Networking Windows XP Home Edition with NetBEUI

Why Network? Primarily to share folders, printers, and internet access.

Basic Principles. All Windows networking depends on similar principles. You must create the same user name and password (or no password) on each computer. You must log on with that user name and password. You must be in the same workgroup. You must have the same protocol on each computer. (Default protocol is TCP/IP). You must run the Network SetupWizard. You must enable file and print sharing in Windows 98 and Windows Millenium. (It occurs automatically in Windows 2000 and Windows XP.) You must create a shared folder so that you can see if your networking is successful. You must configure the firewalls in Norton Security to allow communication between computers. (You must disable the XP firewall.) This tutorial addresses each of these tasks.

All your computers should already have internet access. At the end of the tutorial they should also have printer and file sharing. This tutorial assumes that all computers are connected to the internet through a Cable/DSL Router and Cable/DSL Modem, and you have Norton Internet Security installed on your computers. A Cable/DSL Router only costs about $70. Your internet service provider provides the Cable/DSL Modem.

I have broken the process down to nine steps.

I. Create the same user for each computer

II. Create the same workgroup for each computer

III. Connect to internet – Run network wizard

IV. Create shared folder

V. Install NetBEUI

VI. Disable Windows XP firewall

VII. Manage Norton Internet Security firewall

VIII. See if computers networked

IX. Install network printers

I. You need the same User on each computer with no password.

1. Start -> Control Panel. Select User Accounts

2. Select Create a new account.

3. Type in User Name.

4. Select Computer Administrator and click Create Account.

5. You have now created a new account with Administrative privileges.

II. The Workgoup name must be the same for each computer.

To join a workgroup:

Go to Start -> Control Panel -> Performance and Maintenance -> System.
Open System in Control Panel.
Use any computer name you wish.
Under Member of, click Workgroup, type the name of the workgroup that you want to join, and then click OK.

Notes

A workgroup name must not be the same as the computer name. A workgroup name can have as many as 15 characters, but it cannot contain any of the following: ; : " < > * + = \ | ? ,

III. Run Network Setup Wizard

I am assuming that your computers are connected to the internet through a Cable/DSL Router and Cable/DSL Modem.
Run networking wizard. Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> Communications -> Network Setup Wizard.
Click Next.

4. Click Next.

5.Select the middle button as shown below. A residential gateway is your Cable/DSL Router. Click Next.

6.Select a computer name. And click Next.

7.Select a Workgroup name, or use the default name MSHOME. All the computers in your network must have the same Workgroup name. Click Next.

8. Turn on file and printer sharing. Click Next.

9.Check the wizard settings and click Next.

10.Select Just finish the wizard. (This tutorial is for Windows XP only.) Click Next.

11.Click Finish.

IV. Create a Folder to Share.

1. Windows XP needs a shared folder or printer for networking. Start -> My Computer -> Your Documents -> File -> New -> Folder. Right click

on the folder you created and select Sharing and Security…

Select Share this folder on the network.

Click Apply and OK.

V. Installing NetBEUI to Windows XP from your Windows XP CD.

1. Insert Windows XP CD. The CD will open automatically. Just close it. Go to Start -> My Computer and right click on the CD-ROM icon.

2. Select Explore as shown below.

3.Browse to Valueadd\MSFT\Net\NetBEUI folder on your CD.

4.Copy Nbf.sys to the C:\WINDOWS\System32\Drivers folder on your computer.

5.Browse again to the Valueadd\MSFT\Net\NetBEUI folder.

6.Copy Netnbf.inf to the C:\WINDOWS\Inf directory on your computer. (DON’T panic if you don’t see the Inf directory. It is a hidden file. Follow the following procedure to make it visible.)

Click Start, click Run, type Explorer, and then press OK.
Click Tools, click Folder Options, and then click the View tab.
Under Advanced Settings, click Show hidden files and folders under the Hidden files and folders folder.

7.After you have copied the two files from the CD to your computer, turn the computer off. Then start your computer. Note: A simple restart is not sufficient. Turn the computer all the way off and back on.

8.Click Start -> Control Panel -> Network and Internet Connections.

9.Click on Network Connections.

10. Right click on Local Area Connection.

11.Click on Properties from the drop down menu and select the General tab and click Install.

12. Click on Protocol.

13. Click Add. Select the NetBEUI Protocol and click OK.

14.NetBEUI Protocol should now show in the window as seen below.

15.Click OK. Restart your computer. NetBEUI is now installed on your computer.

IMPORTANT NOTE: You must configure access to other computers through your Windows XP Firewall and Norton Internet Security Firewall.

VI. Disable Windows XP Firewall

1. You must disable the Windows XP Firewall to enable file sharing, but do not do so unless you have Norton Internet Security on your computer. Go to Start -> Control Panel -> Network and Internet Connections

2. Select Change Windows Firewall settings .