I have three computers, well me and two friends. We want to connect the tree of them in a local network, that is through a router. The computers all have different OS's: Win 2000, Win XP and Win Vista. Do we need the operating sytem disks if we want to network all three of them together? I know that the Win2000 OS disk isnt available, do I need to go and get one?

We want the network to be wireless, so how can it be done? Help please.First all 3 systems will need wireles adapters. Second you will need to chose a wide open wireless network or secured network. * When first setting up its best to be wide open to pin POINT trouble spots. Third you will need to set permissions on the systems to see each other. The Windows Xp and Vista machines have firewalls that will need to be configured. The 2000 system may have a 3RD party firewall.

Easiest (but dangerous) SETUP is insecured wireless network and firewall shut off.

Once you have everything talking, then you can turn on security features one by one to lock it down, and test after each implementation of security to make sure that each security change worked correctly.

Hardest ( most secure method ) start off with a secured wireless network and have to match the systems security to the security of your wireless network. If you havent done this before you may get frustrated if there is a problem and you are not sure of the problem is the system or the secured wireless router. You also will have to set an exeption in the firewalls of the Vista and XP systems to allow traffic from neighboring computers by name or by IP if you want to create file shares.

I always set up the hardest method only because I dont want my network ever operating insecured.

If you are doing a lan party you will need to know the port numbers that the games communicate on, or you can select the game from the drop down in the firewall possibly to allow communications. Most programs will request and the firewall will ask if you want to allow or block comunications. Then if a Lan party that is also internet based, you may also have to set up port forwarding in your router to allow specific IP addresses to allow passage of specific port numbers, however many internet based games run fine without the need of editing to allow for forwarding of otherwise BLOCKED ports.

Please report back with any other questions you may have and we will all help the best that we can.See, I have two Win XP computers wirelessly networked at home, and I have set them up with WEP security. I did need to use the win XP disk to install the network settings from one computer to the other. So I was wondering if I would need a disk for the settings transfer from the XP to the 2000 to the Vista.

I am going to install network cards on the computers that dont have them, and about the share settings, I know on XP and Vista, you just right click on the required folders and set the network share on. Im not sure if it works the same on 2000.

So the questions is: do I need the operating system disks of each computer handy?Quote from: DaveLembke on August 27, 2008, 12:08:29 PM

The Windows Xp and Vista machines have firewalls that will need to be configured. The 2000 system may have a 3rd party firewall.

Easiest (but dangerous) setup is insecured wireless network and firewall shut off.