To begin ensure that your network interface card (NIC) is installed, if not click here on instructions.

Once the NIC is installed follow the following steps.
1. Start, Settings, Control panel
2. Select "Network and dial-up connections"
3. Select the network connection you'd like to configure. if the network cable is not connected you'll notice a red cross on the icon. this will open the local area network status of that connection.
4. Select "Properties".In the "properties" window you'll find "Client for microsoft networks", "File and printer sharing for microsoft networks", and "Internet protocol (TCP/IP) already installed for you. If you do not need any of them just deselect them.
5. To add a new client, service or protocol click "Install".To remove click "Uninstall". To configure any of the above select it and click "Properties".
6. Lets configure TCP/IP which is used most commonly.In the TCP/IP "properties" window select "Obtain an IP address automatially" if you have a DHCP server On you network. It will configure TCP/IP for you. Select "Use the following ip address" if you'd like to assign the connection as static IP address, then enter the IP address eg. 192.168.0.12 , a subnet mask eg 255.255.255.0 and the IP of your gateway to external networks. a gateway is optional
7. If you have a DNs server on your network select "Use the following DNS server addresses" and enter its IP address in the preffered dns server. Enter the secondary dns server if avilable also but this is optional.
8. In the "Advanced" window you can assign more IP addresses to your connection as well as DNS servers and Gateways if need be.
9.Click OK and OK again to go back to the "status Window". Here you'll notice the number of packets your connection is sending and recieving.
10.Click close and you're ready to use the resources shared on your network.

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