Network n00b

Simian · 2 May 2007 at 21:43

Help!...

I've recently got into this networking milarky (as of today) and I'm stumped... I bought a 3Com Wireless Modem/Router (54g)...

I've managed to get t'interweb working.. all the WEP/WPA stuff and Firewall bits...

But...

I can't for the life of me figure out how to access files on my laptop from my desktop and vice versa!... I need a 'Crash-Course For Idiot Dummy n00bs'

Can anyone give me a few pointers!?!... I'm wanting to share my Music (30Gb), Documents and Photos between both (plus Internet but thats working fine!!).

I've set both machines to the same workgroup, but I can only see the Desktop from the Desktop and the Laptop from the Laptop.. Not from each other!?! :confused:

Cheers in advance
Sim

Avalon · 2 May 2007 at 21:55

You running a local firewall on each PC and haven't added each IP to the others allow list ?

Ross1234 · 2 May 2007 at 21:56

i have done this before i will try and remember, hold on

tolien · 3 May 2007 at 01:55

Beyond Avalon's suggestion, can they ping (start, run, cmd, ping [IP]) each other?
Have you actually shared them?

Simian · 3 May 2007 at 06:48

tolien said:
Beyond Avalon's suggestion, can they ping (start, run, cmd, ping [IP]) each other?
Have you actually shared them?

as I said... I'm a n00b...

,

I had Shared a folder on each but couldn't see it on the other!!..

What do I share?, The whole C: drive, 'My Documents' or just the 'Shared Documents' folder under 'My Computer'???...

I'm using the SP2 Windows Firewall (plus the one built into the Router) Where do I add the IP addresses???...

tolien · 3 May 2007 at 11:06

What do I share?, The whole C: drive, 'My Documents' or just the 'Shared Documents' folder under 'My Computer'???...

Neither the first two. You can share folders other than the SharedDocs folder though - right click and click Sharing and Security.

I'm using the SP2 Windows Firewall (plus the one built into the Router) Where do I add the IP addresses???...

You shouldn't need to add them to that, though in exceptions there should be a (checked) option for File and Printer Sharing.

Simian · 3 May 2007 at 13:17

Spankeeeee Kindly!... I'll give it a go tonite!... :cool:

I don't need to run any of the 'Network' Wizard things from the 'My Network Places' do I??...

Forgot to say I'm running WinXP Home SP2 on both machines!..

Cheers Dood...
Sim

tolien · 3 May 2007 at 14:46

No, you don't need to run any wizard.

Fr0dders · 3 May 2007 at 15:04

you'll probably find that going into the control panel, and entering the firewall setup menu, will sort your problem

as posted above, go to the exceptions tab, and tick "file and print sharing". this will stop file and print sharing getting blocked by the firewall.

post again if you have no luck

Simian · 3 May 2007 at 18:41

tolien said:
Can they ping (start, run, cmd, ping [IP]) each other?
Have you actually shared them?

I've shared both... Pinged my Laptop from my Desktop... Nowt!... Did vice-versa and nowt!...

They Both Show the Workgroup, but they only show themselves within it, not each other!...

I've tried 'Assigned' IP's and 'Fixed' IP's...

Is there a resource on t'interweb somewhere (thats free!!!) that might have the answers???...

I want to share my music/docs/photos and printer...

Fr0dders · 3 May 2007 at 18:51

Simian said:
I've shared both... Pinged my Laptop from my Desktop... Nowt!... Did vice-versa and nowt!...

They Both Show the Workgroup, but they only show themselves within it, not each other!...

I've tried 'Assigned' IP's and 'Fixed' IP's...

Is there a resource on t'interweb somewhere (thats free!!!) that might have the answers???...

I want to share my music/docs/photos and printer...

on both of them, go to command prompt, (ie start >> run >> type cmd) and type this in

ipconfig /all (with a space)

tell us what it says.

bringans · 3 May 2007 at 19:12

quick question, are you using norton, or Mcfee ? if so turn it off to test it.
I am guessing both PC are XP ?

Another thing to do is to rename the workgroup on both:

First turn of shearing on both, then go reset the name for workgroup to somthing like home or xxxx. then reboot, then go do sharing on the folders needed. ( do this manualy not with the silly xp tool.

make sure ya tick both boxes as well. then go check the network settings, click view network computers, wait a little and it should pop up.

hope that helps

BTW you said you tried fixed IP's did you make sure ya clicked the DNS back to auto ? it normly stays on fixed when this is done.

tolien · 3 May 2007 at 22:01

Simian said:
I've shared both... Pinged my Laptop from my Desktop... Nowt!... Did vice-versa and nowt!...

If you've got the Windows firewall, you'll need to enable it first. Control Panel -> Windows Firewall -> Advanced -> ICMP Settings -> Allow incoming echo request.

The Windows Firewall suggestion that both me and MrLOL suggested should be checked too.

Simian · 4 May 2007 at 22:35

YAY!!!

SUCCESS!!!

Dunno what I did (apart from opening the 'Allow remote echo' thing on the WinFirewall) and in the Router tick the 'Broadcast SSID' thinngy... but its working!...

I've shared the 'Shared Documents' bits on each machine... and Mapped the Lappy's on the Desktop and vice-versa..

Is there a way in XP Home to Password protect the shares??... I'm just a little paranoid of people nicking my stuff?!?!?!...

Anyhew..

Cheers to All!!... I'm sure I'll be back when its not working or summut!!

Sim

bringans · 4 May 2007 at 22:54

There was a little MS program a while back called Private Folder, they had to take it down in a few days, If I remember right, due to the fact it the encyption worried alota companys.

Maybe google "Private Folder 1.0 MSI installer file"