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It is common for many of us to have multiple computer (desktop / laptop) in your home or in small office. Often we face the question and need to hook them up in simple network to make sure that we can share a single Internet connection or share files and folders to access them from different computer.

Mostly many of us look for professional help since these heavy words (like networking / file share / user permission) name us afraid of the task ahead. However matter of fact is, the process is pretty simple and any one with basic knowledge of Windows operation can accomplish the job.

Here is a simple and basic step by step guide on how to setup / create a home network (LAN) for file, printer and Internet connection sharing.

Setup 1 -> Planning

Before you proceed, planning is required to judge and figure out which type network is best suited for you.

For example, type 1

This type of network is suitable in case of you having ADSL or cable connection coming with direct plug n play type. Here your router come switch/hub gets connected to the Internet and then shares the connection to your PC via NAT local IP.

Then again, you have the type 2,

Here, a PC gets connected to the internet and then it shares the connection to others while getting connected to each other using the help of a network switch / hub or router via CAT5 connection (LAN) cable.

Step 2 -> Hardware / Software needed

Depending on the type of network you may need following hardware.

Hub -> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethernet_hub

Switch -> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_switch

Router -> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Router

CAT5 wire -> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category_5_cable

LAN Card -> Usually all our PC / notebook comes with a built-in network card and port (CAT5).

Software -> Setup will work with any of these OS installed Windows XP SP2 or higher / Windows Vista / Windows 7 / Server 2003 SP2 or higher / Server 2008 / Server 2008 R2

Step 3 -> Software Configuration

In any of the above type network, basic network connection (LAN / IP) would be same.

The PC or device which will have the live internet connection should have IP address 192.168.1.1 where as the others (PC / notebook) will have IP address 192.168.1.2 / 192.168.1.3 and so on to access the internet from first PC.

How to set / configure IP address in Windows Vista / Windows 7 / Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2 ?

In Windows Vista or Windows 7, Right Click on Network on Start menu and click on “Properties”

It should open the network control panel, in which at its LHS (left hand side) you may find the option to manual configure your network adepter settings.

Under Network connection, there may be multiple connection visible, therefore select your LAN connection and right click to go to its properties.

It should offer you the advance settings Window and option for the said network connection. There you can find an option called “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)”, select and click properties to access the option to set the value manually.

How to set / configure IP addresses in Windows 2000 Windows XP / Windows Server 2003 / Win2k3 R2 ?

Under My Computer, right click on the option “My Network Places” and click properties.

It should present the network adapter settings window displaying the available network connections. Here, please select your “local area connection” and right click on to find the option “properties” to access the advance settings for entering values for the manual IP configuration.

It should present you the advance settings Window, there please select “Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)” and click properties to access the panel to enter the manual IP address value.

What IP address value to set ?

As we have discussed early, the PC (running any OS) or if the router (in case of type 1), which will have the live internet connection and act as a server to share it, should contain follow IP address settings,

IP address -> 192.168.1.1
Subnet Musk -> 255.255.255.0
Default Getway -> Blank

DNS -> Blank

Now to the PC / Computers or Notebooks in the network, which will access the internet from the acting server or PC1 or from the router.

IP address -> 192.168.1.2 (and then next PC 192.168.1.3 and so on)
Subnet Musk -> 255.255.255.0
Default Getway -> 192.168.1.1

DNS -> 192.168.1.1 (in case, this following value does work, then set the numbers given by ISP or use OpenDNS)

By now, if done properly, your PCs are connected with each other on a simple Local Area Network.

Make sure you have powered ON all the PCs and your network switch / router or hub for a test run. To check the connection with each other, in every PC open the command prompt and use PING command to verify the connectivity.

Run command PING ip-address-of-another-PC -> example, PING 192.168.1.1 (when testing the server from a HOST PC). If the things are connected, then it should present you a successful results with 0% loss. If Ping results time out, it means something is wrong and you should review to check everything again.

Step 4 -> Turning on the Internet Connection Share

In Type 2 networks, One PC dials a connection to get connected to the Internet and share the connection with others by acting as a server. Your acting server can be a PC running any OS (Windows XP / Vista / 7). Please visit the Network settings of this PC again.

Now right click on the Internet connection (your internet connection can be from any type or from any service provider using any name) to access the “properties” option.

Under the advance settings, please visit the “share” TAB to check on all the option to share the said connection with all PCs connected in this Network.

Step 5 -> Turning on the File Sharing

Once you find your network running properly with Internet connection being shares within all PCs / Notebooks, now you may process towards the file and folder sharing.

Please remember, files are folder you share in a PC will be accessible to all within this home network

How to share files and folder under Windows Vista / Windows 7 ?

Just “right click” the file or folder or the hard disc drive which you wish to share to click “properties” to access the advance options. Under the advance option panel, select the “share” TAB and click “Advance Sharing”..

Under Advance Sharing option panel, select “share” and allow permission with full control for user “everyone” for seam less access of this folder or file or drive with every computer under your home network.

How to share drive / file or folder under Windows 2000 / Windows XP / Server 2003 ?

Make sure you have the latest update (Service Packs) installed for these legacy Operating systems.

Open “My Computer” click “Tools” in the menu bar and go to “Folder Options”.

Under “Folder Option”, visit the “View” tab and scroll down to un-check “use simple file sharing” to turn off the option for Windows XP / Windows Server 2003.

Now “Right Click” on the folder / file or drive you wish you share and click “properties” to access the advance panel for sharing options.

Under properties, visit the “sharing” tab to create a “new share” and allow full permission given to use “everyone” for seamless connectivity and access for all users under your home network or small business/office network.

You are done. By following this in every PC where you wish you have a shared drive or folder, can now be visible and accessible for all users accord the network.

How to access a shared PC (drive / folder / file) from another one in the network ?

You can access the shared PC or its drive or folders by entering its IP address or name in your Windows explorer window with “\\” as prefix.

Not working / Have a question or comment ?

Is there any problem or step where you are stuck, feel free to drop a comment and I would try to look in the matter to see if I can help you out with the configuration.