Windows XP (NETWORK WIZARD)

Sharing a broadband connection is the principal benefit behind most home networks, but installing a wireless network is a great way to share files and printers, too.In Windows XP, go to Control Panel > Network Connections and click "Set up a home or small office network." When asked for a connection method, choose "This computer connects to the Internet through another computer on my network or through a residential gateway."Unless you're networking only Windows XP systems, choose "Create a network setup disk" when given the chance. This creates a floppy you can use to run the wizard on non-XP systems.Now run the wizard on each additional system on your network. On non-XP systems, browse the floppy and run the file netsetup.exe. When configuring each system, assign each PC a different name but use the same workgroup name.The Network Setup wizard automatically enables sharing on any printer connected to a PC during setup, but before you can use the printer from a networked PC, you'll need to install the printer driver on that system.Each system configured with the Network Setup wizard should also have at least one shared folder given the name SharedDocs. To access these shared subdirectories within Windows XP, choose Start > My Network Places. You can easily set up additional subdirectories for sharing, but the more directories you share, the more you expose your drive in the event of a security breach.

Netgear DI-624 ROUTER (Security Setup)

To secure your new Wi-Fi network, go to your wireless router's configuration utility again by entering its IP address in your browser. Using the router documentation or built-in help, if necessary, find the option that lets you change the default password. With the DI-624, this option lives within the Tools page. Apply the change but leave the configuration routine open for the next step.Set the SSIDThe next step in securing your network is changing its name, which is usually referred to as the service set identifier (SSID). With the DI-624, you reach this setting by clicking the Wireless button. Change the default SSID to anything you like but avoid values that an intruder might guess, such as your last name. Apply the change without exiting.
TipYour router may also allow you to disable SSID broadcasting, which keeps neighbors or would-be intruders from seeing your wireless network among their Wi-Fi connection choices.Enable encryptionNow enable encryption. If your router and all of your wireless adapters support it, use Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) encryption with a preshared key. This provides more than adequate security for most home users. If your hardware doesn't support WPA, enable Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption.Most routers let you create WEP or WPA keys by entering a passphrase. You'll likely need to enter the passphrase twice for verification. Apply the changes without exiting.
TipDon't use a passphrase that's easy for an intruder to decipher. Mix it up; create one that's hard to guess, with a combination of numbers and letters.Filter MAC addressesAs a final security precaution, consider limiting access to network adapters with specific MAC addresses. To use MAC address filtering, you'll need to enable the feature in your router's configuration routine. Look for a filtering button or a menu option. Then enter the MAC addresses you recorded for your Wi-Fi adapters. Apply the changes and exit the router's configuration utility.
TipMost 802.11g routers come configured to work with both 802.11g and 802.11b clients. If you've purchased 802.11g devices for all of your wireless systems, choose an 802.11g-only mode to boost performance.

Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection

Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection
Possible Incorrect Data Transfer after Resuming from Suspend or Hibernate
Symptom:After resuming from a suspend or hibernate state, follow-on network traffic may become corrupted over the Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection. For example, an executable file might fail to run or a data file might not open or display its contents properly. In the event that data has been corrupted due to this failure, there may be no warning message or notice to the end user.
Driver versions affected: 8.1.0.25 & 8.1.0.26. No other software releases are affected.
Solution:This issue was resolved in software versions with driver version 8.1.0.28 and later. This is a critical update, and users should upgrade to driver version 8.1.0.28 or later as soon as possible.
Download updated software for the Intel® PRO/Wireless Network Connection.
Operating System:
Windows* 2000, Windows* XP Home Edition, Windows* XP Media Center Edition, Windows* XP Professional, Windows* XP Tablet PC Edition
This applies to:
Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection