How do you create a private home network?

We have a laptop running vista (wireless), a PC running XP (wired), and a Wii (wireless). I would like to set up a private home network (we have a modem with wireless built in) so that the laptop and the PC can share files and our printer. We already have all file sharing stuff (I turned on everything that had to do with sharing anything, not very safe :S) so that we can do this, but we would like to make it private just in-case. Also, we would like to be able to keep the Wii connected to the internet, as I'm not sure I'd be able to connect it to the modem again (very very difficult). If it helps, we are also using 802.11g and using WPA-PSK security. We can't change the security because then the Wii would lose connection, and because it's the only security type our modem has (other than 64 bit and 128 bit encryption). Could someone help please?How do you create a private home network?
Sorry, can't help you with the Wii, but can for the rest.





Most importantly, make sure you have secured your wireless network at the router by using wep or wpa. Once you turn on file sharing and have an unprotected network, anyone hopping on your signal can also get at your files.





To create a network with Vista and XP:


You have to create a network that includes both computers.





1) Load Link Layer Topology Discovery on the xp computer. It's free from Microsoft.


http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/detai鈥?/a>





2) Put both computers in the same workgroup. By default, Vista uses WORKGROUP and XP uses MSHOME, so you need to change one. RIght click on My Computer (xp) or Computer (vista), choose Properties, Computer Name and change the workgroup name so they match. Requires a reboot.





3) Set up the network. Use the Network Setup Wizard (use help to find it) and set up the network. Enable file sharing on both.





4) On Vista, be sure your internet connection is private, not public. Check in Network and Sharing center. Turn off password protected sharing. Turn on Printer Sharing.





5) Set the properties on the appropriate folders to shared. Right click a folder, choose sharing.





6) Set the printer to be shared on the computer that owns it. From the other computer, install the printer as a network printer. It will get the appropriate driver automatically.





7) The hope is that now you can ';see'; each of the computers from the other and get to the appropriate folders.How do you create a private home network?
The most common way to share files on a home network is through a workgroup. To do this every pc must be connected to this workgroup.


To connect your pc's to a workgroup right click my computer%26gt; click properties%26gt; click the computer name tab %26gt; click the change button %26gt; type in the workgroup name that you would like to use ( TheSmiths) and click ok%26gt; after about 30 seconds a window should open welcoming you to TheSmiths workgroup %26gt; restart the pc.





Follow this step on every pc.





You also want to make sure that if you have any firewall turned on other than windows you will more than likely have to allow access from the pc. (norton is really bad about this)





Hope this works





feel free to email me with more questions bdugg21@yahoo.com