Acknowledgements

This document is reproduced with the permission of the World of Windows Networking Web
site, [Link] While the contents of this document have been somewhat
modified to accommodate NETGEAR users, the original author,
Johannes Helmig, gathered much of the information, photographs,
and diagrams reproduced here. In fact, there are several hyperlinks
that are still active in this document to take you to the World of
Windows Networking Web site. If you should have more questions
on particular sections, NETGEAR recommends visiting the site as it
contains a wealth of networking information, troubleshooting, tips
and tricks, and setup information that you will find helpful.

NETGEAR Network Starter Guide

NETGEAR Support Customer Service Downloads

Table of Contents

Overview ...................................................................................................................................................... 4

Step-by-Step Networking: Choosing Names and Protocols for Your Computer/Workgroup............. 4

Assigning Computer and Workgroup Names ............................................................................................ 4
Setting Up Protocols.................................................................................................................................. 5
Network Properties.................................................................................................................................................5
NetBEUI .................................................................................................................................................................6
IPX/SPX .................................................................................................................................................................6
TCP/IP....................................................................................................................................................................6
Binding Network Protocols ........................................................................................................................ 7
Step-by-Step Networking: Installing PCI Network Cards...................................................................... 10
Finding Windows Setup Files .................................................................................................................. 10
Windows 95, 98, and Me......................................................................................................................................11
Windows 2000 and XP .........................................................................................................................................11
Handling the Network Card ..................................................................................................................... 12
PCI Network card for a desktop computer ............................................................................................. 12
Network Card Installation Procedures..................................................................................................... 14
Step-by-Step Networking: Installing Your Network Card Driver .......................................................... 15
Locating the Driver .................................................................................................................................. 16
Confirming the Driver Installation ............................................................................................................ 19
Windows 95, 98, and Me......................................................................................................................................19
Windows 2000 and XP .........................................................................................................................................20
Troubleshooting the Device Manager ..................................................................................................................20
Step-by-Step Networking: Adjusting Your Network Configuration for Windows 95/98/Me .............. 20
Network Protocols ................................................................................................................................... 20
Step-by-Step Networking: Adjusting Your Network Configuration for Windows 2000/XP ............... 22
Network Protocols ................................................................................................................................... 23
Windows 2000......................................................................................................................................................23
Windows XP.........................................................................................................................................................24
NetBEUI ...............................................................................................................................................................26
IPX/SPX ...............................................................................................................................................................26
TCP/IP..................................................................................................................................................................26
Step-by-Step Networking: Testing Your Network Connection............................................................. 30
Windows Diagnostic Tools ...................................................................................................................... 30
Using MS-DOS Commands .................................................................................................................................31
Windows 95, 98, and Me......................................................................................................................................32
Windows 2000 and XP .........................................................................................................................................33
NetBEUI and/or IPX/SPX Protocol .......................................................................................................... 33
NET DIAG ............................................................................................................................................................33
TCP/IP Protocol....................................................................................................................................... 34
Step-by-Step Networking: Sharing Access to Windows 95/98/Me Resources ................................... 36
Sharing a Hard Drive Disk ....................................................................................................................... 37
Sharing a Folder ...................................................................................................................................... 39
Sharing a Printer...................................................................................................................................... 39
Step-by-Step Networking: Sharing Access to Resources in Windows 2000/XP Professional ......... 41
 Sharing a Hard Drive Disk ....................................................................................................................... 42
Sharing a Folder ...................................................................................................................................... 45
Sharing a Printer...................................................................................................................................... 45
Step-by-Step Networking: Sharing Access to Resources in Windows XP Home .............................. 47
Choosing Access Options ....................................................................................................................... 47
Step-by-Step Networking: Using Network Neighborhood or My Network Places.............................. 50
Logon for Windows 95, 98, and Me......................................................................................................... 51
Logon for Windows 2000......................................................................................................................... 53
Logon for Windows XP ............................................................................................................................ 54
Mapping a Network Drive ........................................................................................................................ 56
Browse Master......................................................................................................................................... 56
Locating the Browse Master.................................................................................................................................58
Overview
This document is provided by NETGEAR to give you an understanding of the networking
process and to make it easy for you to set up your own computer network. It describes the step-
by-step procedures for installing a network card and configuring a network. All of the information
applies to PCs running Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000 Professional, XP Home, and XP Professional
operating systems. It will help you install a PCI network adapter or a PC-card/PCMCIA card for
a notebook computer.

Step-by-Step Networking: Choosing Names and Protocols for

Your Computer/Workgroup
Communication between computers is very similar to communication between people. In a
communication, you usually address a person by name. (Example: "John, can you please meet
with..."). You also can address everybody within a group by a group name. (Example: "Please,
students, all of you should be back by...").

In the same way, your networked computers and workgroups need assigned names in order for
anyone to communicate with them. You will need to identify your computer by a "Computer
Name" and the groups of computers connected together by a "Workgroup" name.

Also, you need to agree on a communication language. (It's safe to assume that you understand
English since you are reading this information, but would you understand: "Bitte legen Sie die
Diskette ein", which is German and means "Please, insert the Floppy Disk"?) Every PC on the
network needs to understand the language your network is "speaking".

Assigning Computer and Workgroup Names

You will need to identify your computer by a "Computer Name" and the groups of computers
connected together by a "Workgroup" name.

First, both names are limited to a maximum of 15 alphanumeric characters plus a few special
characters, such as " _ " and " $ ". You must not use a space between any characters, as in:
(Wrong:) "John Smith"
(Right:) "JohnSmith"

Be sure to keep it simple and short:

ƒ Although 15 characters are allowed, only use a maximum of 8 characters
ƒ Use only A through Z (in UPPERCASE) and 0 through 9
ƒ Avoid using the symbol ( $ ), which has special features to hide a system file

Make sure that the "Computer Name" is unique -- defined only on one computer. (Imagine in a
discussion between humans if you said, "Dave, please tell me..." when there were two or more
Dave's present, who then both responded at the same time.) To avoid confusion, every
computer must have a different name than the others.

Make sure that no Computer Name is identical to a Username!

Also make sure that the Workgroup name is the same on all connected computers to make it
easy to communicate between them. (Microsoft proposed in Windows Me to use MSHOME.)

To display the dialog box for assigning computer names and workgroup names:

1. Select Control Panel from either the drop-down menu on your Windows Start menu,
or by double-clicking the My Computer icon on your desktop.
2. Click the Network icon. Or you can right-click the Network Neighborhood icon on
your desktop, then select Properties.
3. Click on the Identification tab. (In Windows 200 and XP, the tab is called Network
Identification.)

Setting Up Protocols
Definition: Protocol = Communication Language

It is important now to discuss the selection of the type of Ethernet networking. You can compare
this to deciding whether you'd like to communicate with a friend (who is far away) by making a
phone call or sending a letter via postal mail or sending an e-mail. But you also need to
communicate in a language that you will both understand, such as English, Spanish, French,
German, or Chinese, for example.

As with human languages that evolved thousands of years ago in different parts of the world,
different networking "languages" (protocols) were developed during the "Computer Stone Age"
(an amazing 30 years ago) by different companies and organizations.

Network Properties
Windows (95/98/ME/2000) supports the three most important and most used network protocols:
IPX/SPX, NetBEUI, and TCP/IP, as shown below:

As of Windows XP, Microsoft only supports two protocols: IPX/SPX and TCP/IP. (NetBEUI is
now an "unsupported Protocol".)
NetBEUI
The NetBEUI protocol was originally developed by IBM, then later adopted by Microsoft for their
first networking product, "Microsoft LanManager". Very simple to install (there is nothing to
configure and it works as long as the computer name and workgroup name are properly
defined), it is a very fast protocol, but it is not routable. This means it cannot be used to connect
networks that are in different locations. This is a serious limitation for use in large companies,
but its simplicity makes it a perfect choice for small home networks. Windows XP no longer
supports it.

IPX/SPX
The IPX/SPX protocol was originally developed by NOVELL for their Netware server product.

Netware was the first affordable PC-based fileserver (long before Microsoft entered this market
with their Windows NT server product). In the first versions of Netware you had to use the
IPX/SPX protocol to connect a PC to the Netware server (in the latest versions of Netware,
TCP/IP protocol also is now supported). To enable the connection of Windows PCs, Microsoft
implemented an "IPX/SPX compatible" protocol. IPX/SPX protocol requires very little
configuration when connecting to a Netware or NT server, but on networks without a server you
need to manually configure the frame type.

IPX/SPX is routable and can be used to create large professional networks, connecting multiple
sites. It is not often used in home networks unless explicitly required, as by some computer
games.

TCP/IP
Originally developed for the ARPANET (which later evolved into the Internet), TCP/IP was at
first only implemented on UNIX systems. It can be quite complex such as: IP address, subnet
mask, gateway, router, DNS, or DHCP. Due to the explosive growth of the TCP/IP-based
Internet in recent years, TCP/IP has become more and more the most important protocol used
in most networks.

TCP/IP works only with an IP address assigned for each system. If you have only Windows
98/98SE/Me systems, you have the option to let Windows automatically assign itself an IP
address. Also, all NETGEAR routers, Firewalls, and Print Servers come pre-configured to be
DHCP (Dynamic Host Control Protocol) servers. This means that they will assign IP addresses
for you on your network automatically!

Although you could install all protocols (which will most probably work), you are strongly advised
to install as few as possible, preferably only one protocol: TCP/IP.

So, which protocol is best to use in a home network that connects just two or three PCs
together? In general, try to use only one protocol. However, if required, multiple protocols can
be installed, depending on whether or not you like to use Windows 98/Me/2000 Internet
Connection Sharing or multiplayer games requiring a certain protocol.
The following protocol is advised:

ƒ If your network contains a Windows 2000 system, then you should use TCP/IP.
ƒ If your network contains a Windows XP system, then you must use TCP/IP.

Binding Network Protocols

A word or two on the network protocols and their usage on Network adapters.

Look at the lines for Protocol. Sometimes protocols are listed multiple times, with the arrow "- >"
pointing to different adapters:
It shows you which protocol will be used with the different network adapters. This is called a
"binding protocol."

If you decide to communicate with the Internet using only TCP/IP, but you want to communicate
with the local network using only NetBEUI, you simply "Add" the NetBEUI protocol provided by
the manufacturer, Microsoft:
When adding a protocol, Windows assumes that you want to use it to communicate with all
defined network adapters. Select the unwanted combinations (in the example: NetBEUI on the
Dial-up adapter and TCP/IP on the LAN) and click Remove:
This system is now configured to communicate on the Dial-up Adapter (to the Internet) using
TCP/IP protocol and on the local network (using the PCI Ethernet card) using NetBEUI.

To adjust the Network configuration to your needs, delete everything that is not required.

- Do you have a home network (or a company network) without a Novell Netware server? Then
you have no need for Client for Netware Networks. Select it (single click) and "Remove" it.

- Did you previously decide on the Network Protocol(s) to be used? For the protocols not
required (or the "Bindings" = Combination of protocol to Network Adapter not required), select
the lines listing the protocol and "Remove" them.

(Example: If a home network is without a Novell server and there is no need to use IPX/SPX for
games, delete it.)

Step-by-Step Networking: Installing PCI Network Cards

What should be a simple issue, but surprisingly often causes problems, is that when installing a
network card, Windows needs to install the basic Network Components (such as Client and
protocol) from the Windows setup files. While the first version of Windows 95 was still available
on floppy disks, later versions of Windows (such as 98/Me/NT42000) are only available on CD-
ROM. But where are these floppies or where is this CD-ROM? Lost it? Never got it?

Finding Windows Setup Files

Check whether you need the original Windows floppies or CD-ROM. Some PCs came pre-
loaded with Windows on the hard drive disk and the installation started to run when the PC was
powered on for the first time. On newer versions of Windows, such as Windows 98SE or Me,
the installation procedure copies all setup files from the CD-ROM to your hard drive disk.

Some people reconfigure their systems very often and tire of playing "disk jockey" in order to
swap the Windows CD-ROM in and out. So they manually copy all setup files from the Windows
CD-ROM directory WIN95, WIN98, WIN9X (or I386 in the case of Windows 2000 or Windows
XP) to a similarly named directory on the hard drive disk.
Note: If your system was installed from a recovery CD-ROM, there is a very good chance that
the installation files are already on your hard drive disk.

Windows 95, 98, and Me

Check your system by selecting from the Start menu: Find > Files or Folders and search for
"*.cab". Does it find "[Link]" files? These are your Windows setup files. For
example, here is an example of some Windows 98SE setup files, stored in
"Windows\options\cabs":

Windows 2000 and XP

Check to see if you have the folder named "I386" on the hard drive disk. It will contain all
installation files from the Windows CD-ROM.

If you ONLY have such setup files on your hard drive disk, but no CD-ROM, you are strongly
advised to make a backup copy for protection in case your hard drive disk crashes and you
need to reinstall Windows!

In addition, Windows must know the location of these setup files. This is established properly by
the Windows setup procedure, but if you copied the Windows files yourself, you need to tell
Windows this location.
Now that you have located your Windows setup files (either on CD-ROM, floppies, or hard drive
disk), you need the drivers for the specific network card that will be installed in the next step.

You will most probably need a floppy disk or CD-ROM, which comes with your network card and
contains the network driver. Before installing the network card, search the floppy disk or CD-
ROM to find your version of the Windows INF file. (Windows 95 also works for Windows 98.)
The INF file is a text file that tells you which files need to be present or downloaded for your
component to run, and includes the setup files.

Please note the location of this INF file -- you will need it when you reboot your PC after
installing the network card.

Handling the Network Card

Before installing the network card, there are some important things to be aware of when
handling it.

PCI Network card for a

desktop computer
Did this ever happen to you -- you reach out to touch something (such as the handle on a door)
and a spark jumps from your hand to the handle? This is "static electricity" and it can damage
computer boards! When walking on certain types of carpets and/or when cloth is moving on
non-isolating materials, there can be a build-up of static electricity.

The voltage can be very high, otherwise it couldn't cause a spark to jump through the air! But
luckily the amount of the charge is very low, so it's only a minimal power flow from your hand --
just enough to give you a small shock. Such a spark would be very dangerous to the high-
density chips on modern computer boards, however, as it can destroy them!

In the early days of computers, service engineers wore special bracelets that connected them to
a metal part of the computer, to "ground" themselves in order to discharge any static electricity.
(These bracelet connectors have not been in use for years and we have become a little sloppy
with handling computer components. But the danger still exists!)

To protect network cards against the risk of static electricity, they are usually packaged in a
protective plastic bag. When removing the card from the plastic bag to install it in a computer,
be sure to:
ƒ First, touch a metal part of your computer to discharge static electricity.
ƒ Avoid touching the chips on the board with your fingers!
ƒ Handle the card ONLY by its outer edges and do not touch the connectors.

ƒ Press the network card in using your thumbs and use pressure just on the top edge
when you have to push it into the slot of the PC.
Network Card Installation Procedures
For a desktop computer you need to:
1. Shut down Windows, power down your system.
2. Disconnect the power cord (it's best to play it safe and avoid accidents!)
3. Remove the outer casing of your computer. Usually the casing is held in place by a
few screws. Once you remove the screws, carefully lift or slide off the casing. (Your
PC manual should give you instructions on how to remove the casing on your
particular computer.)

Look at the back of your computer and you will see a row of long, narrow, covered slots.

Some computers have two different kinds of slots --

PCI (Peripheral Component Interface) and ISA
(Industry Standard Architecture).

In today's modern PC, there may be only one or two

of the old ISA slots and on some PCs, no ISA slots
at all.

Most PCs use black connectors for ISA slots.

Since ISA network cards have mostly disappeared from the market, it's fairly safe to assume
that you have a PCI slot network card (most PCs use white connectors for PCI slots).

The next step in the installation process is to remove the cover from one of the PCI slots (unless
it has already been removed) to access the PCI card connectors.
 1. Remove the screw on the slot cover,
set the screw aside and slide out the
cover.

2. Handling the network card carefully,

slide the network card inside the slot,
lining up the connectors on the card
with those in the slot.
3. When you have it all lined up, press
down firmly on the top of the card until
you hear it click into place. To make
sure it is seated properly, you may have
to gently apply some pressure, being
careful not to bend the card.
4. Secure the card into place using the
screw that you removed from the slot
cover.

5. Now that you have the network card

installed, replace the casing on your
computer and then connect the network
cable.
6. Reconnect the power cord.

Now you are ready to power on your system for Windows to detect the new network card.

Step-by-Step Networking: Installing Your Network Card Driver

Display the Control Panel window and click System. Click on the Device Manager tab. It
contains a list of all components of your PC.

Since you can see and touch these parts, they are also called "hardware". But hardware on its
own is useless, unless your system knows how to "talk to" and use the hardware. The computer
requires some software, a program which allows the computer to use the hardware. Such
software handling a piece of hardware is called a "device driver", often referred to as just
"driver".

Locating the Driver

(On a Windows 2000/XP system, you need to logon as "Administrator" for this next step.)

Once you have installed the new network card (a PC card/PCMCIA in a notebook computer or a
PCI card in a desktop computer), Windows will detect the card. Windows will first display a
message such as "PCI Ethernet Card detected" and then, depending on whether or not your
version of Windows already has recognized the network card type, you will get one of the
following responses:

Windows identified the Network card and has a driver for it in its own library.

It will immediately start installing the driver and other network components. If the Windows setup
files are not stored on your hard drive disk, it will prompt you for the Windows CD-ROM.

Windows could NOT identify the network card and does NOT have a driver for it:
You are prompted to provide the floppy disk/CD-ROM provided by the manufacturer of the
network card. Please verify that the path in "Copy manufacturer's files from" points to the correct
location of the network drivers.

If your Windows setup files are not stored on the hard drive disk, you also will be prompted for
the Windows CD-ROM:
Insert your CD-ROM, wait a few seconds to allow the CD-ROM to spin up and then click OK. If
you get the window, Copying Files, then you need to verify that the path for "Copy files from" is
correct and pointing to the location of the Windows SETUP files (either on the CD-ROM or on
your hard drive disk).

You will also get this message you clicked too quickly on OK when inserting the Windows Setup
CD-ROM and the CD-ROM drive was not yet ready.

Click OK again.

Once Windows has copied the files, you will be prompted to restart your system.
Confirming the Driver Installation
Once the system has rebooted, check that the device driver for the network card has been
installed and is working properly as follows:

Windows 95, 98, and Me

In Control Panel, double-click the System icon and select the Device Manager tab.

Click on the "+" next to Network Adapters to display all installed adapters.

Check that the following symbol is shown for the installed adapter:

Click an adapter once to highlight it, then click the Properties button. Under "Device status" it
should say, "This device is working properly".

If there is no yellow mark or red cross on the adapter icon and if the device is listed as working
properly, you are ready to continue to Adjusting Your Network Configuration for Windows
95/98/Me.
Windows 2000 and XP
1. In Control Panel, double-click the System icon.
2. Click on the Hardware tab, then click the Device Manager button in the Device
Manager section.
3. Click on the General tab.
4. It should say, "This device is working properly".

If there is no yellow mark or red cross on the adapter and if the device is listed as working
properly, you are ready to continue to Adjusting Your Network Configuration for Windows
2000/XP.

Troubleshooting the Device Manager

However, if "Device status" shows anything like what is shown below, then you need to start
troubleshooting the Device Manager problem:

First, verify the error code. Depending on the type of error code, you may need to install the PCI
network card in a different PCI slot, or you may need to install a newer driver for the network
card.

Step-by-Step Networking: Adjusting Your Network

Configuration for Windows 95/98/Me
You now should have the icon for Network Neighborhood on your desktop.

To display the Network Configuration dialog box, you can either right-click the Network
Neighborhood icon and select Properties from the context/pop-up menu, or click the Network
icon in the Control Panel window.

Network Protocols
Beginning with Windows 98, only Client for Microsoft Networks and the TCP/IP protocol will be
installed.

In Windows 95, the network card installation includes:

- "Client for Netware Networks"
- IPX/SPX compatible protocol
- NetBEUI protocol
This will require some cleanup. (If you would like to know why, have a look at Network Basics,
explaining the flow of information and the logical connection between the components.)

Note: There is no need to be concerned about making mistakes in the Network Configuration:
If you made a mistake and deleted too much (or you think you made a mistake), exit the
Network Configuration by selecting Cancel. That way, none of your changes in the Network
Configuration will be stored. This allows you to start again and make modifications.

If you need to, you can easily start all over again:

ƒ Select the PCI network card and click on the Remove button to delete it.
ƒ Then exit the Network Configuration by selecting OK. You will be prompted to reboot.

When you reboot, Windows will detect the network card, allowing you to start the configuration
again.

Step-by-Step Networking: Adjusting Your Network

Configuration for Windows 2000/XP
There are several methods used to display the Network configuration dialog box, via:
- Settings > Network and Dial-up Connection
- Desktop > My Network Places > Properties
- Control Panel > Network and Dial-up Connection
Network Protocols

Windows 2000
In the Network and Dial-up Connections window, you set up the configuration of the local
network (Local Area Connection) and of any dial-up Networking connection (such as a modem
connection to the Internet):

To view/modify the Network configuration, right-click and select Properties which will be listed
on the context/pop-up menu):
By default, all required Components for a network between Microsoft Windows systems are
installed using TCP/IP protocol. Since TCP/IP is the Windows 2000 default protocol, you are
strongly advised to use it. Do not delete it! If you have Windows 95/98/Me systems on your
network, you should also configure them for TCP/IP).

Windows XP
Now you will adjust the local Network configuration (Local Area Connection) and that of any
dial-up Networking connection (such as a modem connection to the Internet):
To view/modify the Network configuration, right-click to display Properties:
As in Windows 2000, all required components for a network between Microsoft Windows
systems are installed by default using TCP/IP protocol.

Since TCP/IP is the default protocol in Windows XP, and NetBEUI is no longer supported, you
will have to use it. If you have Windows 95/98/Me systems on your network, you should also
configure them for TCP/IP.

Windows XP Professional contains a new service, the QoS Packet Scheduler. Just leave it
there.

If you need another protocol (example: NetBEUI to network to a DOS system), then click the
Install button to display Select Network Component Type. Select Protocol, then Add for more
components, such as IPX/SPX or NetBEUI.

(NetBEUI protocol is only available on Windows 2000; it is not available on Windows XP.)

NetBEUI
Nothing to configure.

IPX/SPX
On a network WITHOUT a server, you need to define the frame type.

TCP/IP
If you first had a look at TCP/IP basics, you should know what you are now configuring. Usually
it's just the IP address, as you should have defined already:
Select TCP/IP and click the Properties button.

By default, your system is configured to "obtain an IP address automatically"

(via a DHCP server or Windows 2000 Auto-IP configuration).

Select "Specify an IP address" and enter your IP address (usually it is [Link]), then define
as Subnet Mask : [Link].

For a simple home network, this is all that is required.

(Windows 2000 Internet Connection Sharing ICS will require more work).
Verify/Define the names for the computer and workgroup.

You have already decided on the names for your computer and for your workgroup. Verify these
names in Network Identification, which is part of the properties of My Computer on the desktop
or in System via the Control Panel.

Select the tab:

- Computer name (Windows XP) or
- Network Identification (Windows 2000)

and verify your Full Computer name (which must be unique on the network) and your
Workgroup name (which must be identical on all systems).

To change these names:

- click Properties (Windows 2000) or
- click Change (Windows XP).
For a simple network of Microsoft Windows PCs without an NT4 server or a Windows 2000
server defining a Domain, you need to select Workgroup and define a workgroup name, which
must be identical on all systems on your network.

File and Printer Sharing:

Step-by-Step Networking: Testing Your Network Connection
Have you installed the network card and have you verified in the Device Manager that the
Network card is listed as working properly? Have you adjusted the Network Configuration and
configured the Network Protocols?

Windows Diagnostic Tools

Before attempting to access data on the other system, you are strongly advised to use the
Diagnostic tools provided with Windows to verify that the electronics on the network card are
working and the cabling is in good condition.

There is no menu function to select, no option to be selected, no button to be pushed, so you

will need to use an MS-DOS Prompt or Command Prompt.
Using MS-DOS Commands
Less experienced computer users very often have no knowledge of DOS commands. You may
find the following list of MS-DOS commands to be helpful. One of the most powerful commands,
and at the same time, least known, is "NET". NET is a useful DOS command that provides help
when you ask for it, via: NET > help:

(This actually takes more than one window to display. The above image is the result of
combining two screens in order to display the complete interface.)
Windows 95, 98, and Me
Windows 95/98 still uses MS-DOS Version 7 to start the boot-up process before switching over
to the graphical user interface.

Some tasks can be better accomplished using a DOS command, so Windows offers this option
in the MS-DOS Prompt window (often also called a "DOS box"):
Windows 2000 and XP
In Windows 2000/XP you will need to use the
Command Prompt" via Start menu > Programs > Accessories.

NetBEUI and/or IPX/SPX Protocol

Can you find the option "NET DIAG" in the above MS-DoS list? This requires Windows
95/98/Me on both systems.

(This diagnostics is not available on Windows 2000/XP; please use PING.)

NET DIAG
NET DIAG runs the Microsoft Network Diagnostics program to display diagnostic information
about your network.

At the prompt, type: "net diag".

If multiple protocols are installed, select the one to be used for the test.
Since this is the first system running the test, there is no answer from the network.

Answering now with 'N' will have the system act as 'Diagnostic Server'.

On the other system(s), also enter a DOS window and again type: "net diag".
Again, define the protocol, if you are asked for it.

If the network hardware is in good condition, the "net diag" on this station should now locate the
Diagnostic Server on the other system and display a message like that above. This means you
are ready to continue with the next step of the network setup.

However, if you are asked again whether the "Diagnostic server is already running", it means
there was no communication and you need to troubleshoot your hardware and cabling.

TCP/IP Protocol
The TCP/IP protocol comes with its own diagnostic utility, called PING.

As soon as you install TCP/IP protocol, it automatically installs a diagnostic responder (so there
is no need, as with NET DIAG, to install a Diagnostic Server first). Any system configured with
TCP/IP (a PC, a UNIX system, a mini-computer, a network printer, for example) has this
diagnostic responder and will reply to the PING signal. (An exception to this is that systems with
a firewall may not respond to a PING signal.)
Did you configure the IP address in the previous step? At the prompt, type "PING [Link]",
where [Link] in this example is the IP address of system #1 on a small network.

In this example, a reply coming back, a network signal passed through the network card on the
network cable via the network card on the other system, and was then sent back the same way.
This verified that the electronics of the network card is working and the cabling is correct.

Be sure to run this test on all systems on your network and PING all other systems! It is possible
that a system can send out PING signals and receive the return signal, yet itself is NOT
responding to a PING signal. (This can be caused by personal firewalls.)

If you get all networked systems to reply, then you are ready to continue.

In the following example, trying to "PING [Link]" results in no answer:

A signal was sent out to contact it, but there was no reply. (In this example, it is because there is
no system #3 with IP address [Link].)

If you have a system configured with this IP address and it is powered on and
connected to the network cable, but you get no PING reply, it means that you need to start
troubleshooting. (If you used a personal firewall, then it is probably not configured properly).

Note: If PING does not work in all directions, then the NetBIOS broadcasts also will be failing,
and since all Microsoft networking (except the new Active Directory on Windows 2000 server) is
based on NetBIOS, your network will not work properly.

Step-by-Step Networking: Sharing Access to Windows

95/98/Me Resources
This section is only for Windows 95/98/Me as there are slightly different procedures for
Windows 2000/XP Professional and for XP Home.

You already have installed your network card and checked the network configuration. Now the
question is, do you only want to connect from your system to another computer on the network
or do you want also to allow other computers to access resources on your system? (A network
resource is either an entire disk, a folder with all files and subdirectories, or a printer.)

For other computers to access your system, you should already have installed File and Print
Sharing as part of the check/adjusting of the network configuration. Once File and Print Sharing
is installed, you need to decide which parts of your computer other systems should be able to
access, or to put it another way, which part of your system to share.

You can allow access to an entire hard drive disk on your computer or to only a folder. You also
can allow other systems to print from your printer.

Sharing a Hard Drive Disk

In My Computer, right-click on the hard drive disk to be shared and select Sharing from the
context/pop-up menu:

The system displays the Properties of the hard drive disk, with the Sharing tab pre-selected. By
default, the hard drive disk is not shared.
Select the hard drive disk to be "Shared As...", define the Share Name, which will be the name
of this hard drive disk on the network (include no blanks, and use as short a name as possible).

You can decide the level of access; the other system can be limited to Read-Only data from
your hard drive disk, or have Full permission (to read/write/delete files).

If you trust everybody on your network, you have no need for passwords, but if there are some
systems not allowed access to your data, you do need to create a password.

Once a hard drive disk is shared, the symbol in My Computer changes to a hand holding the
hard drive disk.
Sharing a Folder
If you do not want to allow access to your entire hard drive disk, you can allow access to (share)
only a folder. Other systems then can see only the files and sub-folders within this folder.

Select the folder to be shared, right-click and select Sharing from the context/pop-up menu.

As in sharing an entire disk, select "Shared As...", define the Share Name, the access type, and
a password, if required. Once a folder is shared, the Folder symbol changes to a hand holding
the Folder.

Sharing a Printer
In Printers, via My Computer or via Control Panel, right-click on the printer
to be shared and select Sharing from the context/pop-up menu.

The system displays the Properties of the printer with the Sharing tab pre-selected.
By default, a printer is not shared.

Select "Shared As....", and define a Share Name under which the printer will be listed in
Network Neighborhood.

Once a printer is shared, the symbol in Printers changes to a hand holding the printer:
Step-by-Step Networking: Sharing Access to Resources in
Windows 2000/XP Professional
This section is only for Windows 2000/XP Professional Edition. There are slightly different
procedures for Windows 95/98/Me and Windows XP Home Edition.

First you need to log on as Administrator or Standard User (Power User) for this step.

You already have installed your network card and checked the network configuration.

Now the question is, do you only want to connect from your system to another computer on the
network or do you want to allow other computers also to access resources on your system? (A
network resource is either an entire hard drive disk, a folder with all files and subdirectories, or a
printer.)

Unlike Windows 95/98/Me, where you need to install File and Print Sharing as part of the
check/adjusting of the network configuration, Windows 2000/XP has File and Print Sharing
installed by default.

You need to decide which parts of your computer other systems should be able to access, or to
put it another way, which part of your system to share.

You can allow access to an entire hard drive disk on your computer or to only a folder. You also
can allow other systems to print from your printer.

In Windows XP, Microsoft has changed the method for sharing a hard drive disk or folder to a
new method that is designed specifically for the Windows XP Home Edition.

In the Windows XP Professional Edition, you can select:

ƒ to use the Simple File Sharing (as designed for XP Home) or
ƒ to switch off Simple File Sharing

Note: By default, Simple File Sharing is activated in Windows XP Professional.

Open My Computer and select Tools from the menu to display "Folder Options...".

Select the View tab, and then Advanced settings.

Uncheck the Simple File Sharing option to deactivate it, as shown:

If you do not deactivate Simple File Sharing, then you have to make your sharing work the way
it does in Windows XP Home.

Windows XP Professional File Sharing will now work the way it does in Windows 2000.
Sharing a Hard Drive Disk
In My Computer, right-click on the hard drive disk to be shared and select Sharing from the
context/pop-up menu.

The system displays the Properties of the hard drive disk, with the Sharing tab pre-selected.

By default, a Windows 2000 hard drive disk is already shared, using "C$", "D$" as the share
names. This is the Administrative Share, used in company networks to allow a network
administrator access to your system. It is not visible in Network Neighborhood. (See Hidden
Shared Resources.) Do not delete this share!

Click the New Share button.

Define the Share Name, which will be the name of this hard drive disk on the network (use no
blank spaces, and use as short a name as possible):
Warning: if the name is more than 12 characters, it will not be displayed in the Network
Neighborhood of a Windows 95/98/Me system.

Click the "Permissions..." button.

You can decide on a level of access that will allow other users to Read data from your hard
drive disk, or to have Full Control (to read/write/delete files).

By definition, these levels of access are assigned for the User group, Everyone, which is a
hidden user group and includes all users defined on this system.

Only users with a username defined on this system will be able to connect! You have the ability
to add other User Groups or Usernames to this list and assign different access levels to each of
them.
Back on the Sharing tab, you now can select one of the following for Share name:
- the Administrative Share (such as C$ )
- the user-defined Share name

Exit with OK to make this definition valid.

Once a hard drive disk is shared, the symbol in My Computer changes to

a hand holding the hard drive disk:
Sharing a Folder
If you do not want to allow access to your entire hard drive disk, you can allow access to (share)
just a folder. Other systems then can see only the files and sub-folders within this folder.

Select the folder to be shared, right-click and select Sharing from the context/pop-up menu.

As in sharing an entire disk, select "Shared As...", define the Share Name, the access type, and
a password, if required. Once a folder is shared, the Folder symbol changes to a hand holding
the Folder.

Sharing a Printer
In Printers, via My Computer or via Control Panel, right-click on the
printer to be shared and select Sharing from the context/pop-up menu.
The system displays the Properties of the printer with the Sharing tab pre-selected.

By default, a printer is not shared.

Select "Shared As....", and define a Share Name under which the printer will be listed in
Network Neighborhood.

Once a printer is shared, the symbol in Printers changes to a hand holding the printer:
Check that you performed the operation properly. Look in My Network Places in Computers
Near Me under your own Computer name. It should now list all items shared in the steps above.

Step-by-Step Networking: Sharing Access to Resources in

Windows XP Home
This section is for Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional Edition using Simple
File Sharing. There are slightly different procedures for Windows 95/98/Me and for Windows
2000 and Windows XP Professional Edition, not using Simple File Sharing.

First you need to log on as Administrator or Standard User (Power User) for this step.

You already have installed your network card and checked the network configuration.

Choosing Access Options

Now the question is, do you only want to connect from your system to another computer on the
network or do you want to allow other computers also to access resources on your system? (A
network resource is either an entire hard drive disk, a folder with all files and subdirectories, or a
printer.)

Unlike Windows 95/98/Me, where you need to install File and Print Sharing as part of the
check/adjusting of the network configuration, Windows XP has File and Print Sharing installed
by default.

You need to decide which parts of your computer other systems should be able to access, or to
put it another way, which part of your system to share.

You can allow access to an entire hard drive disk on your computer or to only a folder. You also
can allow other systems to print from your printer.

In Windows XP, Microsoft has changed the method for sharing a hard drive disk or folder to a
new method, called Simple File Sharing.

In the Windows XP Home Edition, you must use Simple File Sharing.

In the Windows XP Professional Edition, you can switch off Simple File Sharing, or you can
select to use Simple File Sharing (as in XP Home).

To share a hard drive disk (as, for example, in My Computer), right-click the hard drive disk icon
to get the context/popup menu and select "Sharing and Security...".

Compared to previous versions of Windows, Microsoft has included much more information to
warn users about security issues. Here is an example: "Sharing an entire hard drive disk can be
a security problem."

Sharing only folders is more selective and not such a high security risk. Once you have selected
the folder to be shared, either right-click to get the context/pop-up menu and select Sharing and
Security, or select from the File and Folder Tasks (on the left side) to "Share this folder."
In previous versions of Windows, it has been sufficient just to have File and Print sharing
installed to be able to share. In Windows XP, you are recommended first to run the Network
Setup Wizard.

If you know how to set up the firewall, you can choose to share files without running the Network
Setup Wizard. Confirm again that you just want to enable File Sharing and you will skip the
Setup Wizard. However, if you are new to networking and not sure about security issues, it's a
good idea to use the Network Setup Wizard.
Once you have run the Network Setup Wizard, the checkbox to share becomes active.

Once a hard drive disk or folder is shared, the icon will show it via the "holding hand" icon.

Step-by-Step Networking: Using Network Neighborhood or

My Network Places
Once you have permitted access to your resources via the network for Windows 95/98/Me
and/or permitted access to your resources (Sharing) for Windows 2000/XP/XP Home and XP
Professional, you can access the network. Make sure that you log on to the system using the
Network logon (Enter Network Password):
If you pressed the ESC key or clicked Cancel, then you did not validate your network user name
and will not have access to the network!

It is not sufficient to just log on to Windows (Enter Windows Password). This does not result in a
logon to the network software, and will not allow you to use the network!

If you intend to access data on a Windows 2000/XP system, then you must make sure that the
User name (and password) used during the Windows 95/98/Me/2000/XP startup is identical to
the User name (and password) defined in User Management of the Windows 2000/XP system
to which you want to connect.

Just as, when going to work on your computer, you need to enter your user name, a connection
via the network requires identification!

Logon for Windows 95, 98, and Me

You can obtain network access via the "Network Neighborhood" icon on your desktop:

If you get a request for the IPC$ resource when trying to access resource sharing on a Windows
2000 or XP system, then the user name and password entered during startup is not defined, or
does not match a user name exactly as defined in User Management.
Logon for Windows 2000
You can access network resources via the My Network Places icon on your desktop:

Select Computers Near Me:

Now select the system to which you'd like to connect, for which all shared resources will be
displayed:
Logon for Windows XP
You can access network resources via the My Network Places icon on your desktop:

Windows XP will show you all shared resources on the network to which you have access.

You can also view the computers in the workgroup by selecting "View workgroup computers",
under Network Tasks:
The names of the available resources are the Share names. You now can use any Windows
Explorer function to copy/paste/delete files.

Important: Only systems with File and Print Sharing installed and with something shared will be
displayed in Network Neighborhood.

If only your own system is shown, see the next section on how Network Neighborhood works.

You can also access Network Neighborhood from the File > Open menu of most Windows
programs.
On some programs, the File > Open menu does not offer to browse the Network Neighborhood.
In such cases you need to map a network drive.

Mapping a Network Drive

Note: Due to the design of Microsoft Networking based on a Browse Master, it may take a few
minutes after a reboot of the system before the network drive shows up in Network
Neighborhood.

How does Network Neighborhood work? It's worth spending the time to learn about this, as it
explains its sometimes confusing behavior.

Browse Master
On a network based on Microsoft networking, there must be one system acting as the
bookkeeper; this system is called the "Browse Master". The Browse Master is a computer on
the network that keeps an active list of all the computers in the workgroup. When you have a
network of Windows 95/98/Me systems and you switch on these systems, one of first things
done by the network software is to check on the network for the presence of a Browse Master:

ƒ If no Browse Master is found, then a Browse Master is elected.

ƒ Only a system with File and Printer Sharing installed can be elected to become a
Browse Master
ƒ On a network with a mixture of Windows 95/98 and Windows NT/2000 systems, only a
Windows NT or Windows 2000 system can become the Browse Master
ƒ On a network with a Windows NT server, the NT server becomes the Browse Master
ƒ Each system sends the list of available shared resources to the Browse Master
If you use Network Neighborhood to view the list of available resources on the network, then
your system sends a request to the Browse Master, which sends back the list of the available
resources for display.

This should help you understand some of the confusing behavior of Network Neighborhood.

Your own system does not have File and Printer Sharing installed, your system could not find a
Browse Master on the network:
If your own system has File and Printer Sharing installed, only your own system is displayed,
not any other system on the network:

First, after switching on Windows, it can take a few minutes to elect the Browse Master. It may
help to close Network Neighborhood and open it again after a few minutes. Second, when a
system is switched on or off later, it can take up to 15 minutes before the display list of the
Browse Master is updated.

If you are still not getting a proper display, then check the following:

ƒ Verify that all systems are defined to use the same workgroup.
ƒ Only systems with File and Printer Sharing installed and something shared are
displayed.
ƒ Test the network connection.

Locating the Browse Master

On networks using TCP/IP protocol, you can find out which system is acting as Browse Master:
If you want to decide which system will act as the Browse Master, view the Properties of File
and Printer Sharing. By default, the setting for Browse Master is Automatic, which is why the
systems have elected a Browse Master.

You can name a system to be the Browse Master by changing the Browse Master value to
Enabled, but then you must change the value to Disabled on all other systems in this
workgroup.

Note: Be sure to visit [Link] for even more detailed networking tips, tricks,
troubleshooting tips, and DETAILED network setups. This site has plenty of information for you!