Five Quick Tips for Networking with Windows 8

Windows 7 and 8 enable you to quickly set up a home network, or “Homegroup.” Through the use of Wi-Fi and passwords, you can network with your teenager locked in her room upstairs and your spouse in the den while you’re visiting with Facebook friends in the living room!

Ask for help in setting up a network

Some ISPs will supply you with a wireless router/modem, and they’ll even send a techie to your home to set up your network for you. It never hurts to ask.

There’s no place like a Homegroup

When you’re working in a Homegroup, you don’t need to remember the password. If you don’t know the Homegroup’s password, open any folder, right-click the word Homegroup, and choose View the Homegroup Password.

You can’t go Homegroup again

Homegroups work only with Windows 7 and Windows 8 PCs. So, if there’s an older machine in your “home” running Windows XP, or earlier, the hard drive cannot be accessed through Homegroup settings.

Create a Homegroup with the same password

Creating a Homegroup is as simple as entering the same password on every connected PC.

Share a printer on a Homegroup

You must turn on Homegroups if you want all your PCs to have access to your printer.

For more information about Windows 8 and its features, explore Windows 8 For Dummies, available online.