Creating a local area network (LAN) on Windows is relatively straightforward and can be accomplished with any version of Windows. Here are the steps you need to take in order to create a LAN on Windows:
1. Connect your computers to the same router. Connect each computer to the modem or router that will serve as the centerpiece of the network. Make sure all of your computers are connected via Ethernet cables or wireless adapters, depending on the type of router you have.
2. Assign static IP addresses. Go into the settings on each computer and assign each machine a unique static IP address. This will allow the computers to communicate with each other.
3. Setup file sharing. On the computer that will serve as the file server, go into the control panel and turn on the Windows file sharing service. Make sure to assign it a unique name so the other computers can easily identify it.
4. Create shared folders. Create folders that you wish to share between all the computers on the network. Set the access permissions for each folder so that other users have access.
5. Connect to the network. To connect to the network, each computer should be configured to use the same workgroup name. Then, on each computer, open the ‘My Network Places’ window and select the workgroup. The other computers should now be visible in the window.
6. Test the connection. Once your network is set up, try transferring a file between two computers to make sure everything is working correctly. If successful, then your local area network is ready for use.
Creating a local area network on Windows is a great way to share resources between multiple computers. It provides a secure way to store and transfer files, as well as making it easier to use applications like printers and scanners. Setting up a LAN on Windows is a simple process that should only take a few minutes.