The Microsoft® Windows® XP operating system provides a Network Setup Wizard to guide you through the process of sharing files, printers, or an Internet

connection between computers in a home or small office.

1. Click the Start button, point to All Programs® Accessories® Communications, and then click Network Setup Wizard.

2. On the Network Setup Wizard welcome screen, click Next.

3. Click Checklist for creating a network.

NOTE:

Selecting the connection method This computer connects directly to the Internet enables the integrated firewall provided with Windows XP

Service Pack 1 (SP1) or later.

4. Complete the checklist and required preparations.

5. Return to the Network Setup Wizard and follow the instructions on the screen.

Internet Connection Firewall

The Internet Connection Firewall provides basic protection from unauthorized access to the computer while the computer is connected to the Internet. The

firewall is automatically enabled when you run the Network Setup Wizard. When the firewall is enabled for a network connection, the firewall icon appears

with a red background in the Network Connections section of the Control Panel.

Note that enabling the Internet Connection Firewall does not reduce the need for virus-checking software.

For more information, see the Windows

Data Execution Prevention (DEP) Technology

Your computer may include data execution prevention (DEP) technology, which is supported by Microsoft® Windows® XP Service Pack 2 (SP2). This feature

prevents the execution of code in memory regions of the computer that are set aside for data storage. When an attempt is made to run code from an area

marked as data storage, DEP helps the computer to detect this action, intercept the code, and raise an exception to prevent the code from executing. If your

computer supports the DEP technology, it is enabled by default for essential Windows programs and services.

For more information about this memory protection technology, search the Microsoft Knowledge Base website for Knowledge Base Article #875352 for details

about the data execution prevention (DEP) feature.

If you receive a "Data Execution Prevention" error message in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article #875351.

Back to Contents Page

Help and Support Center

(Microsoft® Windows® XP).

Table of Contents