There are a couple of levels of network configuration that need to be checked for your network to work. The first level we will talk about is the protocol level. Computers use several protocols (kind of like languages) to communicate with each other. Each protocol has benefits and drawbacks. In this ‘Internet Age’ we mostly use TCP/IP (or just IP) but for a simple  network for file and print sharing we can use Microsofts NETBEUI.

A long time ago IBM and Sytec invented a simple network communication ptorocol called NetBIOS. (Reference ) Later IBM modified it for flexability and called it NetBEUI.  Microsoft then added network browsing and domain control features to the protocol.  We now have a simple, fast, easy to configure network protocol.  NetBEUI is 'self configuring'. 

The second layer of networking we will need to configure has to do with how Windows uses the first level (the protocol level) to talk to other Windows computers for file and print sharing. This second level has two components to it: “Client for Microsoft Windows” and “File and Printer Sharing for Windows”

In summary, your network needs at least 4 things to be configured.

1) Network Adapter Drivers

2) NetBEUI

3) Client for Microsoft Windows

4) File and Printer sharing for Microsoft Windows

Now, lets get to configuring your network!