hi i need help installing a small home netowk between my PC and my father's laptop (WIN 2000). the only purpose of the netork is to connect between the 2 computers that each of them has a network adapter (or ethernet card, im not sure how to call it) with a network cable, and to be able to transfer data between them. i don't need it so i could access the net from one computer trough another or any other purpose! i know alot about computers, but i don't really know about networking. i tried to learned using "XP help" and the internet but it didn't helped me at all because they all talk about using a router and etc., and i know i don't need it beacause its only use is to connect to the internet at a netowk place, and as i already mentioned before this isn't the purpose of the network. plz help me and tell me what i have to do(step-by-step because as i said i know nothing about netowk) or/and where can i learn about it, but it will be better if you guide me what to do. 10Q P.S- from what i was manage to understand from my reading, i believe the the network that i need called peer-to-peer (not like kazaa....)

If both computers have a ethernet card, all you need is a crossover cable. This looks like a CAT5 patch cable but is wired different. If you go to any Bestbuy, Circut City they will have the crossover you need. This plugs into each PC. You share the drive you want to get data from (sending) by right clicking on the drive and click sharing. Give the share an name. Also click start/comtrol panel/system, and get the computer name. Next map the recieving drive to the sending PC. This can be done by right clicking on my computer and selecting "map network drive". Enter \\machine name\share name. You may be prompted for a password, enter the password used to logon to the sending PC. Hope this helps

ok i'll try what you said, but i have a question: don't i need to set-up or install any protocols and etc., because it's sounds to easy... 10x again

oh and one more question as i said i have WIN XP, and i tried to do what you said about "map network drive" but i wasn't mange to do this. plz be more specific about how to do this with XP

Read the XP HELP file it will explain how to use the Network Wizard which makes a Install Floppy for the other PC

ok, but i still don't understand how to do the "map network drive" that Mike told me to do! can anyone help me and explain me how can i do that with my WIN XP

ok there are some updates...i found out how to map network drive and now im just waiting to my father to give me the laptop! but is still have a question: consider what Mike told me to do there is no use for the netowrk setup wizard, so what is the use of this feature? and second, x86 said something about an Install Floppy, do i really need it and if so then for what?