Simple networking?

[Kenny]

Main PC using XP Pro/SP2.
New laptop using XP Media Centre/SP2.
HP Deskjet 840C connected to main PC via USB.
3Com wireless modem /router connected to main PC via ethernet cable.
No problem accessing internet from either but would like to be able to
transfer files both ways between PC's and to print from the laptop.
Do I simply run the Network Connection Wizard on both PC's, if so which one
first and do I also install the printer drivers on the laptop?
I have turned off XP firewall on both since I'm using Zone Alarm on both.
Am I likely to run into problems here, I believe there's also some sort of
firewall on the router.
I'm new to networking, have looked through Windows Help and the manuals for
laptop and router on this but find some of it a bit confusing
Any advice appreciated.

Kenny

 

[Malke]

Main PC using XP Pro/SP2.
New laptop using XP Media Centre/SP2.
HP Deskjet 840C connected to main PC via USB.
3Com wireless modem /router connected to main PC via ethernet cable.
No problem accessing internet from either but would like to be able to
transfer files both ways between PC's and to print from the laptop.
Do I simply run the Network Connection Wizard on both PC's, if so
which one first and do I also install the printer drivers on the
laptop? I have turned off XP firewall on both since I'm using Zone
Alarm on both. Am I likely to run into problems here, I believe
there's also some sort of firewall on the router.
I'm new to networking, have looked through Windows Help and the
manuals for laptop and router on this but find some of it a bit
confusing Any advice appreciated.

Kenny

Here is the standard blurb about doing networking:

Run the Network Setup Wizard on both computers, making sure to enable
File & Printer Sharing, and reboot. 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 2005/06) which acts as a firewall, then you're fine. If you have
third-party firewall software, configure it to allow the Local Area
Network traffic as trusted. I usually do this with my firewalls with an
IP range. Ex. would be 192.168.1.0-192.168.1.254. Obviously you would
substitute your correct subnet.

If one or more of the computers is XP Pro:

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.

Then 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.

Malke

 

[Kenny]

Thanks for the reply, am working on it at the minute.

 

[Plato]

I'm new to networking, have looked through Windows Help and the manuals for

Networking - General

http://www.howstuffworks.com/home-network.htm
http://www.homenethelp.com/home-network.asp
http://www.wown.com/j_helmig/dccmain.htm
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/category04

Networking - NT/XP Specific

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/homenetworking/
http://compnetworking.about.com/cs/winxpnetworking/
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=813936
http://www.onecomputerguy.com/networking/xp_network.htm
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/getstarted/default.mspx

 

[Kenny]

Thanks Plato for the links.
Finally got it working, the trick was getting Zone Alarm Trusted Zone set up
with the correct IP range and subnet mask.