Windows XP Network Issues

[Guest Bruno De Barros]

Hello. I have three computers. A desktop with Windows Vista, a laptop

with Windows XP and another desktop with Windows XP.

 

I have been messing with everything, trying to make this network work.

Sometimes it does, other times it doesn't. It's an adhoc connection,

as I do not have a wireless access point. The two desktops have a

wireless adapter, and the laptop has it's own built-in adapter. I can

connect my Vista with my laptop, but only sometimes will it work. I

don't know how it starts working or not, it's just by chance, after

some rebooting on both ends. My Windows XP Desktop doesn't even get

the network. I think it's because of the range of the adapters.

 

What I wonder is... How would I go and make this network work

properly, for my Vista and my laptop, reliably? Because at the moment,

I can spend 30 minutes trying to get them to connect, and they still

won't do it, and it's really annoying, when I need the network.

 

And, to make the three computers always be connected on the network,

would it really be necessary to have a wireless access point? Or can

it be done using adhoc networking?

 

Also, I have a USB modem that provides me with internet connection.

I've been trying to search for ways to share the internet over a

network, but failed to do it. Any ideas?

 

Thank you very much in advance.

[Guest smlunatick]

Re: Windows XP Network Issues

 

On Oct 7, 5:43 pm, Bruno De Barros <brunormbar...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hello. I have three computers. A desktop with Windows Vista, a laptop

> with Windows XP and another desktop with Windows XP.

>

> I have been messing with everything, trying to make this network work.

> Sometimes it does, other times it doesn't. It's an adhoc connection,

> as I do not have a wireless access point. The two desktops have a

> wireless adapter, and the laptop has it's own built-in adapter. I can

> connect my Vista with my laptop, but only sometimes will it work. I

> don't know how it starts working or not, it's just by chance, after

> some rebooting on both ends. My Windows XP Desktop doesn't even get

> the network. I think it's because of the range of the adapters.

>

> What I wonder is... How would I go and make this network work

> properly, for my Vista and my laptop, reliably? Because at the moment,

> I can spend 30 minutes trying to get them to connect, and they still

> won't do it, and it's really annoying, when I need the network.

>

> And, to make the three computers always be connected on the network,

> would it really be necessary to have a wireless access point? Or can

> it be done using adhoc networking?

>

> Also, I have a USB modem that provides me with internet connection.

> I've been trying to search for ways to share the internet over a

> network, but failed to do it. Any ideas?

>

> Thank you very much in advance.

 

I believe that Ad-Hoc networks can only really be done between two

"devices" at one time. If more "devices" are to be connected, a

affordable broadband router should be used.

[Guest Lem]

Re: Windows XP Network Issues

 

smlunatick wrote:

>

> I believe that Ad-Hoc networks can only really be done between two

> "devices" at one time. If more "devices" are to be connected, a

> affordable broadband router should be used.

 

In Win XP, at least, ad hoc networks can support up to 9 connections

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457016.aspx#ECAA

--

Lem -- MS-MVP

 

To the moon and back with 2K words of RAM and 36K words of ROM.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer

http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm

[Guest Lem]

Re: Windows XP Network Issues

 

Bruno De Barros wrote:

> Hello. I have three computers. A desktop with Windows Vista, a laptop

> with Windows XP and another desktop with Windows XP.

>

> I have been messing with everything, trying to make this network work.

> Sometimes it does, other times it doesn't. It's an adhoc connection,

> as I do not have a wireless access point. The two desktops have a

> wireless adapter, and the laptop has it's own built-in adapter. I can

> connect my Vista with my laptop, but only sometimes will it work. I

> don't know how it starts working or not, it's just by chance, after

> some rebooting on both ends. My Windows XP Desktop doesn't even get

> the network. I think it's because of the range of the adapters.

>

> What I wonder is... How would I go and make this network work

> properly, for my Vista and my laptop, reliably? Because at the moment,

> I can spend 30 minutes trying to get them to connect, and they still

> won't do it, and it's really annoying, when I need the network.

>

> And, to make the three computers always be connected on the network,

> would it really be necessary to have a wireless access point? Or can

> it be done using adhoc networking?

>

> Also, I have a USB modem that provides me with internet connection.

> I've been trying to search for ways to share the internet over a

> network, but failed to do it. Any ideas?

>

> Thank you very much in advance.

 

At this point, it's difficult to determine what your "messing" has done

to your various computers.

 

To answer your last question, you *can* have an ad hoc network of 3

computers. If one of them is also connected to the Internet, you can

share that connection over your ad hoc network. This is called "Internet

Connection Sharing."

 

Here are some general help sites:

 

Ad hoc networking in Vista

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457016.aspx#ECAA

 

Ad hoc internet sharing with XP

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=fac8708e-3762-4e78-b372-8404eeb7f41a&DisplayLang=en

 

If your computers are too far apart, or if there are obstructions

between them that block radio transmissions (some types of home

construction walls are more effective radio shields than others) this

could easily affect your connectivity. Other sources of radio frequency

interference, such as microwave ovens and certain cordless telephones

and baby monitors also could cause problems.

 

In general, however, you would be better off getting a wireless router.

This would give you much greater flexibility, provide a barrier between

your computers and the Internet, and -- because you have XP computers in

the mix -- permit you to use WPA or WPA2 encryption. Right now, assuming

that you're using encryption at all (and I suspect you're not), you're

limited to WEP. With tools commonly-available on the Internet, WEP

encryption can be cracked in a matter of minutes.

 

The only caveat is that I don't know of any of the usual crop of home

wireless routers that can be used with a USB modem. If you elect to get

a wireless router, you will have to also buy a modem (DSL? Cable?) that

connects to the router with Ethernet.

 

For more Internet Connection Sharing info, especially if you're using a

dial-up connection, see

http://practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_ics/index.htm

--

Lem -- MS-MVP

 

To the moon and back with 2K words of RAM and 36K words of ROM.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer

http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm

[Guest Bruno De Barros]

Re: Windows XP Network Issues

 

That page contains very useful information. I'll have to read it.