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Setting Up a Windows XP Network

Setting Up a Network

Even though it doesn’t showcase an impressive GUI as its successors do, Windows XP continues to be a fairly sought after OS of the times, thanks to its sheer efficiency and performance. In a world where the splendour of GUIs and hi-tech options rule, Windows XP indeed stands out, by virtue of its simplicity and lesser number of errors.

In this post, the Windows XP help team gives you a comprehensive account on how to set up a network between Windows XP computers.

Windows XP Network

As you might know well, Windows XP was the first operating system to be launched with an integrated Network Setup Wizard. As such, you wouldn’t have to perform all those tedious manual steps that were required for earlier versions of Windows. As the Windows XP help team says, all you would need for the procedure is a meagre five minutes. Let’s see how.

How to Configure a Windows XP Network?

According to the Windows XP help team, the following steps are in order for setting up a Windows XP network:

Commence the procedure by connecting one end of the crossover networking cable to the back of one computer, and the other end to the back of another. In order to connect more than 2 computers you would need to use a device such as a router, switch or hub. The computers need to be connected by means of a standard patch networking cable.
Turn on all the PCs. Navigate to the “Start” menu in any one of them and choose “Control Panel”. Select the option that reads “Network Setup Wizard“. Perform all the on-screen prompts and click on “Next” when required. Give the PC you’re currently working on a particular name and assign one for the whole network as well.
When the Network setup wizard asks you whether you wish to enable file and printer sharing, select “Yes“. And if you don’t want this option enabled, you may click on “No”.
Close the wizard when you’re informed that the network installation has wound up. Repeat the above steps for all the computers on the network. Give the PCs different names, and when everything is over, reboot all of them.

Well, that’s it! You’ve successfully configured a network between your Windows XP PCs.

For any further assistance, do get in touch with Windows XP help.

Windows XP help to install a fresh copy of Windows XP on your computer

Chances are you might encounter issues and problems on your Windows XP computer with its prolonged use. And as such, overwriting the current operating system by performing a fresh new install of the same Windows XP operating system for your computer can effectively resolve the problem for you.

Now here are a few simple steps that you can follow in proceeding with the same installation for your computer. Let us take a look, shall we?

Windows XP help to install a fresh new copy of the OS

Follow the steps as given below in successfully installing a new copy of Windows XP for your computer:

Make sure to back up all of your personal files and data onto an external hard drive before you start with the installation. Do so by connecting the external hard drive to your computer via USB connection then just drag and drop all of the files you want to back up. For when you install a fresh copy of Windows XP, know that all of your personal data will be erased.
And so to first begin with, insert your Windows XP installation disk into your computer.
A fresh copy of Windows XP
Following which, reboot your computer. You will then be displayed with a message from the installation CD asking if you wish to boot up. Do so by simply following the resulting on-screen instructions.
Now hit “Enter” once you get on the “Welcome to Setup” screen and then press “F8” on the licensing screen to proceed. Also hit the “D” key on the partitioning screen so as to delete the partition.
Window XP help then suggests you press “L” so as to confirm that you wish to delete the partition and proceed with a fresh install. Hit “Enter” on the next screen to install Windows XP.
Next up, use the up and down arrow keys on your keyboard to select a new file system for the partition. Choose the option “format the partition using the NTFS file system <Quick>” and then press “Enter“.
You will then be able to view the setup and its operation in formatting the partition and copying the files from the displayed progress bar on your screen. Now remove the disk from your computer and perform a fresh system reboot.
Last but not the least, follow the on-screen installation prompts when your computer reboots. Then after, enter the product key for your new copy of Windows XP and then click “Next” on the “Thank You” screen.