How to Make a Network Setup Disk

If you have more than one computer running a Microsoft Windows operating system at home or work, you probably want to network them so you can share their resources. With a network, your computers can share one router, printer or other Internet-enabled devices. Depending on the version of the Microsoft Windows operating system you have installed in the computers, you may need to create a network setup disk before you can network your computers.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Two or more personal computers
• Wired or wireless Internet router or gateway

1. 
   Click the network setup wizard to begin creating the network.

   Log on to the main computer as the Administrator. The main computer is the computer to which the printer and other devices are attached. When your computer completes the boot-up process, click "Start." Go to "Control Panel" and click on "Network Setup Wizard." Click "Next."

2. 
   Confirm the checklist

   Review the checklist for creating a network and confirm that you have everything in place. Turn on other computers you want to network. Log on as Administrator. Turn on your printer, router or other gateway and other devices. Click "Next" to search for a shared Internet connection.

3. 
   Select the shared connection on your computer.

   Select the "Yes, Use the Existing Shared Connection for This Computer's Access (Recommended)" option in the new window. Click "Next."

4. Type a name and brief description for this computer on the network. Click "Next." In the new window, type a name for your workgroup or select the default. Every computer you add to this network using this network setup disk will belong to this workgroup. Click "Next."

5. 
   Turn on printer and file sharing.

   Select "Turn on File and Printer Sharing" if you want to share your printer among all the computers and other devices on this network. Select "Turn off File and Printer Sharing" if you don't want to share your printer and files. Confirm that your printer is on. Click "Next."

6. 
   Create your network setup disk.

   Select "Create a Network Setup Disk" when the new window opens. Insert a floppy disk into your floppy-disk drive. Format the floppy disk if it is not blank or empty. Click "Next" to create your network setup disk.

7. 
   Complete the network disk creation.

   Remove your new network setup disk when the process is complete. Restart your computer.

Tips & Warnings

• To add other computers to your network, insert the floppy disk into the floppy-disk drive of every computer you want to add and follow the on-screen instructions to add them to your network. These steps apply to the Microsoft Windows XP Pro operating system, but the process is similar in other Windows operating systems.

Resources

• Creating a network setup disk
• Creating a network setup disk in Windows XP
• Setting up a home network