How to Network Windows 8

Windows 8 makes creating a home or small business network easy. Here's how to set one up.

As with earlier versions of the operating system, one of Windows 8's biggest benefits is how easy it makes setting up a network. A simple way for small or home businesses to take advantage of Windows' networking capabilities it to set up a "homegroup." This lets them easily connect Window 8 computers with devices such as smartphones, printers or media servers so that they can communicate with one another and share data.

In this article, I'll take you through the steps required to connect two Window 8 machines together in a homegroup. When a set of instructions such as File>New>Open are given, it means you click File and then will see the option New; click New and you will see Option, which you should then click.

Windows 8 Homegroups

Creating a Homegroup
Before getting started, your computer has to be connected to a network. The connection can be wired or wireless, but make sure you are connected to your home or office router first.

In the Windows 8 Start screen, begin typing "Control Panel" until the Control Panel icon is displayed:

Click on the Control Panel icon and then on Network and Internet. Click on the HomeGroup option. Click the Create a HomeGroup button.

The Create a Homegroup wizard opens. Click Next. The wizard asks you select the files and devices you want to share within the homegroup and set the permission levels.

Click Next. Windows will establish the sharing and permissions you just set. The wizard will then display an auto-generated password that must be entered into any computers that you want to add to the homegroup. Don't worry if you don't like the password created; you can always change it, but copy it down for now.

Click Finish.

Once you go through these instructions, how do you verify that the homegroup has been set up? It's easy: Go back into Control Panel>Network and Internet>HomeGroup. You will now see listed the libraries and devices being shared in the homegroup.

You can also tweak your homegroup settings from this screen. For example, change the password by simply clicking the Change the password link. I also recommend that you verify that network discovery is turned on; otherwise you will have problems sharing data among member devices in your homegroup. To turn on this feature, from Control Panel>Network and Internet>Homegroup, click Change advanced sharing settings.

Under Private (current profile), click the radio button to Turn on network discovery. Do the same for Turn on file and printer sharing if you want to share files and printers between homegroup members.

By default, Windows will manage your homegroup connections. For added security, you can create user accounts and password for any machine that connects to the homegroup and use those credentials instead. To do this, under HomeGroup connection, click the radio button next to Use user accounts and passwords to connect to other computers.

Source: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2409701,00.asp?kc=PCRSS05039TX1K0000748

nfl draft picks 2012 space shuttle enterprise ryan leaf ryan leaf luke kuechly brad miller chandler jones