Sharing files over a network.

[SLICK RICK]

My pc is running XP Home SP1 and my notebook is running XP Home SP2. They already share an internet connection, I am using a Linksys wireless-g router for that. But for some reason I cannot share files between the two. I have run the Network Setup Wizard completely on both pc and notebook but have not been successful in file sharing. I have tried google, but all of the results pretty much tell me to run the Network Setup Wizard on both computers.

Thanks.

[aedipuss]

have you right clicked on the drive(s) or folder(s) you want to share and turned on file sharing? nothing is shared by default.

[greengate69]

My pc is running XP Home SP1 and my notebook is running XP Home SP2. They already share an internet connection, I am using a Linksys wireless-g router for that. But for some reason I cannot share files between the two. I have run the Network Setup Wizard completely on both pc and notebook but have not been successful in file sharing. I have tried google, but all of the results pretty much tell me to run the Network Setup Wizard on both computers.

Thanks.

Other things to check:

1. Are the two PCs using a firewall (I hope they are!), if so you could well need to configure a rule on each machine to allow local network connections. Safest way would be to specify the name of each PC or its IP address in the Firewall rule on the other PC. Otherwise you can add the whole IP range (normally 192.168.1.xx or 192.168.0.xx).

2. Is the laptop a work machine? If so your company may have it configured to block what you are trying to do. If this is the case you may have some luck using the "net use" command from the command line to map each PC's shared folder as a drive on the other - do a google on "net use", but basically pick a spare drive letter and "net use r: \\laptop\Shared Folder" or something like that.

[SLICK RICK]

have you right clicked on the drive(s) or folder(s) you want to share and turned on file sharing? nothing is shared by default.

I have my "My Pictures" folder set to "Share this folder on the network".

[SLICK RICK]

1. Are the two PCs using a firewall (I hope they are!), if so you could well need to configure a rule on each machine to allow local network connections. Safest way would be to specify the name of each PC or its IP address in the Firewall rule on the other PC. Otherwise you can add the whole IP range (normally 192.168.1.xx or 192.168.0.xx).

I have WEP and MAC filtering set up on my router.

2. Is the laptop a work machine?

No, it's my personal laptop.

[greengate69]

1. Are the two PCs using a firewall (I hope they are!), if so you could well need to configure a rule on each machine to allow local network connections. Safest way would be to specify the name of each PC or its IP address in the Firewall rule on the other PC. Otherwise you can add the whole IP range (normally 192.168.1.xx or 192.168.0.xx).

I have WEP and MAC filtering set up on my router.

2. Is the laptop a work machine?

No, it's my personal laptop.

Sorry I meant does each PC have its own software firewall running - either the native XP firewall (on by default I think), or a third party one such as ZoneAlarm or norton? If so then you will need to configure a rule to allow the local connections in/out on each machine. On the native XP firewall its under "Exceptions" I think.

[SLICK RICK]

Sorry I meant does each PC have its own software firewall running - either the native XP firewall (on by default I think), or a third party one such as ZoneAlarm or norton? If so then you will need to configure a rule to allow the local connections in/out on each machine. On the native XP firewall its under "Exceptions" I think.

I have "Remote Desktop" checked under my Exceptions, is that correct. That was the only one that was not checked by default. Other than that I have no other software firewall running on either computer.

[Dubber]

1) enable 'file and printer sharing on MS network';
2) share desired folders with appropriate permissions;
3) check NetBIOS settings, if in 'Default' mode it doesn't work for ya, change to NetBIOS over TCP/IP

[redwudz]

A couple of things. Both computers have to be in the same workgroup and their other TCP/IP settings should be the same if you are on a router. (Except for their IP addresses.) The workgroup can be changed in 'System>Computer name. Workgroup or MSHome are two commonly used.

In your 'Start' Window, select 'Properties>Customize>Advanced and make sure 'My Network Places' is checked. Then when you select 'My network Places' you should see your shared folders and the other computers shared folders listed. If you click 'View Workgroup Computers' to the left, you should see both computers. You may have to reboot a couple of times to get everything set. The Windows firewall should set up more or less automatically by the Network Wizard. You just need file and printer sharing checked.

If that doesn't get you going, run the Network Wizard again, especially if you have to change some of the above settings.

EDIT: I didn't have to make any changes in my router.

[retiredjoker]

Heres what i did. right click on my computer icon on the desktop and click properties. then go the the computer name tab and click the change button, make sure all computers have the same workgroup name. reboot. now whatever folders u wanna share is ismple. just right click on a folder in windows explorer and click share. you can choose if your files can be altered or not. reboot and walla. you can share a printer the same way.hope this helps

[Richard_G]

Setting up file sharing on a machine running XP Home is a nightmare. No problems at all in XP Pro. I've managed to do it but can't remember how. I think it had to be done from within Safe mode.

Sorry I can't be of much more help, but I suspect that it is XP Home that is causing you the problems.

[SLICK RICK]

THANKS FOR THE HELP GUYS.

I was literally in the middle of typing this post and was trying different things so that I could report steps that I tried. So here is what happened.

1. I ran the Network Setup wizard on both pc and laptop.
2. Enabled sharing on my "My Pictures" folder just to test.
3. After running the "NSW", both of my 1394 connections were bridged but I could not access the internet on main pc and my network was still a no go.
4. Since I could not access the internet after the bridge, I unbridged my 1394 connections.
5. I was able to use the internet but still no network.
6. I was going to post a pic of my network connections before and after the bridge. I already had a "before pic". So now for the "after pic", instead of running the "NSW" all over again, I decided to go into my network connections and manually bridged my two 1394 connections. Then everything starts to work. I am now file sharing.

I have not been able to get my laptop to "see" my printer yet. Any ideas on that. I have gone into "Printers and Faxes" and enabled "Share this printer". But I do not see it from my laptop.

[SingSing]

This is very odd, because 1394 is firewire, it should have nothing to do with wireless network.

[Nelson37]

XP home is a little flaky for networking.

Make sure both PC's are on the same workgroup, as mentioned.

Test connection by going to command prompt (Start, Run, CMD) and type the command PING followed by a space and the ip address of the second PC. If that does not return a reply, check the firewall settings and/or disable firewall for testing. You can get the ip address by typing IPCONFIG /all at the command prompt, this would be done on the target PC. Test this from both PC's.

Next, go to the search menu, search for computers, and enter the name of the other PC. If found, click on it and map a drive letter to the shared folder. This usually solves the problem, provided your basic setup is OK.

[SingSing]

If you let MS's wizard take care of your network, then look like you are done, except sharing printer.

Computer network is invented before Mircosoft, so there is more to Micorsoft can offered.

If you want to do the network right, there is a lot step by step in this post. They did assume you already on top of wired network, which form the basis of wireless network. If you need to "crack the code" on wired network, then use your hub to form a wired network, and try sharing file/web and printer, and that is a stable environment to work with.

[redwudz]

Printer sharing can be a pain at times. You may have to install the printer drivers in your laptop. The printer should have the 'sharing' icon on. You may want to go to your printer manufacturer to see if there is a sequence or some tips to follow to enable sharing.

I use a print server that's part of my router and that makes it easier. Otherwise your host computer would have to be running for the printer to work from the laptop.

[Supreme2k]

I'll 2nd redwudz setup. I used to have various printers on the PCs. I got sick of buying ink for 5 printers, so I cleared out a closet and got 2 print servers (1 came with the printer) and it's been easy like a Sunday morning since than. People can even print from their laptops if needed.
And like he said, no dedicated PC to shre the printer.

[SLICK RICK]

Thanks for the replies guys.