Home Networking

You are asking a pretty broad question here, and most of the answers can be found in the Dimension Network forum.  Yes, you can set up a network with 2 PCs.  The PCs can be running just about any version of Windows.  Do you plan on just networking the computers together to share files and printers, or do also plan on sharing an internet connection?  You ask about a router - do you already have a router?  If so, the router should come with instructions on how to set up the network and share the internet connection.  To disable the firewall on the router you would need to tell us which make and model router you have.  In general you would either have to use the DMZ of the router to open all ports on one of the comptuers on the network, or you would have to use the advanced options of the router to open specific ports on specific computers. 

You can find a wealth of information on setting up a network at the following sites:

http://www.homenethelp.com

http://www.practicallynetworked.com\

http://www.wown.com

If you can provide more detail on what you want to do, which versions of Windows you are running, what model router you have, and if you have specific questions, post back and we'll try to answer them.

Steve 

hi, as of right now i don't have a router or any kind of networking utility except for one intergrated LAN port on my dimension 4550. The main point in me networking these two computers is to share an internet connection. my dimension is running Windows XP, and the other computer in my house is running Windows ME.

what kind of internet connection are you sharing between the two computers?

I have that exact config networking. I do not have either a hub or a router, just point to point. The cable has to be the "crossover" type. The XP network wizzard does a great job. It makes a diskette torun on the other system. No problem.

If you use your integrated NIC for a cable modem, then you will have to add a network card.

Joe

I have a high speed (Time Warner Road Runner) cable out to the internet. The second system shares that internet, files and printer.

I have that exact config networking. I do not have either a hub or a router, just point to point. The cable has to be the "crossover" type. The XP network wizzard does a great job. It makes a diskette to run on the other system. No problem.

Joe

Joe, will it wok with DSL  and can you further explane what is connected to what via what, lol thanks

I have the integrated NIC connected to theable modem and my remote computer connected to a cheap ($10) NIC card. and Xp handles the netwoking setup with the wizzard. If both systems are not Xp, Xp will write a floppy disk to run on the non Xp system to setup that system.

 

In fact today, my new Dell 4550 arrived and I disconnected my remote system and I am now transferring files to my new system using the integrated NIC and browsing the WEB at the same time from my new system.