Re: XP Home Networking

Tech-Archive recommends: Fix windows errors by optimizing your registry

From: Steve Winograd [MVP] (winograd_at_pobox.com)
Date: 05/08/04 

Date: Sat, 08 May 2004 14:05:32 -0600

In article <a44501c43532$e8d8dd60$a001280a@phx.gbl>, "Bob H"
<anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>I'm about to buy a laptop with XP Home Edition. The
>manufacturer does not support the Pro version. I'm told
>that if I visit one of our offices and connect to the
>network to use the printers, it will work once then I'll
>be locked out because the home version on my laptop
>allows for only 5 computers on the network and there are
>12 on the office system. Does this sound correct?

No. that's not correct.

There's a common misconception about a limit to the number of
computers on a Windows XP network. Apparently, Microsoft's
documentation isn't as clear as it should be. I've even seen a
computer manufacturer's web site pass along incorrect information in
this area.

There's no limit to the number of computers that can network with
Windows XP Home Edition and Professional.

There's a different limit that seems to cause this confusion. Home
Edition allows a maximum of 5 other computers to connect to its shared
resources simultaneously. Professional allows a maximum of 10 other
computers to connect to its shared resources simultaneously.
Computers that aren't actively connected to a computer's shared
resources don't count against the limit. When a computer disconnects
from a shared resource, it no longer counts against the limit. See
this site for more information:

Inbound Connections Limit in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314882

What laptop manufacturer doesn't offer XP Professional?

If the office network uses a domain instead of a workgroup, you'll be
much better off getting a laptop with XP Professional. XP Home
Edition can't log onto a domain. 

-- 
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)
Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see.  I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.
Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

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