Question : Home network Setup confusion

Hello:

I haven't a clue about networking and I've been looking at similiar posts but can't get a handle on what I need to do to set up a network at home. I have a laptop and a minitower computer. They both can easily connect to the internet via a wireless ADSL router. My question is how can I set up the minitower as the main computer, it has the printer connected to it and the majority of primary files. So in Xp I set up the network as JIS_HOME and I don't know what to do to have the laptop see it? Do I need a network card, USB for example and another router? I am confused. I won't give up until I clearly understand it. At work it's clear wheere and how to plug the network cable to the port and that's that. It gets detected automatically. How is it done on a small scale?
thanks for the help.

Joseph

Answer : Home network Setup confusion

you don't need another router.  the one you have is all you need.
both computers need to connect to that router, either with a cable or via wireless.  when both computers connect to the same router, it is going to put them on the same network.

i am assuming that JIS_HOME is your workgroup name on the main computer.  if not, then create a workgroup called JIS_HOME on the main computer.  to create a workgroup, right click on My Computer and select properties and go to the Computer Name tab.  Click the Change button.

on the laptop, you also want to join it to the JIS_HOME workgroup (follow the same steps above).

make sure windows firewall is disabled (control panel).  if you are running any other firewall program, disable it.

now, choose a folder on the main computer to share.  on the main computer, right click on that folder and select Sharing and Security.  Follow the sharing instructions on that screen.
here is some more info on file sharing:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304040
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/filesharing.htm

here is how you share your printer, and how to see the shared printer from the laptop:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/honeycutt_july2.mspx

since your router is wireless, you should also consider wireless security:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/bowman_03july28.mspx