Problems setting up Home Network

[LucasCain]

Hi Everybody,

This is my first post on this forum, so hello, and if this kind of thread has been posted a million and one times, I'm very sorry, but I'm having a few problems setting up my home network.

I have a desktop PC upstairs in my home (which I'm currently using now) which is running Windows XP Media Centre Edition. I also have a laptop downstairs, which is running Windows Vista Premium Edition.

I am wanting to set up a network which would enable me to share files etc. The thing is, I like to think that I'm pretty neat with computers, but this is my first experience with this sort of thing, and I'm really struggling at the moment. Here is a screenshot of where I'm up to.

I get the impression it's telling me there is a piece of hardware I need to install, but as far as I'm aware I have all the relevant hardware.

Can anybody shed any light? Any help would be appreciated, but please be gentle. As I said I'm not computer illiterate, but I'm sort of a newbie to this aspect. :)

[simpswr]

Hello and welcome to the forum

. . the message appears to be telling you that the pc is not connected to the router . . how do you have the two pc's connected?

See this for more infor on networking

http://www.homenethelp.com/web/howto/net.asp

[LucasCain]

Thanks for the quick reply. :)

Excuse me for being totally clueless, but I don't actually know if the two PC's are connected as of yet. I can connect them both tio the internet wirelessly, I assumed I would be able to connect them together in a similar fashion.

I only bought the laptop yesterday, and managed to connect to the internet fine. The guy in the store said my livebox was acting as my router.

I am currently browsing the link you very kindly provided, but if you have any ideas in the meantime I am all ears. :)

[simpswr]

In that case, you should be able to safely ignore the warning . . it's just telling you that the wired network cable is not connected.