Networks

5. I have just installed a network card in each of my computers and a cable between them but when I double click on network neighbourhood each computer still shows only itself and not the other computer. What should I do to make them connect?

If you have a thin ethernet network without a hub the first thing to check is that the wires into the back of each computer go in through a T-piece and there is a network terminator at each end of the network.
If you have a Cat5 network through a hub check that each computer lights up the relevant light on the hub to confirm the connection.

Once the connection is confirmed then the next thing to confirm is that both computers have the relevant protocols loaded in order to communicate. For small networks loading NetBEUI is ideal.

Once protocols are loaded then the next thing is to confirm that both computers are on the same workgroup. To access this go to the control panel and double click on the network icon and then click the Identification tab. Confirm that computer names are different for both computers as well as the workgroup being the same.

Next you need to ensure that file and printer sharing are enabled. On the Configuration Tab click the File and Printer sharing button and check the boxes in the dialog box that pops up and click OK.

Finally move to the access control tab and ensure that the computers are using " share level access control".

Click OK to save the changes and you may find windows needs to be re-started. Once windows has re-started then double clicking on Network Neighbourhood should show all computers connected but please bear in mind that the network can take a few minutes to appear after computers have started. This is quite normal and nothing to worry about.

now you can share files and share printers