Home Networking for Dummies

Having a network in your home increases work efficiency and minimizes confusion. If you want to set up a network in your home but you re not quite sure where to start, then Home Networking for Dummies makes it easy for you to become your household s network administrator.

Integrate a Vista PC into your existing XP network


Share the Internet and work more efficiently from anywhere in your home!

Ready to become the administrator of your own home network? This bestselling guide has been fully updated to walk you through all the newest options in wired and wireless networking. From planning to installation to maintenance, all steps are explained in plain English to help you connect computers, share files and printers, and lock out any snoops!

Kathy Ivens, Senior Contributing Editor for Windows & . NET Magazine, has been a computer consultant since 1984. She has installed hundreds of corporate and private networks.

* Plan and install your network
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Configure computer sharing
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Manage users and profiles
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Make your network secure
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Retrieve data when disaster strikes
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Connect other devices to your network

Introduction 1
Part I: Network Basics 7
Chapter 1: Planning the Lay of the LAN 9
Chapter 2: Installing Network Adapters 27
Chapter 3: Installing Ethernet Cable 35
Chapter 4: Using Wires That Are Already There 53
Chapter 5: Look Ma, No Wires 69
Part II: Configuring Computers for Networking 85
Chapter 6: Putting It All Together 87
Chapter 7: Configuring Computer Sharing 113
Chapter 8: Setting Up Users 127
Part III: Communicating Across the Network 139
Chapter 9: Printing Across the Network 141
Chapter 10: Getting Around the Neighborhood 165
Chapter 11: Using Files from Other Computers 183
Part IV: Network Security and Maintenance 203
Chapter 12: Making Your Network Secure 205
Chapter 13: Disaster Planning and Recovery 235
Chapter 14: Using Windows Maintenance Tools 257
Part V: The Part of Tens 283
Chapter 15: Ten Clever Things to Do on Your Network 285
Chapter 16: Ten Fun Things to Do on Your Network 301
Chapter 17: Ten Ways to Make the Internet Safe for Children 307
Index 321