Windows Vista®: Home Networking

Add a Windows XP–Based PC

If you need to connect a Windows XP computer to a PC running Windows Vista, first turn on network discovery on the Windows Vista–based PC and then share the Internet connection as detailed earlier.

After that, choose the installation option for the type of connection you’ve made:

• Serial or parallel null modem cable

• Ethernet crossover cable

• USB or a Windows Easy Transfer cable

• Infrared

Note

Bluetooth technology supports wireless connections between computers without the need for additional network hardware, if both computers have Bluetooth capability. Bluetooth works best when a computer is paired with a smaller device—such as a phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), or handheld computer—and if both are physically close. I ...