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Home Net Hassles

Home networks are hot and can be extremely useful--once everything is up and running. But getting there is often a bumpy ride.

Yardena Arar

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Got net? Not Internet, but a network of your own--one that connects two or more PCs so they can share files, printers, and a single Internet account? If you have a home network or are contemplating getting one, you're not alone: Research firm Parks Associates estimates that 7.2 million households will have a network by year's end--up from 5.7 million in 2001--and that 21 million will by 2006.

However, you've also got company if you've tried to set up a network and either failed or only partially succeeded.

Don't get us wrong: Home networks can really help you get the most out of your PCs and peripherals. But no matter what networking-gear Web sites or computer-sales reps may tell you, the technology is neither simple nor foolproof. When we asked PCWorld.com visitors to tell us their networking woes, dozens of them detailed problems ranging from system crashes to PCs that couldn't see each other on the network to ISPs that made network setups problematic.

Some users finally managed to make things work, often with the help of a network-savvy friend or a good networking site (see "Resources"). A few gave up on do-it-yourself and hired an expert to handle their installation--an increasingly common service (see "Keep It Simple: Call In a Professional"). Our take: Where there's a will to network, there's generally a way. But you may have to spend more time or money than you planned. For tips on solving typical problems, see "Cures for Common Networking Headaches."

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