Noobie home network question

[Turtles]

Currently mine and my Dad's computers are both connected to the internet through a Linksys router. Now I want to set up a home network so that we can both use our printer. At the moment only I can use it. It would also be handy to share movies, music, etc without having to transfer them between computers.

Never set-up a network before so bear with me if I seem a little dim

 

[swinnie]

Well, make sure that he computers are in the same workgroup. Right click on My Computer > Properties > Computer Name [Tab].

And check it is the same on each machine.

Install the printer on one computer. Go to Printers and Faxes, right click > Properties > Sharing > 'Share this printer'. Give it a name. OK.

On the other computer, go to Printers and Faxes > Add New Printer > A network printer, or a printer attached to another computer. Follow the dialog through.

Also, for sharing files, go into My Computer, right click on 'Shared Documents' > Properties > Sharing > Share this folder on the network. Give a share name. If you want to modify the files from other computer check the 'Allow network users to change my files' as well.

Once each folder is shared, My Network Places > Add Network Place.

Hope this helps.

EDIT: This is for XP Home...

 

[Daegan]

EDIT: This is for XP Home...

Aye password protected sharing and network discovery might throw a little spanner in the works if Vista is involved. If there are any software firewalls involved those might need configuring too.

 

[swinnie]

Aye password protected sharing and network discovery might throw a little spanner in the works if Vista is involved. If there are any software firewalls involved those might need configuring too.

As long as File and Printer Sharing is allowed through the firewall.

In Comodo, you will need to create a 'safe zone' or something.

 

[Turtles]

It's XP Home, thanks for the help. I'll let you know if I hit any snags.

 

[Turtles]

Not having any luck.

- Both computers are in the same workgroup
- Printer installed on my computer fine. Name has been given to it under the sharing tab.

But I'm having problems with the other computer.

- When I go to add a network printer it doesn't find anything when I browse for printers or when I enter the printer URL (which I think is \\< name of your computer>\<the name of your printer>). I get a error message 'windows cannot connect to printer'.

As for sharing,

- in My Computer > 'Shared Documents' > Properties > Sharing, I've ticked the 'share this folder on the network' box on both computers but nothing appears in the shared folders when I add something.



Any ideas?

 

[Mel_P]

Is the printer connected to your pc or the router?

 

[Turtles]

Connected to my PC.

 

[Mel_P]

So its not really a network printer. When you run the windows new printer from another PC you have to tell the windows its correct name - and it doesn't appear to be finding it. Try run / cmd . In command window try

net view

and see what it finds.

 

[Turtles]

Got a quick question.

What is this:



Click to enlarge

It appeared after I attempted to network the two computers together. My dad noticed it when it appeared on his computer and it's also on mine. I'm just guessing its the connection between the two computers but why are they exchanging/receiving packets. The icon disappears when the router is turned off.

The bottom icon (gigabit,etc) is our normal internet connection but what's the other one.

But yeah, just a little weird how they are constantly exchanging/receiving packets when I'm connected to the internet, but the PC is idle. So I think it's to do with the connection I set up between to two computers but as I said I don't really have a clue and just wondered what was up

My bad if this is a total noob question

 

[Turtles]

bumpy