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Networking 2 computers


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Guest The Golfer's Wife
Posted

I have a new notebook and an existing computer. The computer runs on

XP, the notebook on Vista. I am on ADSL and I now have a new 4-port

Belkin ADSL 2+ modem and all the hardware is working ok. I am trying

to network the two computers so that I can share files (only in case

of a breakdown in either one). I have the printer software installed

on both and it prints on either computer (depending which is hooked to

an ISB port). I am very happy with all of this.

 

I have given the same name to both network names and HOME as the

generic name. But the network won't work. Is there something else I

should do?

 

 

The Golfer's Wife

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Guest Mike Cawood, HND BIT
Posted

Re: Networking 2 computers

 

<The Golfer's Wife> wrote in message

news:cm5h93l53a1uhuatg7i9c9ckrfdok7n362@4ax.com...

>I have a new notebook and an existing computer. The computer runs on

> XP, the notebook on Vista. I am on ADSL and I now have a new 4-port

> Belkin ADSL 2+ modem and all the hardware is working ok. I am trying

> to network the two computers so that I can share files (only in case

> of a breakdown in either one). I have the printer software installed

> on both and it prints on either computer (depending which is hooked to

> an ISB port). I am very happy with all of this.

>

> I have given the same name to both network names and HOME as the

> generic name. But the network won't work. Is there something else I

> should do?

>

>

> The Golfer's Wife

 

Have you set the appropriate folders to allow sharing?

Mike.

Guest Malke
Posted

Re: Networking 2 computers

 

The Golfer's Wife wrote:

> I have a new notebook and an existing computer. The computer runs on

> XP, the notebook on Vista. I am on ADSL and I now have a new 4-port

> Belkin ADSL 2+ modem and all the hardware is working ok. I am trying

> to network the two computers so that I can share files (only in case

> of a breakdown in either one). I have the printer software installed

> on both and it prints on either computer (depending which is hooked to

> an ISB port). I am very happy with all of this.

>

> I have given the same name to both network names and HOME as the

> generic name. But the network won't work. Is there something else I

> should do?

 

Standard network troubleshooting. Not everything may be applicable to you:

 

This link will take you through Vista networking very well:

 

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/network/evaluate/vista_fp.mspx

 

Problems sharing files between computers on a network are generally

caused by 1) a misconfigured firewall; or 2) inadvertently running two

firewalls such as the built-in Windows Firewall and a third-party

firewall; and/or 3) not having identical user accounts and passwords on

all Workgroup machines; 4) trying to create shares where the operating

system does not permit it.

 

Here are some general networking tips for home/small networks:

 

1. Configure firewalls on all machines to allow the Local Area Network

(LAN) traffic as trusted. With Windows Firewall, this means allowing

File/Printer Sharing on the Exceptions tab. Normally running the Network

Setup Wizard on XP will take care of this for those machines.The only

"gotcha" is that this will turn on the XPSP2 Windows Firewall. If you

aren't running a third-party firewall or have an antivirus with

"Internet Worm Protection" (like Norton 2006/07) which acts as a

firewall, then you're fine. With third-party firewalls, I usually

configure the LAN allowance with an IP range. Ex. would be

192.168.1.0-192.168.1.254. Obviously you would substitute your correct

subnet. Do not run more than one firewall.

 

2. With earlier Microsoft operating systems, the name of the Workgroup

didn't matter. Apparently it does with Vista, so put all computers in

the same Workgroup. This is done from the System applet in Control

Panel, Computer Name tab.

 

3. Create identical user accounts and passwords on all machines. If you

wish a machine to boot directly to the Desktop (into one particular

user's account) for convenience, you can do this. The instructions at

this link work for both XP and Vista:

 

Configure Windows to Automatically Login (MVP Ramesh) -

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/Autologon.htm

 

4. If one or more of the computers is XP Pro or Media Center:

 

a. If you need Pro's ability to set fine-grained permissions, turn off

Simple File Sharing (Folder Options>View tab) and create identical user

accounts/passwords on all computers.

 

b. If you don't care about using Pro's advanced features, leave the

Simple File Sharing enabled.

 

Simple File Sharing means that Guest (network) is enabled. This means

that anyone without a user account on the target system can use its

resources. This is a security hole but only you can decide if it matters

in your situation.

 

I think it is a good idea to create the identical user

accounts/passwords in any case when Vista machines are involved and it

isn't an onerous task with home/small networks.

 

5. Create shares as desired. XP Home does not permit sharing of users'

home directories (My Documents) or Program Files, but you can share

folders inside those directories. A better choice is to simply use the

Shared Documents folder. See the first link above for details about

Vista sharing.

 

 

Malke

--

Elephant Boy Computers

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com

"Don't Panic!"

MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Guest Frank\(FL\)
Posted

Re: Networking 2 computers

 

The Golfer's Wife wrote:

> I have a new notebook and an existing computer. The computer runs on

> XP, the notebook on Vista. I am on ADSL and I now have a new 4-port

> Belkin ADSL 2+ modem and all the hardware is working ok. I am trying

> to network the two computers so that I can share files (only in case

> of a breakdown in either one). I have the printer software installed

> on both and it prints on either computer (depending which is hooked to

> an ISB port). I am very happy with all of this.

>

> I have given the same name to both network names and HOME as the

> generic name. But the network won't work. Is there something else I

> should do?

>

>

> The Golfer's Wife

 

What do you mean by network names and generic name???

The WORKGROUP name works better if the same.

Each host name must be unique.

Guest Plato
Posted

Re: Networking 2 computers

 

The, Golfer's, Wife wrote:

>

> I have a new notebook and an existing computer. The computer runs on

> XP, the notebook on Vista. I am on ADSL and I now have a new 4-port

> Belkin ADSL 2+ modem and all the hardware is working ok. I am trying

> to network the two computers so that I can share files (only in case

 

 

Networking

 

http://www.howstuffworks.com/home-network.htm

http://www.homenethelp.com/home-network.asp

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/category04

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/default.mspx

http://compnetworking.about.com/od/windowsxpnetworking/Windows_XP_Networking_Microsoft_Windows_XP.htm

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=813936

http://www.onecomputerguy.com/networking/xp_network.htm

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/getstarted/default.mspx

 

 

 

--

http://www.bootdisk.com/


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