Question : setup lan

I have desktop with windows xp and leptop with windows 95, how do I setup a lan network between them?

P.S.: they are connected with hub.

Answer : setup lan

            To create/enable  peer-to-peer network two (Windows)  computers  have to meet minimum requirements ( besides necessary hardware : network card NIC, networka cables, hubs/switches ) :
1-both PC must have the same network ( communication) protocol ( TCP/IP , NetBEUI , IPX/XPX ...) installed ,
2-same user account must exist on both computers  ( e.g.  user "buffon" must have his account on both Win XP and Win 95 PC)
3-file ( and or printer) sharing has to be enabled on both computers  
4-both computers need to have unique computer names  ( e.g. WinXP computer name = "major", in95 computer name = "minor ") since no two computers with the same computername can exist on same networks/subnets.
5-both computers belong to the same workgroup   ( e.g.  BUFFONLAN , or MSHOME , or  MYLAN , or MYNET etc...)
6-both computers has to be assigned static IPaddress / subnet mask for internal network ( e.g. WinXP = 192.168.1.2 / 255.255.255.0 and   Win95 = 192.168.1.3 / 255.255.255.0 ) . Disable DHCP ( automatic IP retreival ) for internal network.
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           In Windows XP PC disable firewall first and  run Networking wizard ( The Network Setup Wizard is also portable. You can create a Network Setup Wizard disk to automatically configure  your Windows 95 laptop )
Make sure you have enabled file/printer sharing and select at least one folder to share with other computers on LAN.
Select static IP addres for NIC on WinXP and type IP adress : 192.168.0.2  and subnet mask  255.255.255.0  
( which  is Class C network most frequently used in small office home networks )
Reboot and login using  user account and password you have created/enabled on Windows 95 PC too.
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           In Windows 95  open Control Panel's  Networking applet and make sure you have folowing components installed:
Client for Microsoft Networks
TCP/IP protocol
NetBEUI protocol
File and Printer sharing
Enable File and Printer sharing on Win95 ,  
and  after rebooting PC select at least one folder to share ( right click on selected folder and click on Share... then type user and password  in dialog boxes).
Make sure Client for Microsoft Networks in default logon ( not Microsoft Family logon nor Windows Logon )
Create user account with the same user  name/password combination you have on Windows XP PC.
Restart computers  and login as an user who has his  accounts on both computers.
You should be able to see shared folders through Windows Explorer  Network Places  ( in Win XP )  or  in Network Neighbourhood ( in Win 95)
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                     Description of the Network Setup Wizard in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308522        
                     How to install NetBEUI on Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;301041&sd=tech
                    TCP/IP Home Networking and File Sharing Tutorial
http://www.homenethelp.com/web/howto/net.asp
                   Other Expert-exchange answer / reference to the same/similar issue:
http://www.experts-exchange.com/Networking/Win95_Networking/Q_21261814.html
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good luck
nedvis