Need help linking 2 PCs

[bmobarak]

I just moved my office to my home, now have two computers. Need an easy way to link them, I know nothing. One is a Dell, the other an HP, both using Windows XP, I think. I have Comcast digital hi-speed internet, phone and tv, there's a little black box for the Comcast connections. I'm thinking there must be a router that I can plug the computers, printer, cable line into where I can just switch from one pc to the other, using the same monitor, right? Any recommendations? Is this plug and play or will there be something I have to do to Windows? thanks.

[Chewy]

welcome to the forum

if it has a builtin router/switch there will be 4 ethernet/rj45 jacks

hook each computer to one with a cat 5 cable

use the network wizard to set up a home network

better to use seperate monitors and keyboards/mice for each computer

[aanorris]

Chewy
I believe you can go computer to computer with a crossover cable without using a router/ switch.

[UncasMS]

sure you can connect 2 pc without a router but then none of these machines will have internet access

[browneye]

just make sure the 2 machines have different names like call one Dell and one HP, Microsoft will want to name the some strange name you will not like or remember. You might want to make sure you have file and print sharing check off. It helps if you are using usernames and passwords to have the same on both.

I have 2 machine setup in limited space, I use a KVM switch "about $20" to switch from one machine to the other which allows the user to use 1 keyboard, monitor and mouse with 2 machines. all you do is double tap the scroll lock key on this model and you bounce from one to the other.

[Dan]

Why on earth would you call one Dell and one HP? Brand name puter, Yeashh!

I remember my network names every time I access my secondary from my primary computer.

With the advice given above, looks like you are headed in the right direction. The network wizard is one feature in xp that has always worked well for me.