For small networking operations, you can connect
your laptop to a peer-to-peer network. This includes
everything from a home office that has only one
other computer to a smaller company that doesn't
need a large network setup. In that case, it helps to
add your laptop to a specific workgroup. This stuff is
cinchy.
The key to joining a specific workgroup is to supply
your laptop with the workgroup's name. That way,
your laptop appears on a list with other computers in
the workgroup, and it makes workgroup resources
(printers and hard drives) easier to locate.
The secret? Nope, don't bother looking in any of the
networking icons in the Control Panel. For this task,
you need to use the Control Panel's System icon, like
so:
1. Choose Control Panel from the Start menu, and
then select System.
2. In Windows Vista, click the Change settings link
in the Computer Name, Domain and Workgroup
Settings area. In Windows XP, click the
Computer Name tab.
If you're asked for permission here, click the
Continue button.
3. Click the Change button.
4. In the Workgroup text box, type the name of
the computer workgroup.
Unless you messed with things, the name is
WORKGROUP, and that's okay. If you chose
something else for your local workgroup, put
that name into the box.
5. Click OK to close the various dialog boxes, and
close up any windows you opened as well.
At this point, you may have to restart your
laptop for the changes to take effect. Do so
when prompted.
Your laptop is now a part of the named workgroup
and can more easily access other computers and
system resources attached to that workgroup.
your laptop to a peer-to-peer network. This includes
everything from a home office that has only one
other computer to a smaller company that doesn't
need a large network setup. In that case, it helps to
add your laptop to a specific workgroup. This stuff is
cinchy.
The key to joining a specific workgroup is to supply
your laptop with the workgroup's name. That way,
your laptop appears on a list with other computers in
the workgroup, and it makes workgroup resources
(printers and hard drives) easier to locate.
The secret? Nope, don't bother looking in any of the
networking icons in the Control Panel. For this task,
you need to use the Control Panel's System icon, like
so:
1. Choose Control Panel from the Start menu, and
then select System.
2. In Windows Vista, click the Change settings link
in the Computer Name, Domain and Workgroup
Settings area. In Windows XP, click the
Computer Name tab.
If you're asked for permission here, click the
Continue button.
3. Click the Change button.
4. In the Workgroup text box, type the name of
the computer workgroup.
Unless you messed with things, the name is
WORKGROUP, and that's okay. If you chose
something else for your local workgroup, put
that name into the box.
5. Click OK to close the various dialog boxes, and
close up any windows you opened as well.
At this point, you may have to restart your
laptop for the changes to take effect. Do so
when prompted.
Your laptop is now a part of the named workgroup
and can more easily access other computers and
system resources attached to that workgroup.
Source :dummies