The PC Surgery - Tiscali.co.uk

Many of us have more than one home PC or laptop so connecting them to share resources, such as a printer, makes a great deal of sense. Here's how to do it, no cables required.

Almost any two (or more) machines can be linked easily so you can exchange files and data. Connecting in this way also means you can use peripherals such as printers or scanners installed on another machine or attached to a central PC that acts as a server.

The wireless approach minimises the amount of cable clutter you'll have to contend with, but is not as fast as a hard-wired network. Nor will it be as effective if the machines you're connecting are separated by several walls. That said, a wireless network is a simple, low-cost way to get more from the devices at your disposal.

For simplicity, we'll concentrate on setting up Windows XP wireless network. To set up a wireless network connecting non Wi-Fi ready machines, USB wireless network adapters must be used for each PC you want in your network (laptops are usually Wi-Fi ready). These communicate with the host PC, which will be the system you've designated as the server - the machine connected to the printer, for instance.

Wireless Kit is available here

STEP 1
Each of the machines you intend to connect needs a network card or must be Wi-Fi enabled. To check each desktop PC is set up for networking, go to Start, My Network Places or Control Panel, Network and Internet Connections. It should show that a network card of some kind is present but the cable is unplugged, meaning the network connection isn't in use.
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STEP 2
Next, you need to set up a wireless access point (also known as a router). Swing the two paddles on the box round so they point vertically upwards like antennas. Then attach the ethernet cable to the socket on the back of your PC that corresponds to the network card and plug the access point into the mains. This part of the setup is the same as for a wired network.
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STEP 3
Once the access point is set up, your laptop (if you're using one as part of your home network) should automatically detect its presence - along with any other wireless networks in the vicinity. Make sure you implement any security measures you can to stop unauthorised access.
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STEP 4
Most laptops have built-in networking capabilities these days, but if yours doesn't, you merely need USB network adapter (the easiest to install, but may get in the way as it sticks out) or a PC Card. This slides into a slot, usually on the side of the unit. It's important that you install the drivers that came on CD before inserting it into your laptop (otherwise it won't work). You'll probably be prompted to restart your machine for the settings to take effect.
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STEP 5
Now insert the PC Card in its slot and insert the CD to install the drivers. You can safely ignore warnings that the drivers are not Microsoft's own. Once successfully installed, an icon showing the card's presence should appear on your desktop or Taskbar.
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STEP 6
To configure your card, double-click its icon and select the default or test network offered then uncheck the box prompting Windows to configure your wireless network settings and hit ok.
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STEP 7
Finally, you need to set up networking on your desktop machine(s) to recognise the access point. Insert the CD-ROM that came with your wireless access point and type in the http address listed in the instruction booklet. It should read http://192.168.0.XX. You'll probably need to type "admin" into the username box. Don't worry about a password at this stage.
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STEP 8
Run the wizard when prompted, add a password if you wish and ensure you enable WEP encryption so your network and files are secured. Otherwise, anyone with a device within range of your home network will be able to view its contents.
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STEP 9
9. To use your network, go to Start, My Network Connections and Windows XP should locate the other machine(s) that are part of it. You can now browse to use printers and scanners that are plugged in to other computers hooked up to the network, as well as share files with other connected PCs. Congratulations! You now have a wireless network!
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More Wireless guides here

More PC guides here.