I would like to know if there is any way to set up my laptop so all I have to do is plug in my cat 5 cable and copy files from any network being my own or friends and family.

In other words is there a setting for this or do I half to keep changing my Properties in Network Neighborhood / the TCP/IP properties and the Workgroup Identification.

Is there a program I need to save multiple connection locations, so say if I go to a friends house and his workgroup is "mshome" and mine is "workgroup" to change these back and forth. Or do I even need to change mine?

I would like to be able to Just plug in the cat 5 from my laptop to either mine or their hub or switch for quick copies of mp3's etc. from their shared folders or let them copy mine.

Or is there a better way to do this?

If anyone knows of any links to something like this please post them or email me.

I would say for the most part, whatever network you plug in to (via switch or hub) all you have to do is map to the network drive that you want to have access to that is being shared over the network.. Of course you have to have the appropriate user name and password that has rights to that shared drive.

There is a program called netswitcher that you can use.

How do I map the network drive and is the program netswitcher free or where can I get it?

If you are using DHCP on all the networks, then you should just be able to plug your laptops internal nic card or even the PC/MCIA card directly to the network without making changes.

Right click on my computer icon and select the 'map network drive' option then type in the name of the computer you want to map to..
IE
'\\computername\sharename'

computer name can be found by right clicking on Network neighborhood and choose properties.. Different for different operating systems..
Examples
\\mike\c$\
\\ted\c$\ftp\
\\jay\c\