How to Use Windows 95 to Connect Computers on a Network

• Microsoft Windows 95

SUMMARY

This article is a general overview of how to connect two or more computers running Windows 95 to form a network.

MORE INFORMATION

You can connect two or more computers running Windows 95 using the following methods:

• Using a network adapter in each computer.

  NOTE: If you connect computers using network adapters and twisted-pair cable, please note that you need a 10Base-T hub to connect the computers, unless the cable is specifically designed to bypass a hub. If you connect computers using network adapters and Thinnet (BNC/COAX) cable, please note that you must connect the cable to each network adapter using a T-connector with a terminator at each end of the cable.

• Using your modem as a dial-up adapter to dial into a Dial-Up Networking Server (a component of Microsoft Plus! for Windows 95) or other remote server.
• Using Direct Cable Connection (DCC).

  NOTE: A maximum of 2 computers can be connected at a time using DCC.

Connecting with Network Adapters

NOTE: This section assumes that each computer has a network adapter installed and that your computers are connected together properly using network cable. For information about how to configure your network adapters and physically connect your computers, consult the documentation included with your network adapters or contact the manufacturer(s) of your network adapters.

After the physical connections are made, use the Add New Hardware tool in Control Panel to detect your network adapter. Once the network adapter is set up, follow these steps to make sure the correct network components are installed:

1. Use the right mouse button to click Network Neighborhood, and then click Properties on the menu that appears.

2. On the Configuration tab, make sure that at least the following network components are installed:

       - Client: Client for Microsoft Networks (if you do not have a Novell
         NetWare server, you do not need to install the Client for NetWare
         networks).
   

       - Adapter: This should be the network adapter detected by the Add New
         Hardware Wizard.
   

       - Protocol: Choose at least one of the following:
   

          - NetBEUI                       Best for small networks where
                                          routing does not take place
   
          - IPX/SPX-compatible Protocol   Used by Novell NetWare networks;
                                          best for small to large networks
                                          where routing takes place
   
       - Service: File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks
   
   

3. Click File And Print Sharing, click the appropriate check boxes to select them, and then click OK.

4. On the Identification tab, enter a name for your computer and your workgroup, and then click OK.

   NOTE: The computer name must be unique for each computer on the network and should be no more than 15 characters in length. In small networks, the workgroup name should normally be the same for each computer so that all computers are visible in the same workgroup when browsing. Avoid using spaces and the following characters in computer and workgroup names:

         / \ * , . " @
   

5. Restart your computer when you are prompted to do so.

1. Double-click My Computer.

2. Use the right mouse button to click the drive, folder, or printer you want to share with members of your network, and then click Sharing on the menu that appears.

3. On the Sharing tab, click Shared As, and then type a name for the share in the Share Name box.

4. Click the access type you want for this shared resource. For a description of an access type, use the right mouse button to click the access type, and then click What's This? on the menu that appears.

5. Type a password for the shared resource.

   NOTE: You do not have to assign a password to a shared resource. A password simply gives you additional security.

6. Click OK.

• Double-click Network Neighborhood, double-click a listed computer to see the resources shared by that computer, and then double-click a shared resource to view its contents.
• Use the right mouse button to click Network Neighborhood or My Computer, click Map Network Drive on the menu that appears, and then enter the following line in the Path dialog box:

        \\<ComputerName>\<ShareName>
  

  where <ComputerName> is the name of the computer you are connecting to, and <ShareName> is the name of the shared resource.

• Click Start, click Run, and then enter the following line in the Open box:

        \\<ComputerName>\<ShareName>
  

  where <ComputerName> is the name of the computer you are connecting to, and <ShareName> is the name of the shared resource.

• Click Start, point to Find, click Computer, and then type the name of the computer that you want to locate. When the computer is found, double-click the computer name to show the resources shared by that computer.

Connecting with Dial-Up Adapters

Dial-Up Networking lets you use your modem to connect to a network through a remote server.

For information about connecting to a remote server using Dial-Up Networking, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q145843
   TITLE     : How to Connect to a Remote Server

Connecting with Direct Cable Connection

You can use Direct Cable Connection to establish a direct serial or parallel cable connection between two computers. For information about using Direct Cable Connection, see the "Direct Cable Connection, setting up a direct cable connection" online Help topic in Windows 95.

Resource Materials

The Microsoft Windows 95 Resource Kit contains additional detailed information about many networking topics. For information about the Windows 95 Resource Kit and other helpful resources, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q141193
   TITLE     : Training and Source Materials for Windows 95