This is how I set up up my home network, didn’t learn Networking on college but good thing I’m married to a former Link2Support Customer Care Representative which makes setting up a Linksys Router a breeze (BEFSR41). Okay here goes..

Step 1 - We’ll start from the list things we need…

• DSL Modem (optional) - mine is provided by PLDT (Philippine Long Distance Telecommunications )
  
• Wired Router - i use Linksys BEFRS41
• RJ45 connector - 6 pesos at local store
  
• Crimping Tool - make sure it’s capable to crimp rj45 connector
  
• Unshielded UTP cable - cable used for networking you can use shielded UTP cables if you don’t too get into the hassle of crimping
  
• Computers (PC) - I’ll use a custom built PC, running on windows XP make sure each machine have LAN ports.

Step 2 - Cut the cables into desired length then crimp the rj45 connector to it. We need to create 3 cables, 1 to connect modem to routers internet port, and 2 cables to connect each computer to routers LAN port. Here’s a few crimping guidelines.

• most crimping tool have cutting blades, it’ll safely peal the cable to reveal the 6 colored wires, don’t use scissors or knives.
• I use this color arrangement
  WhiteOrange - Orange - WhiteGreen - Blue - WhiteBlue - Green - WhiteBrown - Brown
• trim the colored wires so they can be easily inserted nicely into the RJ45 plug

Step 3 - now we’re ready to connect the cable

• most ISP like PLDT provides a splitter to split regular phone signal and DSL, splitters have 3 ports line, telephone, and modem. Line port connects to you wall telephone outlet and the other two to phone and modem.
• We have 3 cables, plug cable 1 to modem’s LAN port and the other end to Routers Internet Port. Most wired Router have 5 Ports, 1 usually apart from the other is the internet port.
• Connect your PC to the router’s LAN port, mine have 4 these will be connected to computers or a “switch/hub” if you want to connect more that 4 computers on the network.
• Now that the cables are connected, we’ll setup our PC, and Router. Make sure router and modem is powered “on” and their Power, LAN, Internet lights are up and or blinking.

Step 4- Set up your PC

• Make sure your Windows PC’s ethernet (LAN) is properly installed. Goto Control Panel (Start - Control Panel) and Choose Network Connection, you should see an icon with 2 monitors connected (Local Area Connection) it should not be grayed or with any warning sign on it, if in case it’s disabled just right click and enable or repair. In some case windows gets stubborn and crash… Goto Control Panel in Classic View click “System” it’s the computer icon with a check. On hardware Tab click device manager. Device manager will show you all the devices on your PC. Click on the (+) to Expand Network adapters and there shold be an Ethernet Adapter, in my case it’s Intel 21041-Base PCI Ethernet Adapter (Generic). There should be no red “x” or a yellow with exclamation warning icon, in case there is you can fix enabling or updating the driver. Now we’re sure that our PC is ethernet (LAN) enabled.
• Now we’ll give a name to this PC, goto control panel, system and select computer name. Put a short description and click “change” to rename your computer put the desired computer name and workgroup to the desired workgroup name, work group name should be same to all computers on the network.
• Make Sure You’re connected to the “router” by Clicking on “Start” then “Run”.. not run and leave your machine.. take it easy.. i mean select “Run” on windows menu and type in “cmd” and click OK, this will open the terminal or command promt (DOS mode window), type in “ipconfig” this will show you your PC’s IP and default gateway, default gateway is your Routers IP.
• If yourIP (IP’s are PC’s network address) is 0.0.0.0 you’re not connected to the network, if you’re certain that your PC have ethernet enabled your router have problem, try to power cycle your router turn it’s power on and off several time (3-5) and wait till the lights stabilize or repair your network connection as discussed previously. If no use contact your routers support.
• If you have an IP, try to ping your default gateway (router), on command prompt type in ping and your routers IP. You should see ping speed and “reply from”. Next we’ll set up our router

Step 4 - the last and final step, we need to setup our router

• Open your browser, i use firefox, then put your default gateway IP in the address field then press enter mine is 192.168.2.1, this will open Linksys BFSR41 admin, default username is “” (null, empty, blank) password is “admin”, refer to your routers manual. Most routers have similar admin panel.
• Set your settings to “Obtain IP automatically” your router will assign IP to all networked computers.
• Local address should be 192.168.2.1
• Start IP address should be 192.167.2.100
• Now go your PC and try to ping the other PC if it can then eveything is set.

Ain’t that easy? now to access the other computer go to “my computer” then “view workgroup computers” you should see and access all PC’s with the same workgroup name as the one you’re using.