(Giant voice) In the beginning Bill Gates created Microsoft..
And the OS was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep
and the spirit of Steve Jobs moved upon the face of the water..
And Bill said...
(Space squerl) Let there be light.

(normal) Welcome to the wild world of neworking. Today we will be reviewing networks, how to use the Network and Sharinc Center, how to use File Sharing, and lastly how to work with Home and Work Groups.

So what is a computer network? Basically it's a method of communication between computers that alows the sharing of information.

So how do you get to the Network & Sharing centre? Well on Windows XP there is so such thing, this panel was created for Windows Vista and all of the OS' after it. On Windows Vista, 7, and 8 you can get to the panel by typing in the run diolog "control.exe /name Microsoft.NetworkAndSharingCenter" (alternitivly you can goto Control Panel > Network & Sharing Centre) from here you will have access to change settings about your network such as the workgroup settings, file sharing settings. You are also able to see the status of the network, view network and network adapter settings. In Windows XP however you are able to see the network adaper settings by going to the Control Panel > Network & Internet Connections.

Information about The Network and Sharing Center
Windows 7 offers a very user friendly interface to connect computers to the network.
If you’ve previously set up a home network using computers running Windows XP or Windows Vista, you’ll find that setting up a
network with a mix of computers running Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 is similar.

By far, the easiest way to set up file and printer sharing on a home network is to create a homegroup.
A homegroup links computers on your network so that you can share pictures, music, videos, documents, and printers.
You can help protect a homegroup with a password, and you’ll always be able to choose what you share with the group.
If all of the computers that you want to network are running Windows 7, creating a homegroup is the recommended method.

HomeGroup is available in all editions of Windows 7. In Windows 7 Starter and Windows 7 Home Basic, you can join a homegroup, but you can’t create one.

Sometimes you want to see what other devices are currently connected to your network. To do that, open the Network Map under Control Panel and you will see all the computers connected to your network.

If you put your mouse over the computer, you will see more details like the computer name, IP address and the MAC address.

Besides the network map, you could also access more advanced network and sharing settings by clicking the advanced sharing settings.
With this panel, you can turn on/off network discovery, file and printer sharing, public folder sharing, media streaming and other settings.

Conrtol panel Home

Your one stop shop for your windows settings needs

Change Adapter settings
To fulfill your network adapter needs ( If your in need of a change to your adapter please feel free to select from one of our currently installed network adapters and customize as you see fit)

Change advanced sharing settings
If you like to share ( this is out social sharing network for you work group) pick from sharing your files, folders, printers and more)


Also see
HomeGroup
If your a social but this is where you would join our local network to enjoy sharing many thing including. Printers, pictures, and documents.
Internet options
If you like an adventure and want to go outside of your comfort level. This is where you would setup your internet options.
Windows Firewall
Dont like intruders,  pick up a shield here with firewall settings.


AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNND NEXT we have the bottom portion of the Network and sharing center which contains many links towards many wizards which help you do.... many things. SUCH AS!
Set up a new connection or network - this is the place where you would go to set up a new network to your computer, it takes you through a series of pages where you input the network information and it establishes one of the following networks (wireless, broadband, dial up, ad hoc, vpn, setup router or access point)
Connect to a network - this is the place that allows you to connect to a network that has already been created or remembered on this computer
Choose homegroup and sharing options - this is the place where you can access files and printers located on other network computers, or change your sharing settings (privacy, which files to share, security info)
Troubleshoot Problems - this is the bestest place ever, whenever you have issues with your network, the computer will actually diagnose and repair network problems for you, or get troubleshooting info without the trouble of you having to search and work yourself!