Q: I have been trying to set up a networked Hewlett-Packard printer at home, but frankly, all the Windows networking stuff baffles me, especially when Windows starts up wizards that lead to nowhere. My problem is compounded in that I am trying to hook up my ThinkPad and cannot afford to have my home network setup override what is set up for work. Any advice?

A: Solving your problem is a two-step process, says Joel Broadway, president of CM IT Solutions of Raleigh, N.C.

First, you must make sure you connect your laptop to your home network without messing up the settings for your office network.

In Windows, go to the Control Panel, then click on "network connections." Right-click on your wireless network connection and choose "properties." Click once on "Internet protocol (TCP/IP)" and click "properties."

If this connection is set to obtain an Internet protocol address and DNS (domain name system) server address automatically, click OK and you're done, Broadway said. If not, click on the "alternate configuration" tab and enter the settings for your home network. That's usually in the format "192.168.x.x," he said. Click OK, and your laptop should be ready to work on both networks.

Next, you should configure the laptop to use the printer. Tackle this from the Hewlett-Packard end, not the Windows perspective.

Assuming that the laptop and printer are both connected to your network, start by running the CD that came with the printer, or download the latest version of the software from Hewlett-Packard. To download the software, go to http://www.hp.com, click on "software and driver downloads" on the left side of the page, and from there you can select your printer.

The software should scan the network and find the printer, then ask you to install the print driver software, Broadway said.

As it turns out, both Hewlett-Packard and Lenovo, the manufacturer of ThinkPads, have started offering tech support for people in just your situation. Both programs promote their services as a way for customers to learn more about their technology.

Lenovo's offering, recently announced, provides 24/7 remote support for operating system and software support, system tune-ups, Internet and system security and networking. Technicians with Lenovo Experts Live can talk with you on the phone or through an online chat, and they can work on your computer remotely to help fix your problems. Find it at http://expertslive.lenovo.com, but you can access it only through Internet Explorer 6 or higher.

Hewlett-Packard's version, HP Total Care, provides remote technical support for HP computers, printers, TVs, cameras and other consumer products. Technicians can run diagnostic tests, view the computer's configurations and provide step-by-step instructions for future reference. Find it at http://www.hp.com/go/totalcare.

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