Can't share files on new network

[Luis ORTEGA]

I just set up a wireless router at home with my computer connected through
an ethernet cable to the router and two other computers connected through
wireless USB network adapters. All of us can access the internet fine, but I
can't figure out how to "see" each other's computers and transfer files
between us. The setup disks don't seem to have any software that might do
this.
I have a Belkin pre-N router and two Belkin USB adapters and all the
computers are on Win XP SP2.
Can anyone please advise?
Thanks a lot.

 

[aleX]

I just set up a wireless router at home with my computer connected through
an ethernet cable to the router and two other computers connected through
wireless USB network adapters. All of us can access the internet fine, but I
can't figure out how to "see" each other's computers and transfer files
between us. The setup disks don't seem to have any software that might do
this.
I have a Belkin pre-N router and two Belkin USB adapters and all the
computers are on Win XP SP2.
Can anyone please advise?
Thanks a lot.

Have you done the following? :

In 'Local Area Connection' properties, you should have:
- Client for Microsoft Networks
- File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks
- Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) - properties e.g. 192.168.1.1 /
255.255.255.0 for PC#1, 192.168.1.2 / 255.255.255.0 for PC#2 etc

Install them if missing.

Make a folder, on the desktop for instance. Call it 'Shared'. Rt-click /
Properties - Sharing / Share this folder.

Also, make sure your firewall on each machine is set up to allow
connections between the machines. Turn it off while setting up (but turn
it on before going online again!)

 

[aleX]

Best to only share a particular dedicated folder, rather than the whole
C: drive, if you are going to be on the internet. That's why you make
the 'shared' folder.

Start/Run/ type 'Command' to open a prompt, then type 'ping 192.168.1.2'
(or similar) to make sure each computer can see the others.

Then on each PC got to 'My Network Places' (name may differ for WinXP)
and 'make new connection'. Type in '\\computername\shared', or browse
your network to find the shared folder on the other PC(s).

 

[BlastUK]

you gotta be in the same workgroup as all other computers,
right click my computer and goto properties
click on computer name tab
click the change button
set the workgroup name, do this the same on all computers

now add some shares

it should work from there

 

[Conor]

I just set up a wireless router at home with my computer connected through
an ethernet cable to the router and two other computers connected through
wireless USB network adapters. All of us can access the internet fine, but I
can't figure out how to "see" each other's computers and transfer files
between us. The setup disks don't seem to have any software that might do
this.
I have a Belkin pre-N router and two Belkin USB adapters and all the
computers are on Win XP SP2.
Can anyone please advise?
Thanks a lot.

Start, Control Panel, Windows Firewall. Click on Exceptions and make
sure File and Printer Sharing is ticked. If you're using a third party
firewall ensure that File and Printer Sharing is enabled.

 

[Conor]

you gotta be in the same workgroup as all other computers,
right click my computer and goto properties
click on computer name tab
click the change button
set the workgroup name, do this the same on all computers

now add some shares

it should work from there

Windows XP Service Pack 2 firewall blocks file sharing by default.

 

[BlastUK]

i wouldn't know, i don't use windows firewall ^_^

Windows XP Service Pack 2 firewall blocks file sharing by default.


--
Conor

"You're not married, you haven't got a girlfriend and you've never seen
Star Trek? Good Lord!" - Patrick Stewart, Extras.

 

[Luis ORTEGA]

Thanks to all. It was just the computers' firewalls that kept messing it up.
If I turn them off, all is fine.
With the Belkin Pre-N wireless router, with one computer hooked up via
ethernet cable and two computers on usb wireless adapters, is it safe to
turn off the computers' firewalls and rely on whatever may be in that
router? Can I adjust what the router's firewall can do?
Can I continue to use my computers' Zone Alarm firewalls if I just make some
specific changes to options?
I wasn't using any of Win xp's firewalls in any of the computers, just Zone
Alarm.
Thanks for any advice.

 

[BlastUK]

ah, i remember zone alarm blocking local connections.. as long as you
are not using DMZ (demilitarized zone) on your router, the router will
act like a firewall.
if you are using port forwarding then you can choose to use a firewall
on the computers you are forwarding to.

generally, firewalls are not needed on computers behind a router.

 

[jmc]

Suddenly, without warning, BlastUK exclaimed (01-Sep-05 8:59 PM):

ah, i remember zone alarm blocking local connections.. as long as you
are not using DMZ (demilitarized zone) on your router, the router will
act like a firewall.
if you are using port forwarding then you can choose to use a firewall
on the computers you are forwarding to.

generally, firewalls are not needed on computers behind a router.

Not sure this is true. My computer is behind a router, but when I took
ZA down to do some troubleshooting, within 30 seconds the computer was
attacked by a worm. Can't remember which (sasser?) this whas a while back.

Fortunately, I recognized the symptoms, and was able to clean the
infection before it completed infecting my machine. But it was
definitely there. Yes, my router has NAT.

jmc

 

[kony]

Suddenly, without warning, BlastUK exclaimed (01-Sep-05 8:59 PM):
Not sure this is true. My computer is behind a router, but when I took
ZA down to do some troubleshooting, within 30 seconds the computer was
attacked by a worm. Can't remember which (sasser?) this whas a while back.

Fortunately, I recognized the symptoms, and was able to clean the
infection before it completed infecting my machine. But it was
definitely there. Yes, my router has NAT.

jmc

Most routers do an effective job of preventing inbound
open-port types of exploits. They don't block outbound
traffic unless specifically configured to do so.

Your system shouldn't have been infected by disabling
zonealarm unless you had some other unusual vulnerability,
too.

 

[jmc]

Suddenly, without warning, kony exclaimed (02-Sep-05 8:15 PM):

Most routers do an effective job of preventing inbound
open-port types of exploits. They don't block outbound
traffic unless specifically configured to do so.

Your system shouldn't have been infected by disabling
zonealarm unless you had some other unusual vulnerability,
too.

::smacks head:: Oh, duh! Forget I said anything. My internet
connection doesn't go through the router - I have a USB modem. The rest
of the network connects to the internet through a proxy on this machine.
Forgot that! I knew there was a really good reason I keep a firewall up!

jmc

 

[BlastUK]

Suddenly, without warning, kony exclaimed (02-Sep-05 8:15 PM):

::smacks head:: Oh, duh! Forget I said anything. My internet
connection doesn't go through the router - I have a USB modem. The rest
of the network connects to the internet through a proxy on this machine.
Forgot that! I knew there was a really good reason I keep a firewall up!

jmc

 

[Frank]

Control panel>>Windows Firewall>>Exceptions>>File and Printer Sharing.
I see no need to turn Windows Firewall off.