Microsoft KB Archive/813939

= How to Set Up a Small Network with Windows XP Home Edition (PART 4) =

Article ID: 813939

Article Last Modified on 11/4/2003

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

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SUMMARY
This article includes Part 4 of the &quot;Set Up a Small Network with Windows XP Home Edition&quot; guide. Part 4 discusses how to install the network card.

Note To view the other topics of the &quot;Set Up a Small Network with Windows XP Home Edition&quot; guide, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base articles that are listed in the &quot;References&quot; section of this article.

The &quot;Set Up a Small Network with Windows XP Home Edition&quot; guide includes the following topics:

Part 1. Introduction: Set Up a Small Network with Windows XP Home Edition

Part 2. Buying the Network Hardware

Part 3. Connecting the Computers

Part 4. Installing the Network Card

Part 5. Configuring TCP/IP Protocol

Part 6. Setting the Computer Names and the Workgroups

Part 7. Sharing Folders

Part 8. Sharing a Printer



Part 4. Installing the Network Card
The network card does not function correctly until you have installed a driver. To install a driver, turn the computer on, and then restart Windows. Windows recognizes most network cards. You do not have to do anything else. It takes some time to install the appropriate driver and the network software.

If Windows does not recognize the card, you can use the driver that the manufacturer included with the card on a CD or floppy disk. Do not worry if you did not receive a CD or floppy disk. The drivers can usually be downloaded from the manufacturer's Web site.

If you have the required driver with the card on a CD or floppy disk, use the Hardware Wizard to install the driver:
 * 1) When new hardware is detected, the Hardware Wizard starts. Click to select the Install the software automatically (Recommended) check box, and then insert the disk that you received from the hardware manufacturer. Windows searches for the driver. If the wizard does not start searching, click Next.


 * 1) After a short time, Windows finds the driver and automatically installs it.


 * 1) After the installation is finished, click Finish.



