Virgin’s MiFi 2200 gives you your own wireless hotspot, capable of connecting five devices simultaneously to the Internet. It latches onto Sprint’s 3G data network, so anywhere in the USA where you can get Sprint data coverage, your MiFi will get you online. That’s certainly not the whole country, but it includes all major cities plus a lot of out-of-the-way places as well. (Sprint has a horrible data coverage map – really nasty to use – which will give you some idea of the coverage area; it works best if you zoom in on a specific city.)

The MiFi itself is a mere sliver of a thing, a device you can quite easily slip into a pocket. That’s what I do with it: put it in my pocket and head out knowing that anywhere I go I can get instant Internet access with a press of its power button. Even better, it provides secure access, so there’s no longer any need to worry about eavesdroppers at Starbucks or in the airport lounge.

Its battery lasts about 4 hours on a full charge, less if you connect multiple devices to it. It comes with a compact cable for recharging from an outlet or you can use the microUSB cable to recharge it from your notebook or through an iPhone or iPad charger.

(Almost) smart pricing

Virgin has done two very smart things with its MiFi: eliminated contracts and offered a truly affordable, all-you-can-eat data smorgasbord. For $40 you get unlimited data for a month. Because there’s no contract, you can buy a month of data when you know you’ll be on the road, with no need to pay any more until the next time you’re in need of a connection. You can also set up automatic top-up to keep the data flowing if you’re on the road a lot. That compares very favourably with all Virgin’s competitors.

What’s not so smart, or, at least, not so consumer-friendly, is the second tier of pricing. If you don’t need unlimited data, you can pay $10 for 100 megabytes of data over a 10-day period. That’s pretty skimpy – a few hours browsing and a few emails containing largish attachments and you’ve chewn through it. I’d rather see a more workable option of, say, $20 for 500MB or even $20 for 250MB. I guess Virgin thinks the current two tiers will force more people into opting for the $40 unlimited plan, and they’re probably right.

Taking the MiFi for a spin

I’ve been using the MiFi for about a month, around my neighbourhood in New Orleans and on the road in the back woods of Texas and New Hampshire. In New Hampshire, I really put it to the test during my wish-it-were-annual, leaf-peeping trip. With the MiFi, for the first time I was able to get Internet access at the little cabin where I stay in an area with almost no cell phone coverage, let alone data services. Sprint has no voice coverage in the area, but it does have data and so the MiFi jumped online without a problem. I connected my notebook, iPad and iPhone and one of my family connected another computer and another iPad. (If you have a wi-fi-only iPad, as one of my family members does, the MiFi becomes an even more useful on-the-road companion.) We were able to do some serious work and I really tested Virgin’s “unlimited” data claim by uploading hundreds of photos via Picasa.

Over a two week period, I uploaded around 4 gigabytes of data and downloaded around the same amount, without a squeak from the network. It’s not fast – I got around 1.2 megabits/second – but it’s fast enough for most applications.

During the New Hampshire trip, every now and then I lost Internet access and had to reboot either the MiFi or my computer to get back online. Once I had to reset the MiFi by poking a needle into a tiny hole on its back, to get things working again. But on the whole, it was very smooth.

The only time I’ve really had a problem with the MiFi was when I was initially activating it. Virgin’s servers are atrociously slow and I had to repeat the procedure several times due to timeouts. I finally got things working without the need for a support call, but it’d be good to see Virgin make this process smoother.

The MiFi has a browser-based configuration panel.

A network as well

An advantage the MiFi offers over other mobile wireless solutions is that it not only provides Internet access for your computer and four playmates, it also gives you a portable wireless network. So even if you don’t need to use the Internet, you can use the MiFi to set up an adhoc home or office network wherever you are. That makes it very easy to transfer files between your devices, print to a wireless printer and do a bunch of other network-dependent tasks.

A hot item

I snapped up a MiFi as soon as Virgin put them on the market. I’m glad I did so, because they quickly sold out. If you’re in need of an affordable, peripatetic wireless hotspot, keep an eye out for when the MiFi becomes available again; it really is a wonderful little device.

Oh, I almost forgot: the price. Given how useful this device is and the cost-effectiveness of Virgin’s no-contract data, the upfront cost of $149.99 seems like a no-brainer.

No related posts.

While networking computers used to be something of a black art, Windows 7 makes it a mostly straightforward affair. Router manufacturers have come to the party, too, providing simple, step-by-step installation routines to guide you through setting up your home network.

Why network?

Why would you want a network?

The reasons are numerous and compelling. A network lets you:

• Share a high-speed Internet connection between computers.
• Share resources such as printers.
• Do away with the need to copy files to memory stick or CD in order to move them from one computer to another.
• Infuse new life into old computers by turning them into file servers or backup stores for large multimedia files.
• Eliminate redundant storage of large files.
• Communicate directly between your networked computers.
• Take advantage of applications and games that let you collaborate with others on your network.
• Simplify backup of huge hard drives.
• Provide redundancy when one PC suffers problems.

When you network a group of stand-alone computers the end result is something much, much more than the combined sum of the non-networked computers. You raise your computing power and efficiency to an entirely different level.

Wired or wireless?

When you network, you have a choice of two main technologies, wired and wireless. Which should you choose?

To create a wired network you need networking cards (known as ‘Ethernet cards’) in your computers, a router to link the computers to one another and to the Internet, and Ethernet cabling to connect the computers to the router. Ethernet networks are reliable, fast and inexpensive. The cabling, though, is a pain, especially in a home. Installation may involve crawling through an attic, knocking holes in walls, and dealing with all sorts of physical problems, and you may still end up with some ugly cable trails snaking around walls. If you want to network a multi-story house or many rooms, you may find it easier to get a networking specialist to do the job for you, although, of course, that ups the price significantly.

If your wireless equipment supports it, select the stronger WPA or WPA2 security in preference to WEP.

That makes wireless look really attractive. For a wireless network, all you need is a wireless router and wireless networking cards or wireless capability built into your computers. No wires and no mess, and you gain the ability to move the machines on your network from one place to another as the need arises. With a wireless network, you can roam around your house with a notebook and connect wherever an adequate signal exists. A wireless network may not be as cheap, fast and reliable as a wired one, but its ease of use and installation makes it hard to resist. And these days, the gap in price and reliability between wired and wireless networks is dwindling so rapidly for most home users wireless is the only way to go. With notebook prices also dropping, that’s one more reason to opt for wireless.

The best solution for most people, though, is to opt for a mixed network of wired and wireless computers. With such a set up, you can ensure a reliable connection for those computers where it really matters and use the flexibility of wireless links wherever the signal permits.

If you have a mix of desktop and notebook computers, probably the optimum approach is this:

• Set up one desktop as the center of your network. This desktop should have a network (Ethernet) card installed and be located near your cable or DSL modem and your wireless router. You will connect the router directly to the modem using one Ethernet cable, and then connect the router to the computer using another Ethernet cable.
• If you have other desktop machines for which a reliable, fast connection is essential, connect them via Ethernet cable to the router. Each of these machines will require an Ethernet card installed so you can cable them up.
• For all other machines, use wireless connections. Most notebook computers come with built-in wireless capability. If not, you can add a wireless network card, and you can do the same for additional desktop machines.

By setting up a mixed network, you get reliable connections where needed; flexibility in your network; no ugly wires in public rooms; and a central networking machine you can use to diagnose problems and reconfigure your router if necessary.

Maximizing wireless range

Check your wireless network’s reach by wandering around with a notebook while monitoring the signal strength.

The layout of your home or office has a big influence on the success of your wireless network. With good line of sight and few intervening walls, you can get excellent wireless reception over 80 to 200 feet; if your house doesn’t fit that description, wireless performance takes a dive. Extra stories, lots of walls and wall construction can all restrict wireless range.

You can get around some of these limitations by installing additional antennas, access points or boosters (just make sure any boosters you install are compatible with your existing router) and by experimenting with the location of your existing wireless router or access points.

One simple solution to the wireless range problem is to try one of the extended range routers using the wireless ‘N’ specification. The ‘N’ refers to 802.11n, the latest standard in wireless networking. Wireless networks built around 802.11n technology deliver higher speeds, greater signal strength and broader range than the earlier standards.

Apart from using 802.11n equipment, the other key to maximizing the performance of your network is to buy networking equipment—routers, adaptors, range boosters, antennas—from the same manufacturer utilizing the same technology. Ideally, you should get the same performance from all equipment that bears the same standard, but experience has shown that buying equipment from a single manufacturer improves both range and speed. It also makes it much, much easier if you encounter problems setting up your network; it lets you avoid the ‘circle-of-death’ you face when trying to get support from multiple manufacturers.

What you need

To set up a wireless network to share a broadband Internet connection, you’ll need:

• A cable, DSL or satellite modem to provide an Internet connection.
• A wireless router for managing your network. Make sure your router has a built-in firewall to secure your network from outside attack. Wireless routers also include one or more ports for connecting additional computers via wired connection.
• A ‘setup’ computer. You use an Ethernet cable (the ‘wire’) to connect this computer directly to the router while you set up your network. You can, if you like, ‘unwire’ this computer after you’ve finished setting up and configuring your network, but most small networks keep one computer wired into the router, with all other computers using wireless connections.
• An Ethernet cable to connect the setup computer to the router. Many routers come with two Ethernet cables in the box: one to connect the router to the modem and one to connect the router to a computer. If your router is supplied with only one cable, you’ll need to buy a second one.
• A wireless network adapter for each computer on the network. For desktop PCs, this can either be a wireless expansion card you install in an expansion slot in your computer, or a USB network adapter. The latter is convenient and easy to install and makes it easy to place the wireless antenna in a suitable position; on the other hand, the antenna on an expansion card may be masked by the system box. Almost all recent notebook computers come with wireless networking capability built in. If yours doesn’t have this, you can either add a USB wireless adapter or, more conveniently, an ExpressCard or PC Card adapter that fits into a card slot. (Note that ExpressCard is the more recent type of slot on notebooks; if you have an older notebook, it’s more likely to have a PC Card slot; netbooks tend not to have slots at all, but they all have built-in wireless and so adding a wireless card is unnecessary.)

Setting it up

Although wireless gives you a lot of flexibility in the physical arrangement of your network, it pays to plan ahead and consider the best possible arrangement. Think about the layout of your house and the type of usage you make of each computer in your planned network. Any computers for which 100 percent reliable communications are essential should either be located close to the router—the signal will be stronger there— or on a wired connection. Plan to locate your router/access point centrally, and with line of sight to as many computers as possible. If necessary, you can increase the range of your network by incorporating additional access points or wireless boosters.

The following steps assume:

• you currently connect to the Internet via a high-speed modem directly connected to your PC’s Ethernet (LAN) port;
• you have a wireless router with built-in access point (almost all wireless routers do);
• you wish to connect one or more computers wirelessly;
• you’re running Windows 7.

Even if your setup differs from this, you’ll find the steps are fairly similar and most reputable routers come with refreshingly clear setup instructions. The steps below provide a general overview of the process.

Step-by-step set up

Step 1: Read the quick start/setup guide.

The simplest way to set up your router is to follow the quick start guide. If anything in that guide contradicts the instructions below, follow the router guide!

Step 2: Install the router software.

In almost all cases, you install the software before you connect the wireless router to your computer or modem. It’s very important you do this in the right order, or you may have real trouble getting your router to work. Most routers come with stickers on the router and/or the installation disc indicating whether to install the software first or the router first. The software itself should provide step-by-step instructions that are easy to follow—if your software is like this, you can simply follow the instructions it displays for you and jump to Step 6 below.

Step 3: Connect the router/access point to the modem

Remove the Ethernet cable that connects your PC to your modem from the PC, and plug that end of the cable into the wireless router’s Internet/WAN port. The port looks like a slightly oversized phone jack.

Step 4: Connect the router to your PC.

Your router should have come with an Ethernet cable of its own. If it does, make sure you use that cable. If not, you can buy a short cable from a computer, electronics or office supply store; just ask for a straight-through Ethernet Cat-5 cable. Connect one end of that cable to the now vacant Ethernet port on your PC. Connect the other end to the Ethernet ‘computer’ port on your router. If your router has more than one Ethernet port, choose any of them.

Step 4: Plug it in and switch it on.

Connect the power supply to the modem. If the modem has a power switch, switch it on (some turn on automatically). You should see the lights on the router’s display panel flash, indicating activity.

Finalize the setup of your router via its configuration utility. Often this is accessible via your browser.

Step 5: Configure your router/access point.

Router setup differs from manufacturer to manufacturer, so follow the instructions in your router’s quick start guide. Many routers use a Web-based configuration utility that you access by typing the appropriate address (it will be in the form of an IP—Internet Protocol—address) into the browser. For example, if you install a Belkin router, you type:

192.168.2.1

into your browser. This loads the configuration screen, from which you can adjust the router’s options. You’ll probably, at a minimum, want to give your network a name. You may have completed this step during initial setup; if not, you can give your network a name—known as an SSID (service set identifier)—via the configuration utility.

Step 6: Enable security.

Most wireless routers are pre-configured to work straight out of the box. This pre-configuration makes things simple, but frequently it entails leaving security settings off. This is a no-no for your wireless network, because anyone within range of your wireless signal can access your network if it’s unsecured. That not only makes your files and communications vulnerable, it also lets others tap into your network and use your bandwidth. That could slow your own connections or, if you happen to be on a bandwidth-capped Internet plan, it could chew up your monthly allocation and leave you with no connection or a hefty bill for over-usage. So enable the best level of security common to each of your wireless components: WPA or WPA2 are the preferred methods; WEP security is not as strong. Refer to the full product manual that came with your router to discover how to do this (this manual may be on the disc that included the installation software). The good news is, most recent router configuration software automatically takes you through setting up security, too; if that’s the case with your router, you’re all set.

Step 7: Install adapters in your computers.

• In all likelihood, your notebook computer has wireless capability built in, so you’ll be able to skip this step. If you do need to install an adaptor, the process is simple. Make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions: usually, you’ll be required to install the software before the hardware.
• For a USB adapter, simply plug the adapter into an available USB socket on your computer (for best performance) or into a USB hub connected to the computer.
• For an ExpressCard or PC Card adapter on a notebook, switch the notebook off first, insert the adapter into the slot and switch the notebook back on.
• For an internal expandsion card in a desktop computer: switch your computer off and open its case; locate an available expansion slot and remove the slot cover if one is present; insert the card snugly into the slot—making sure the antenna extends through the opening in the back of the computer—and secure it; close up your computer and switch it back on.
• Whichever type of adapter you use, the new hardware should be recognized and the drivers installed automatically (you may need your Windows CD on hand), and a final reboot will ensure things are working correctly. You must still configure the security settings to match those on your router/access point. Most adapters come with a configuration utility that lets you adjust the settings. Use that utility to choose the correct SSID, enter the appropriate encryption key, and select Infrastructure mode (typically used for wireless networks containing an access point). All these settings must match those on your router/access point.

Trying it out

Router software has become far easier to use and more sophisticated. Cisco includes the excellent and elegant Network Magic with its routers.

Once you have everything set up, take your wireless network for a spin. The easiest way to do that is to try accessing the Internet from one of the wireless machines.

Your wireless-enabled notebook should automatically recognize when it’s in range of a wireless network. If it doesn’t, click the wireless network icon in the taskbar and you’ll see a list of available connections. Click your network’s name in the list and click Connect. If you’ve enabled security (you have, haven’t you?), you’ll need to enter a passphrase or code the first time you connect to the network.

Once connected, open your browser and surf to a site you don’t regularly visit (this is to ensure the browser isn’t simply pulling the site from its local cache). I like to use Google’s news page (news.google.com) for this test, because it loads quickly and you can instantly tell if you’re accessing the up-to-date site.

Resetting your network

If your Internet connection seems to keep dropping out, try resetting your modem and router:

1. Disconnect the power cords from the modem and the router.
2. Wait 30 seconds.
3. Reconnect the modem and wait until all the standard lights are on (on most routers this means Power, Receive, Send and Online—your router may differ).
4. Reconnect the router and wait half a minute or so until it has reset itself.

Now try to connect to the Internet once more. If this doesn’t work, try shutting down Windows, turning your entire computer system off including modem and router, then follow steps 1 to 4 above, then switch your computer back on.

Troubleshooting your wireless connection

If your hardware is up and running but you can’t seem to get your computers to talk to one another, here are some things to check:

• Make sure each wireless device is using the same SSID (‘network name’).
• If you have a mix of 802.11b, 802.11g and/or 802.11n devices on the network, make sure your g and n equipment is running in Mixed Mode, not G-Only or N-Only mode. Mixed mode allows your equipment to interact with devices that meet different wireless standards.
• Ensure each device is using the same security (WPA or WEP) and you’ve entered the correct encryption key or passphrase.
• Take a look at the status lights on your router/access point and check the documentation to ensure all is as it should be.
• Double-check all connections to ensure they’re firm and secure.
• Check the signal strength on each of your wirelessly connected computers. (There’s usually a status indicator in the taskbar.) If the strength or quality of the connection is too low, you may lose the connection altogether.
• Experiment with the location of the router and the orientation of its antennae. Simply shifting the antennae can boost a signal by 30 percent or so.
• Try to minimize interference from other devices such as cordless phones, two-way radios and Bluetooth devices.
• Try restarting your router/access point and, if necessary, restoring its settings to the default values.

Related posts:

1. Setting up a home network on Windows XP
2. Virgin Mobile MiFi – affordable wireless on the go

That’s no longer the case. Windows XP makes setting up a network easy. The toughest part of the deal is physically installing the hardware; the software side is a minor operation.

Why network?

If you are a multiple-computer household, now’s the time to get those computers hitched. Doing so has a lot of benefits. You can:

• Share printers, CD-ROM drives and other removeable drives between the computers.
• Eliminate SneakerNet (passing files around on floppy or CD) and share files directly between PCs.
• Share a single Internet connection between computers (provided your agreement with your ISP allows this type of sharing).
• Play multiplayer games.
• Store only a single copy of large files, saving space on the other PCs’ hard drives.

You can network computers that run different operating systems, but you’ll find the ideal networking setup for a small home LAN (local area network) is with XP running on your most powerful machine(s) and either Windows 98 or Windows Me running on the other computers. I don’t recommend trying to include computers running Windows 95 in your network unless you are an experienced user.

10-step total networking

You can get a complete home network up and running in 10 easy steps. Here’s a summary of what’s involved:

1. Take stock of your existing hardware.
2. If you wish to share an Internet connection using Internet Connection Sharing (ICS), choose which computer will be your ICS host.
3. Decide what type of network technology you wish to use.
4. Make a list of the hardware you need for each computer.
5. Install the network adaptors and install your modem on the ICS host computer.
6. Physically cable the computers together.
7. Switch on all computers, printers and other peripherals.
8. Make sure the ICS host is connected to the Internet.
9. Run the Network Setup Wizard on the ICS host.

1. Run the Network Setup Wizard on the other computers on the network.

Let’s take that step by step.

1. Take stock of your hardware

Note each computer’s location and its hardware, including peripherals such as printers and modems.

2. Choose your ICS host

If you wish to share an Internet connection between your computers using Internet Connection Sharing (ICS), choose which computer will be your ICS host.

The ICS host has a direct connection, either by dial-up modem or high-speed link, to the Internet and provides access to the Internet for other computers on the network. Ideally, the host should be a computer running Windows XP. I’ll assume you have made this choice in the following steps.

Apart from XP’s easy handling of ICS, by using an XP computer as your ICS host you get the benefits of using the Internet Connection Firewall.

3. Choose a network technology

The most common choices are Ethernet and wireless LANs. For an Ethernet LAN you will need to install a network interface card, or NIC, in each computer and run cabling between the computers.

If you don’t like the idea of opening your computer to install a network card, look for a USB adaptor instead.

Depending on the size of your network, you may also need a network hub or router to provide interconnection between PCs on the LAN. Two PCs can get by using an RJ-45 crossover cable; three or more computers require a hub or multi-speed hub (called a switch).

If you have a high-speed Internet connection, a high-speed router is a good option.

The Network Setup Wizard includes links to detailed advice about configuring your network, including help on designing a network layout to suit your home.

If you opt for a wireless LAN, you’ll also need a NIC for each PC (there are versions which use USB adaptors as well). The big benefit for home environments is that a wireless LAN does away with the need for cabling. On the down side, though, wireless LANs tend to be slower, less robust and appreciably more expensive than traditional Ethernet LANs. In particular, wireless LANs do not always live up to their stated working range, and you may find factors such as your home’s construction and design, plus interference from other devices affect your wireless LAN’s performance. You may need to add an expensive Access Point to extend the range of the LAN and, even so, it may not be sufficient. The bottom line is, if you decide to go the wireless route, make sure the store will refund your money if the LAN will not provide reliable performance within the specified range.

4. Make a list of hardware needed

Make a list of the hardware you need for each computer, not forgetting any cabling, and buy it. If you’re a little dazzled by the choices and configurations, consider purchasing a networking kit. These kits contain all you need to set up a two- or three-PC network. If possible, look for hardware which features the Windows XP Logo, indicating it is fully compatible with XP.

5. Install the adaptors

Install the network adaptors and install your modem on the ICS host computer (you can also let the computers connect to the Internet independently by installing modems on each).

6. Cable the computers

Physically cable the computers (and hubs or routers) together. Of course, you won’t need to do this if you’ve chosen to go the wireless route.

If you’re installing an Ethernet network and have a lot of cabling work to do, you may prefer to get a professional to come in and do this work for you. It won’t be cheap, but you can be sure you get the job done correctly and hopefully with minimal damage done to walls, ceilings and floors.

7. Switch it on

Switch on all computers, printers and other peripherals.

8. Connect the ICS host

Go to the ICS host computer and make sure it is connected to the Internet.

9. Run the Network Setup Wizard on the ICS host

To run the Network Setup Wizard on the ICS host, click Start -> Control Panel -> Network And Internet Connections -> Setup Or Change Your Home Or Small Office Network. Follow the instructions in each screen and press Next to continue.

XP's Network Setup Wizard takes much of the pain out of setting up a home network.

The Network Setup Wizard will guide you through:

• Configuring your network adaptors (NICs).
• Configuring your computers to share a single Internet connection.
• Naming each computer. (Each computer requires a name to identify it on the network.)
• Sharing the Shared Files folder. Any files in this folder will be accessible to all computers on the network.
• Sharing printers.
• Installing the Internet Connection Firewall to guard you from online attacks.

10. Run the Network Setup Wizard on all computers

To do so:

1. Insert the Windows XP CD in the first computer’s drive.
2. When the XP Welcome Menu appears, click Perform Additional Tasks.
3. Click Setup Home Or Small Office Networking and follow the prompts.
4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 for each computer on your network.

Make sure you maintain an active Internet connection on your host computer as you proceed through this process.

The quickie XP network

If you want a really easy networking experience and you have the hardware to support it, consider clean installing Windows XP on two or more computers. First install your network hardware (network interface cards, cabling, et cetera), then perform a new installation of Windows XP. During installation, XP will sense your hardware setup, ask for a name for each computer, and then ask which type of setup you wish to create. Select Typical Settings For A Default Network Configuration.

That’s it. Provided your hardware is XP-compatible, XP will create a LAN using the workgroup name MSHOME.

Using your network

The Task Pane in My Network Places lets you access computers on your network and adjust settings.

Once you have your network up and running, you can easily access other computers on the network via My Network Places (click Start -> My Network Places).

The Task Pane in My Network Places lets you view your network connections and view each of the computers in your workgroup (the workgroup consists of all computers on a network which share the same workgroup name – by default, XP gives all computers on your home network the workgroup name MSHOME, although you can change this if you wish). When you initially open My Network Places, you’ll see icons for the Shared Files folder of each of the active network computers.

Sharing a printer

With your home network installed, your PC suddenly gains all the advantages of the other PC’s on the network. If you’ve been lusting after your sister’s colour photo printer, you can now print directly to it from your own machine. Provided, that is, your sister decides to share her printer. (You might offer to let her share your laser printer in return as an inducement – sharing works both ways.)

To share a printer, on the computer which is directly connected to the printer:

1. Click Start -> Control Panel -> Printers And Other Hardware -> Printers And Faxes. (Note: These steps will be a little different if you’re sharing a printer on a PC running a version of Windows other than XP. For example, under Windows Me, you click Start -> Settings -> Printers.)
2. Click the printer you wish to share.
3. Click Share This Printer in the Task Pane.
4. In the printer’s Properties dialog, click the Sharing tab.
5. Click Share Name and OK.

Make a printer accessible to others on the network by sharing it.

Once a printer has been shared you can access it from other computers on the network. To do so:

1. Click Start -> Control Panel -> Printers And Other Hardware.
2. Click Add A Printer.
3. In the Add New Printer wizard, when asked whether the printer is a local or network printer, select the latter.
4. In the next screen, select the option to Browse For A Printer and click Next.
5. Select the appropriate printer from the list and continue with the wizard.

Sharing files and folders

Sharing a folder is even easier than sharing a printer:

1. Open a folder (such as My Documents), click Make A New Folder in the Task Pane and name your new folder.
2. With the new folder highlighted, click Share This Folder.
3. In the Sharing tab of the Properties dialog box, select Share This Folder On The Network.
4. Provide a descriptive name for the folder. This name should make it easy for others on the network to recognise the folder; it doesn’t have to be the same as the folder name you selected in step 1.
5. You can let other people on the network view and edit your files or view them only. If you want to protect your files from tampering, remove the tick from Allow Other Users To Change My Files.

There are a variety of ways to access a shared folder. Here’s one way:

1. Click Start -> My Network Places -> View Workgroup Computers.
2. Click the computer whose files you wish to access and then click the shared folder.

Related posts:

1. Easy home networking
2. Installing Windows 7 onto a disc-less computer
3. Worry-free Windows 7 installation