Upgrade Guide: Networking PCs Made Easy

If PCs are proliferating in your home or office, it's time to get them connected. Networking your PCs offers numerous advantages. Besides sharing files and applications, connected PCs can share a printer, saving you money.

By far the most popular reason to network PCs is to allow multiple users to share a single modem, phone line, and Internet account for Web access. Even a standard 56-kbps Internet connection can provide plenty of bandwidth for several users to surf concurrently. And shared connections are even handier if your home or office is equipped with a broadband (cable or DSL) Internet connection.

The word networking was once enough to cause fear and trembling even in experienced users, but major manufacturers have simplified the process of connecting your PCs. The mind-numbing series of individual steps formerly required--especially for setting up the software--has now been largely automated.

Several types of networking choices are available: conventional wired networks that require you to install cable, phone line networks that use your existing wiring, and wireless networks. (See "Which Network Should You Choose" for comparisons.) Manufacturers have begun to follow standards that make products from different vendors compatible. That's never been a problem with conventional wired networks, but look for HomePNA 2.0 compatibility with phone line networks, and WiFi compatibility for 802.11 wireless networks. A competing wireless standard (HomeRF) promises lower prices but is late out of the starting gate.

No matter which type of network you choose, you'll need to install an add-in network card in each PC. (Equipping laptops is a bit easier; they use easy-to-install external PC Cards for connectivity.)

Before You Begin

Important: The steps below show a typical networking-card installation. Some networking kits, however, require that these steps be done in a different order. Before you begin, read the manual or installation poster that came with your kit.