FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW TO EASILY SET UP A NETWORK
Install your network card as per manufacturers instructions.

STEP ONE: Click on your Start button, then choose Settings and then click on the Control Panel.

STEP TWO: Double-click your mouse on the icon marked "Network".


SCROLL DOWN
FOR STEP 3

STEP THREE: You will need to install A CLIENT, an ADAPTER and a PROTOCOL

YOU WILL NEED A CLIENT:
"Client for Microsoft Networks" need the adapter and protocols to disperse resources, programs and information to other clients on the network

YOU WILL NEED AN ADAPTER
Assuming your ETHERNET or LAN CARD is correctly installed, it should already be listed in the box shown above. This is the ADAPTER

YOU WILL NEED A PROTOCOL:
A protocol is a standard method (language) for transmitting data through a network. There are many different specialized protocols to accommodate all the different ways that data might be transmitted.

The TCP/IP protocol is required if you want to access the Internet over the network. The Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and the Internet Protocol (IP) manage the flow of information over the Internet. TCP manages the assembly (and reassembly) of data into packets that can be easily transmitted over the Internet, while IP directs the packets to their correct destination.
The IPX/SPX protocol is required if you want to play games against other machines on your home network. To do both, you would install both protocols. Please note: I sometimes also install the NetBEUI protocol as some programs I use need it, but be warned you can cause yourself problems installing too many protocols, some won't run together and even more horriffic stuff can happen. Rule of thumb says don't install more than this until you need to which would be when you want to run a certain piece of software and find that it needs another network protocol, you can install it then.
HOW TO INSTALL A CLIENT:
If there's not a client in the window like the example screen on the right, click on "Client" then on the "Add" button.

Click Microsoft, then on "Client for Microsoft Networks". Press Enter or click OK.

HOW TO INSTALL A PROTOCOL
TCP/IP or IPX/SPX
Click on Protocol, then on "Add"

Click on Microsoft, then scroll down the
right hand slider bar to click TCP/IP
Use the same steps for IPX/SPX and NetBEUI if required (see protocol info to the left).