Newbie advice for setting up a new network

Thank you for your quick reply. I am running XP on all computers. I will try to use the XP wizard and let you know how it turns out. Thanks for the firewall tip as well, I'm sure that would have caused me fits for sure.

Okay, I got it up and running within about 3-4 minutes. Very easy and painless. However, I have an additional question. Now that my firewalls are disabled, what kind of security risk am I at? I think that I read somewhere that my router kind of acts like a firewall or something along those lines. Is this true? Or should I install some kind of software? Thanks in advance!

CB

You can re-enable your firewall and see if things still connect properly. If they do not, then you will need to tweak it to allow your local traffic.

Yes, your router does act as a hardware firewall. Some folks (myself included) also choose to run a software firewall. I use Zone Alarm (free download). I like Zone Alarm because it alerts me to applications running on my computer that want to connect to the internet, as well as things from the outside trying to access my machine. With only a Windows firewall or hardware firewall you will not get these notices. I like to know what my machine is doing.

Your advice was very helpful...it is much appreciated. Thank you.

You seem to have gotten your answer here "CB",but I would like to add something about your network that I've learned the hard way.
When ever you are allowing this kind of network activity, be it shares or P2P share programs, how you share and with whom can be very important. If you have young ones in the house (kids always seem to find the wrong places by accident, or so my kids say so) you may want to set things for share alittle strick for security of your own PC. A software personal firewall can do this easily and reliably. Each computer in the network should have its own firewall and this should not be only Windows firewall. The built-in one XP has will not protect much in shares service attacks that can sometimes come into your computer through one of your "LAN" devices. This is not always only computers that will present the threat but this is what we will deal with as most phones, games systems and other NON-PC devices are much harder to firewall. As an example, you may have noticed the opportunity while setting up the shared folders that you have a password to set if you wish to. Do this and allowing youngs ones to access these music files and such as read only can protect the other computers in itself alot. This is a simple built in way of protecting shared resources and others can get more complicated but this is one easy way. Just set passwords and good ones at that. On the other end of the scale (as in my home small biz network) all computers on my network have software firewalls (two of them have two firewalls) and in no case do I use Windows own for my own reasons.(another forum topic in my opinion)Just make sure you can use whatever firewall you choose accurately to start with as poor operation of a great firewall still lets them in. Always run a firewall whenever your Internet connection is made at its beginning. In otherwords at the modem. Even if its Cable or DSL, the modem can be turned off compleatly. Only then can firewalls be dropped safely, and this is only if all devices are clean at that moment. Just because you are not useing a program to go on the Internet does not mean your connection is unused. Turn it off (if easy enough) when not needed and use your router to control further different machines access to different resources. e.g. if you want your children to get off the web at a particular time at night, your router often will give you the chance to "filter" the times, computers or even sites available to different devices on your network. This is the most helpful funtion of a router and works well for totally blocking offensive sites at all computers in the house at once. Even cutting off your connection is made easer with the use and understanding of the router all by itself. These firewalls and filters on the router should never however take the place of a software firewall on each computer. They do not funtion the same way and can not conflict with one another. Your routers firewall(most of them)will only protect you from outside sources (like Windows Firewall) but the filters can allow fine access control inside your own "LAN" as well. Any game system on my network for example can not send packets to any computers as long as the router is functioning properly. If its not, then the connection is probably not going to be successful anyways. Game system have been used before to infect computers if you hadn't known. Knowledge is our best defense while on the Internet so KNOW your equipments and softwares abilities and you will become your own best defender.
Well good luck and happy surfing all
Protecting you, protects me too.
Warmly, Mark, "artsoftheearth.com" from Ohio

Mark,

Excellent advice, thank you for the reply. I have added ZoneAlarm to every computer now and all seems to be working fine. You really can never be too safe. Also, as mentioned by Josh earlier in this thread, it really is kind of nice to know what your computer is doing all the time. For the brief time that I didnt have Zonealarm running, I really felt exposed...I sure hated that feeling. I will play it on the safe side and monitor everything accordingly. Thanks so much for the advice, it is greatly appreciated.

Cheers!

CB

Were all glad to help out with your concerns. Im very glad you asked the question as it should be asked more often I feel. Having this kind of control can be reasuring no dought but if you go much further down this same inquisitive trail you will find that things are less and less as the seem, and into something of which dreams are made.
Nearly ten years ago when I started testing out firewalls that we all put so much trust in because I was given an expensive one for free by a bad hacker. He put his own back door into it and gave it to fellow chat roommates to supposedly help out. I spoted a differance in the size of the program given to me, and others of the same group. I soon found myself wraped in a web within a web out here chasing bad guys who were tapping my connections. I quickly learned to jump connection servers and change IP address in order to avoid and tag along with these very untrustworthy folks. Live and learn as it goes I've developed some talant now for picking these kinds of programs apart. Not one of these software firewalls will cover you in all occastions but some do a great job with little help. But all need your help in making decisions about access to the net. You have choosen one of the better protections available and it will serve you well to know whats its doing and how it works. We all fall pray occasionally by just trusting it will do the whole job out of the box so to speak. I'm here to tell ya you should check alittle into it from the start. It's where I start with a program I'm Beta testing, in the options and the help. Look into them and know your firewall, it will be your best friend out here.
Contact me at my site for more information about other options for your protection. You have made the first step right. The path out here can be a trial at times.
Happy surfing and remember,
securing you, secures me too.
Warmly, Mark "artsoftheearth.com" Ohio