Cross Platform Problems

[GP]

I have a PC running Win XP Home and a Mac running OS X
and I want to set up printer and file sharing.

I have an 8 port network switch and a cat 5e network
cable going to each computer from this hub. The Mac has a
broadband modem connected and a printer and I can connect
to the Internet fine through the Mac on the PC and the
Mac can be connected to the Internet at the same time
too. However, when I go to Win XP and use the wizard to
set up the network it doesn't do anything - goes through
the process but does not set anything up.

I have followed the instruction, looked at help files,
and I cannot see a workgroup - one does not exist. I do
have a LAN though that seems to be working as it is
sending packets but I cannot see any of the folders on
the Mac and the Mac cannot see me hence we cannot share
files, printers etc. Am I doing something very wrong?

I need step by step guidance as I am not getting any of
this - I believe I have two unique IP addresses as given
by DCHP if that means anything to anyone????

Any help would be appreciated.
GP

 

[BSOD]

I can't help you much. Search the net and the forums. I do know that
you should need to install a client that will allow your Windows
computer to speak to a Mac.

Also, I have been advised by network professionals not to allow DHCP
to perform it's function. You may have problems with IP conflicts
while using DHCP. I recommend using static IP addressing where you
manually configure it yourself in your TCP/IP properties. Make sure
that if you are sharing an internet connection you put the IP address
of your router or your computer that serves as an internet host or
gateway, in the gateway slot. Also, make sure that the addresses you
use are consistent. Here is an example:

Computer A: 192.168.0.2 Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0
Computer B: 192.168.0.5 Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0

If you have a broadband router, it should come preconfigured as IP
address 192.168.0.1. This is the default IP address for the device or
computer that connects directly to the internet and then serves as the
gateway. If you are not using a broadband router and your internet
connection comes directly into your Mac, then set your Mac's IP
address to 192.168.0.1. When you run the network wizard and tell the
computer that "This computer connects directly to the internet. Other
computers connect to the internet through this computer" you are in
essence setting your Internet Host Computer or otherwise called the
gateway, to an IP address of 192.168.0.1. So if you choose to
configure them manually, this is the address I recommend using on your
gateway computer.

I'm going to suggest that your problem might not be related to an
invalid configuration. There have been a tremendous amount of
problems configuring Windows XP on a workgroup network. Inability to
see computers on the workgroup is very common. And once you can see
them, the inability to share files on one or more XP computers is a
very common complaint. Since your working cross platform, I don't
have a lot of advice for you. I am fairly ignorant about networking
with XP and Mac.

Good Luck. Hope I haven't confused you more than I helped.