File sharing confusion

  • Thread starter Thread starter MZB
  • Start date Start date
M

MZB

OK -- somehow I am screwing this up.

I currently have a Dell Dim 2400. It is set up for Broadband with a Lynksys
router.

I also have a new Dell Inspiron 2200 with a wireless card.

All works perfectly and I've also taken some reasonable security precautions
(MAC filtering, disabling SSID broadcasting, etc).

Now, here is what I want to do.

I have a FOLDER on my desktop. I would like to be able to share this folder.
That is, I want to be able to use this folder with my desktop or with my
wireless. Let's suppose this folder is c:\george\washington

So, now I am attempting to join the wonderful world of file sharing and I
thought I did it correctly, but maybe not.

Firstly, I turned on my desktop and then the laptop. I ran Network Setup
Wizard on my desktop. When I ran thru the steps, perhaps I should have
chosen that this computer hooks up directly to the internet. But I chose
that it hooks up to the internet via a residential gateway (the picture in
the example seemed closer to what I had, but I'm not sure). I then followed
instructions and rebooted the desktop. I then ran the Wizard on the Wireless
and I chose the same thing. (I suspect these choices might not be correct!)

I then rebooted the wireless.

I then got on the desktop, right clicked the aforementioned file in Windows
Explorer and designated it to be shared by all computers on the network.

Well, when I check on the desktop under Windows Explorer it does appear that
the folder is enabled for sharing.

But I cannot find that shared folder anywhere when I use my Wireless.

Oh yeah I use ZoneAlarm. I added the IP addresses to the Trusted Zone.

(I also tried it quickly with ZA disabled, but no difference)

Suggestions??

Also, if I have to change some setting, do I just start all over and re-run
the Network Setup Wizard?

Mel
 
"MZB" said:
OK -- somehow I am screwing this up.

I currently have a Dell Dim 2400. It is set up for Broadband with a Lynksys
router.

I also have a new Dell Inspiron 2200 with a wireless card.

All works perfectly and I've also taken some reasonable security precautions
(MAC filtering, disabling SSID broadcasting, etc).

Now, here is what I want to do.

I have a FOLDER on my desktop. I would like to be able to share this folder.
That is, I want to be able to use this folder with my desktop or with my
wireless. Let's suppose this folder is c:\george\washington

So, now I am attempting to join the wonderful world of file sharing and I
thought I did it correctly, but maybe not.

Firstly, I turned on my desktop and then the laptop. I ran Network Setup
Wizard on my desktop. When I ran thru the steps, perhaps I should have
chosen that this computer hooks up directly to the internet. But I chose
that it hooks up to the internet via a residential gateway (the picture in
the example seemed closer to what I had, but I'm not sure). I then followed
instructions and rebooted the desktop. I then ran the Wizard on the Wireless
and I chose the same thing. (I suspect these choices might not be correct!)

I then rebooted the wireless.

I then got on the desktop, right clicked the aforementioned file in Windows
Explorer and designated it to be shared by all computers on the network.

Well, when I check on the desktop under Windows Explorer it does appear that
the folder is enabled for sharing.

But I cannot find that shared folder anywhere when I use my Wireless.

Oh yeah I use ZoneAlarm. I added the IP addresses to the Trusted Zone.

(I also tried it quickly with ZA disabled, but no difference)

Suggestions??

Also, if I have to change some setting, do I just start all over and re-run
the Network Setup Wizard?

Mel

I think that your setup is find, Mel. You chose the right option in
the Network Setup Wizard. which calls your router a "residential
gateway". You shared the desired folder on the desktop.

Since you have ZoneAlarm, disable XP's built-in firewall (Windows
Firewall in SP2, Internet Connection Firewall in earlier versions).
To configure the XP firewall, right-click the network connection and
click Properties | Advanced.

Why doesn't the desktop's shared folder appear on the wireless
computer? Well, how are you trying to find it? If you're using My
Network Places, be aware that shared folders don't always appear there
immediately. You can click "Add a network place" and add it manually.

I find that accessing shared folders through My Network Places is
unreliable, and I prefer not to use it. To access another computer's
shared folders directly, type the other computer's name in the Start |
Run box in this format:

\\computer

If that doesn't work, try these tests to help find the problem. On
the wireless computer, open a command prompt (Start | Run | cmd) and
type:

ping <desktop's IP address>
ping <desktop's computer name>

For example:

ping desktop
ping 192.168.1.101

If the pings fail, ZoneAlarm is probably causing the problem. In that
case, un-install (don't just disable) ZoneAlarm and try again.
--
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
 
Steve:

YOU WERE RIGHT. AMAZING!!

After screwing around with this for a long time yesterday, the shared file
appeared today in My Network Places.
All is working well. Why did it take overnight to appear??

Oh, well, you said it was unreliable. At this point, is it now
reliable??(ie: once it appears, it always aappears??).

I'm going to try your alternatives, too.

Mel
 
Steve:

A follow-up:

I tried your suggestion of doing \\computer from my wireless.

That took me directly to my desktop, but it didn't go to the file I wanted.

It went to a folder that stated: documents, printer, printer2, SharedDocs,
Printers and faxes.


The folder I want is not there.

In fact, getting to it through Windows Explorer is a PAIN. The file that I
flagged for sharing is located here:

My Network Places/Entire Network/Microsoft Windows Network/Home/DDDDD (my
desktop's name)/documents05

The last file is the one I want.

Suggestions??

Mel
 
"MZB" said:
Steve:

YOU WERE RIGHT. AMAZING!!

After screwing around with this for a long time yesterday, the shared file
appeared today in My Network Places.
All is working well. Why did it take overnight to appear??

Oh, well, you said it was unreliable. At this point, is it now
reliable??(ie: once it appears, it always aappears??).

I'm going to try your alternatives, too.

Mel

I wouldn't expect My Network Places to work well in the future just
because it's working now -- look at all the messages in this news
group from people who have problems with it. That's why I recommend
avoiding My Network Places and using "\\computer" to access another
computer directly.

In my experience, if My Network Places isn't working, it isn't worth
the time and trouble to try (with no guarantee of success) to fix it.
--
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
 
"MB_" said:
Steve:

A follow-up:

I tried your suggestion of doing \\computer from my wireless.

That took me directly to my desktop, but it didn't go to the file I wanted.

It went to a folder that stated: documents, printer, printer2, SharedDocs,
Printers and faxes.

The folder I want is not there.

In fact, getting to it through Windows Explorer is a PAIN. The file that I
flagged for sharing is located here:

My Network Places/Entire Network/Microsoft Windows Network/Home/DDDDD (my
desktop's name)/documents05

The last file is the one I want.

Suggestions??

Mel

Typing "\\computer" in the Start | Run box should open a window
showing all of the shared disks, folders, and printers on that
computer -- the same disks and folders that appear in My Network
Places when My Network Places is working properly.

Are you sure that you shared the desired folder? If you did, it
should appear. There's no need to use Windows Explorer to find it.
--
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
 
Steve:

Thanks. I tried it again and the file was there.
This was probably a brain lag on my part, rather than a computer lag!!!

Mel
 
"MB_" said:
Steve:

Thanks. I tried it again and the file was there.
This was probably a brain lag on my part, rather than a computer lag!!!

Mel

You're welcome, Mel.
--
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
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Back
Top