How do I create a home LAN for two computers?

I have a desktop and laptop with a cable modem. The cable modem runs to a Linksys wireless router, and an ethernet cable connects the router to the desktop. The laptop has a wireless card and receives internet from the router wirelessly. How do I go about setting these two computers up to recognize each other on a LAN?

How do I create a home LAN for two computers?systemworks

From a networking perspective, you already have a LAN. You're just not making the most of it by ''sharing'' equipment on one machine with the other. The basic way of doing this is:

Get to the printer you want to share. One way is to

1. Click on Start-%26gt;Control Panel.

2. Click on Printers and Other Hardware

3. Click on Printers and Faxes.

4. Double-click on the printer.

Once you're on the printer,

1. Click on the Printer-%26gt;Sharing menu Item.

2. Select Share this Printer.

3. Click OK.

Now, that's the basic setup. Other issues you're likely to encounter are:

1. Firewall blocking Windows File and Printer Sharing.

2. Drivers for the printer out on the borrowing machine.

Another tip: You'll be greatly tempted to share files and directories, and that can be very useful, but share only a few, isolated directories. Shared directories are a hacker's dream. And do NOT share the root of your C: drive: That opens up the entire drive to the world.