This is our final installment of our networking tips. In this tip, you will learn how to share files and printers between computers on your network. One of the greatest advantages of a network for home users is the ability to use a single printer to service all the computers.

Windows XP offers a networking wizard that works quite well for most people to setup a home or small business network. You can find it by:

1. Double-click the "My Computer" icon
2. Click "My Network Places" from the task list on the left of the screen
3. You will then see the menu of options at the pictured here
4. Click the "Set up a home or small office network" option
5. Click Next twice
6. The next screen will ask you how you connect to the Internet, choose the second option "  This computer connects to the Internet through a residential gateway or through another computer on my network."
7. Click Next
8. On the next screen, give your computer a description and a name as described in the step itself
9. Click Next
10. Now you name your network (workgroup) so that the computers can talk to each other. Use any name you like, but keep it to a single word like; Steelers, Network, Rover, etc
11. Click Next 
12. Click the "Turn on file and printer sharing" option
13. Click Next twice
14. If you are using Windows 98 or Me on other computers in your network, then click the "Create a Network Setup Disk" and click next.  OR  If you are using XP on the other computers, then click the final option "Just finish..."
15. Click Next  
16. Click Finish

Using this method will allow you to share files through the "SharedDocs" folder found in My Computer. Any files you save into this folder can be accessed on any other computer via the network. The wizard will also allow you to share any printers you have installed.

To share your printers with other computers:

1. Click Start ---> Control Panel
2. Open your Printers folder
3. RIGHT Click on your pinter
4. Click "Sharing"
5. Click "Share this printer"
6. Type a descriptive name in the share name box
7. Click OK

Other Windows XP computers on your network will automatically detect and utilize these shared printers. All you have to do is choose them from your printer list when printing OR open the Control Panel and your printers folder, then RIGHT click on the network printer and choose "Set as Default"

If you want to share other folders on your hard drive with your network, navigate to that folder in Windows Explorer or My Computer, then:

1. RIGHT Click on the folder to share
2. Click  "Share this folder on the network"
3. Change the Share name if necessary
4. Click the "Allow network users to change my files" box IF you want to be able to edit those files from other computers
5. Click Ok

Networking isn't just for the big corporate offices any more. There are plenty of good reasons to set up a network in your home or small office. Use our tips in this series to learn more about networking and using it to your advantage.

You can read the previous tips in this series here:

Set up a home network - Part I [1]

Set up a home network - Part II [2]

Set up a home network - Part III [3]

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