Home Network Basics; Windows Xp Media Center Edition File Sharing; Windows Xp File Sharing - HP X5400 Supplementary Manual

Home Network Basics

A home network consists of two or more computers that are connected together using Ethernet or
wireless network equipment. Microsoft® Windows® Media Center Extender can be added to an
existing home network with an existing Media Center PC so that videos, pictures, and music can be
viewed on a TV located in another room.
Once the home network is set up, music, pictures, and videos can be shared between the
computers. For example, a customer using Media Center Extender connected to a TV in the den
wants to look at baby pictures stored on either a Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition PC or
another computer on the network. Using the remote control, the customer can access the baby
pictures on the computers on the network and view them on the TV.
The following resources can be used to set up a home network to support Media Center and Media
Center Extender:
• Networking with Windows XP– This website has the information necessary to set up a home
network. Included in this website is the Microsoft Home Network Guide, which is an interactive
guide to help customers choose the correct network hardware for a home network. The guide can
be downloaded and installed on a computer, and then customers can run the wizard to find out
what the best network configuration is for their home.
• Windows XP Help and Support Center. To view Online Help for home networking, click Start,
click Help and Support, click Networking and the Web, and then click Home and small office
networking.

Windows XP Media Center Edition File Sharing

Music, videos, and pictures that are stored on the Media Center PC can be found using Media
Center Extender. When setting up Media Center Extender, customers can choose to allow the
Extender access to pictures, music, and videos that are stored in My Documents, My Pictures, My
Music, and My Videos on a Media Center PC. In addition, the Extender can find files stored
anywhere on the computer, except files that are in the Windows system folder. The Extender has a
user account just like anyone else who has an account on the Media Center PC. When customers
are searching for pictures, music, or videos from the Extender, the Extender is handled by the Media
Center PC as a user on the computer. When pictures, music, and videos are located on the
computer, they can be viewed or listened to on the Extender.

Windows XP File Sharing

If there are multiple computers on a home network, then music, videos, and pictures can be
accessed and displayed through Media Center Extender. To view or play these files, the folders
where they are located must be shared on the network.
There are three ways files and folders can be shared:
• The Shared Documents folder
• Simple file sharing
• Advanced file sharing
Sharing Pictures, Music, and Videos on Windows Media Center Extender
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