If you have several computers on your network and would like to see the computers on your network, Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP to speed this process up. NetBIOS allows computers to be seen by name on your network. Enabling NetBIOS allows your computer to find other computers in your network (Network or Network Places).

To enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP on Windows 7:

• Click Start, and then click Network. (click Start, type ncpa.cpl into the search box for Windows 7 or Vista, hit ENTER).
• Click on the Network and Sharing Center
• Click Manage Network Connections.
• Right click on the Local Area Connection select Properties.
• Select Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4)
• Click the Advanced button under the General tab.
• Click the WINS tab.
• Click Enable NetBIOS Over TCP/IP.
• Click OK and Exit the settings.

Don't want your XP/7 computer to show up in the network browse list (Network Neighborhood/My Network Places) to other users on your network? One way to accomplish that is to disable file sharing. To do this, click Start, right click My Network Places and select Properties. Right click your local area connection and click Properties. Uncheck the box that says File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks. Click OK.

But what if you want to be able to share folders with some users; you just don't want everyone on the network to see your computer's shares? There's a way:

Click Start and select Run.

In the Run box, type net config server /hidden:yes

Click OK.

Now others who know the UNC path (\\computer name\share name) can connect to your computer's shares from the Run box, but it won't show up in the network browse list.