>How to Configure Windows XP TCP/IP Settings
A lot of you are new to home networking and this whole TCP/IP thing has a bunch of you in the dumps. Don't feel alone! It doesn't seem that long ago when I didn't know an IP address from a MAC address. It doesn't have to be difficult to set up a home network. Let's take a look at how you configure the TCP/IP settings on a Windows XP computer and consider the implications of the settings:
Click Start and then open the Control Panel.
Make sure the Control Panel is in Classic View and then open the Network Connections applet.
In the Network Connections window, you'll see Local Area Network connections and modem connections. Let's focus on computers that don't have modem connections, and take a closer look at the Local Area Connection settings. The Local Area Connection represents the Network Connection you use to connect to other computers on your network. Right click on the Local Area Connection entry and click the Properties command.
This brings up the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box. Click on the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) entry and click the Properties button.
This brings up the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties dialog box. Notice toward the top of this dialog box that you have two choices: Obtain an IP address automatically and Use the following IP address. The Obtain an IP address automatically option only works if you have something called a "DHCP server" on your network. You probably don't have one of those, but you may have an Internet gateway or Internet router that acts as a DHCP server. You should check your Internet connection device and see if it's set up automatically as a DHCP server. If it is, then select the Obtain an IP address automatically option. If you don't have an Internet connection sharing device, and you don't use ICS (which has its own DHCP server too), then don't select this option.
Select the Use the following IP address option if you don't have a DHCP server. You enter an IP address in the IP address text box. Each computer on the network needs a different IP address, just like each home in your town needs its own address. There are rules regarding which numbers are valid, but you don't need to know them in order to make your network work. In the IP address text box, enter the following number: 192.168.0.x. The x is different for each computer on the network and its value must be between 1 and 254, inclusive. Don't use the same number twice or you'll have problems! In the subnet mask text box, type in 255.255.0.0. This number is always that same and doesn't change from computer to computer. You do not need to enter anything for the default gateway if you don't have an Internet connection. I'll cover how to do things if you have an Internet gateway next week.
You do not need to enter anything in the DNS Server addresses, since it's unlikely that you have a DNS server on your network. Click OK, and then click OK again.
IP address configuration seems difficult at first, but once you get it working it will continue to work. I should note that you don't even need to do this if all the computers on your network support something called "Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA)".

> Wireless Network Adapter Intermittently Loses Its Connection to the Server 
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;821400
The information in this article applies to:  Microsoft Windows XP Professional  Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

SYMPTOMS
When you use a wireless network connection to copy large files from a server or to stream data from a server, you may intermittently lose connection to the server.
CAUSE
This behavior may occur if the Wireless Zero Configuration service is enabled on your computer. Some wireless network adapters are not fully compatible with Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuration. By default, the Wireless Zero Configuration is enabled in Windows XP.
RESOLUTION
To resolve this behavior, do both of the following:
Disable the Wireless Zero Configuration service on your computer. To do so:
Click Start, click Control Panel, click Performance and Maintenance, click Administrative Tools, and then click Services.
Double-click the Wireless Zero Configuration service. On the General tab, click Stop. In the Startup type list, click Disabled, and then click OK.

The Wireless Zero Configuration is now disabled and does not reload when you restart your computer.

Install the latest driver for your wireless network adapter. To do so, contact the manufacturer of your wireless network adapter. Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.
For information about how to contact the manufacturer of your wireless network adapter, click the appropriate article number in the following list to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
65416 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, A-K

60781 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, L-P

60782 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, Q-Z