Network Connection in XP Home Edition

[Guest]

I have a network of two workgroups. The second workgroup connects to the
internet thru wirless connection from the first workgroup. I have a laptop
having Windows XP Home Edition. Now when I try to get connected to the
second workgroup thru the local network setup, I can only access internet but
not the local network resources. For example, I want to connect to the
computers connected with the second workgroup and use the shared printers.
The other workgroup OSs are Windows 2000 Professional.

 

[Doug Sherman [MVP]]

If you want to share resources, all computers should be members of the same
workgroup.

Doug Sherman
MCSE Win2k/NT4.0, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

If you want to share resources, all computers should be members of the same
workgroup.

Doug Sherman
MCSE Win2k/NT4.0, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

Mustafa, make sure that all of the computers have IP addresses in the
same subnet. If the wireless computer IP addresses are in a different
subnet than the wired computer IP addresses, the two groups of
computers won't be able to communicate directly with each other.

If you're using a wireless access point, that should be easy. If
you're using a wireless router, configure it as an access point only,
bypassing its routing capability:

1. Connect one of the router's LAN ports, not its Internet (WAN) port,
to the hub or switch for the wired LAN.

2. Disable the router's built-in DHCP server.

3. Assign the router's LAN interface an IP address in the same subnet
as the wired computers.

Doug, using the same workgroup for all computers makes networking a
little easier, but it isn't necessary. Windows networking supports
multiple workgroups, and computers in any workgroup can access
resources on computers in any other workgroup.

To access another computer, regardless of what workgroup either
computer is in, type the other computer's name in the Start | Run box
in this format:

\\computer

To see all of the workgroups on a network in Windows XP:

1. Click My Network Places.
2. Click "View workgroup computers".
3. Press the Backspace key.

To see all of the workgroups on a network in Windows 2000:

1. Click My Network Places.
2. Click "Entire Network".
3. Click "Microsoft Windows Network".
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Doug Sherman [MVP]]

Steve, you are correct - it is perfectly possible to access resources in
multiple workgroups on the same network. However, I said 'should' not
'must'. Using a common workgroup name is a well-known troubleshooting
technique. If you are having problems in Windows 2000, using the same
workgroup name is recommended - See:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;258717

For networking with XP Home, MS states:

"Make sure that you assign every computer to the same workgroup."

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;814003 :

Doug Sherman
MCSE Win2k/NT4.0, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP