seems way off for this case, go to my network places - in the left you'll see view an setup you'll want to click setup first read the wizard it will say about your hardware it dont matter if its connected for the time or not, then it will ask about your internet connection click next an it will have you call the machine something then it will ask for the workgroup which must be the same accrossed all four. Finally it may ask about printer shareing so if you want it to print off of a printer connected else where. Then it will display your settings next and it will go ahead an apply them at which point you wait, Then you can finsh the wizard or make a disk with this info for the rest of the machines but I usually just finsh it. Then it will say finish, all you have to then do is rightt click an say share whatever files an such. You'll need a hub with direct cables if it was only two a cross over would be okay.