How To: Setting up Windows Network 1

Posted by Devdatta Kane on July 25, 2008

Setting up a Windows network is simple than you can imagine. So lets go ahead and set a small network.
1. Goto Control Panel->System
2. Goto ‘Computer Name’ tab in System Properties

3. Now click on the ‘Change’ button in the lower right corner.

4. Now punch your desired Computer Name in the given text box. Note that the Computer Name should be unique (i.e. not repeated) on the network.
5. Also enter the Workgroup Name. The Workgroup name should be same for all computers on the network.
6. Now press OK. A moment later it will show you a message saying ‘Welcome to MYGROUP workgroup’. Hit OK.
7. Then you will get a message saying that you should restart your computer to apply the changes. Press OK and the again press OK on System Properties window. It will ask you that if you want to restart your computer. Say Yes.
8. Wait till your computer restarts.
9. Now goto Control Panel -> Networks

10. Right click on ‘Local Area Network’ and click on ‘Properties’.

11. Now select ‘Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)’ and click ‘Properties’.

12. Enter IP Address as 192.168.1.x and replace x with your desired IP address. Start x with 1 and go on added 1 to it for other computers. Now hit TAB and the Subnet Mask will be filled automatically as ‘255.255.255.0′.
13. You can leave Default Gateway blank.
14. Press OK and also Press OK on ‘Local Area Connection Properties’ window.

Repeat the above instructions for other computers. Just remember to give different name to every computer. Also take care that IP Address does not get repeated on the network.

So go ahead and build your small home network. Happy Networking!

Review – Maxtor Basics External Hard Drive 2

Posted by Devdatta Kane on March 30, 2008

Just got a Maxtor Basics External Hard Drive. It come with capacities upto 320 GB, mine have a storage capacity of 80GB, quite enough for my current need.
Its pretty small & lightweight, so carrying it around with you is not a problem. The package contains Maxtor Basics External Hard Drive, USB cable (with 2 two heads) & Quick Start Guide. It comes with a 3 year limited warranty.
The build is good and it feels solid. The case is shock resistant to protect the hard drive from shock while operation & traveling. Data transfer speed is really good. It took me just less than 3 minutes to copy 2.5 GB of data to it.

Its a really good pick if you want to backup your data from your laptop or need to transfer huge amount of data from one place to other. So go ahead and get yours.