch. Power up the router, wait 0.5 min and power up the pc.

Open Internet explorer and enter the router IP address (see manual) and enter user name and password.

For the WAN side, configure for dynamic IP (unless you have a static IP in which case you configure for static IP and enter the static IP address info from ISP). If you ISP uses PPPoE protocol, enter that choice and the user name & password also given you by the ISP.

For the LAN side, enable DHCP. I suggest you limit it to 150 users - set the range from 192.168.x.100-255 where x is the subnet you are on.

Now you should be able to get internet; if so, connect all the other pcs and you have an network

Write with specifics if you have problems.

Answer 2

Easy Home Networking Tutorial Here:
http://www.homenethelp.com/web/howto/HomeNet-start.asp

Answer 3

buy a wireless router and read the instructions. Pretty easy w/ XP. Get a linksys N type router.

Answer 4

Right click on My Computer -> Properties
Under the Computer Name tab, click on the Change button.
Specify the WORKGROUP.

Do the same for all other computers.

Answer 5

enable guest account on all computers and make the password and username the same for all the computers that is about the most idiot proof way

Answer 6

Darren here is your link

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=How+to+set+up+a+home+network+on+xp+pro&btnG=Search&meta=

Answer 7

rtfm