Home networking LAN issues...

[Nick]

Hey folks... here's me set-up

BroadBand____WirelessB____Desktop PC
Modem ..
..
..
Wireless Ready Laptop

Im having issues setting up a home workgroup so that the
laptop can acces printers on the desktop PC... Itried
setting up under several differnt options on the XP
Network wizard, but I can never seem to get the two
computers to communicate. The net works fine from the
laptop... I just can't seem to create the right settings/
environment for home networking... any tips?

Nick

 

[Bob Willard]

Hey folks... here's me set-up

BroadBand____WirelessB____Desktop PC
Modem ..
..
..
Wireless Ready Laptop

Im having issues setting up a home workgroup so that the
laptop can acces printers on the desktop PC... Itried
setting up under several differnt options on the XP
Network wizard, but I can never seem to get the two
computers to communicate. The net works fine from the
laptop... I just can't seem to create the right settings/
environment for home networking... any tips?

Nick

You should tell the Net.Wizard that you get to the 'net with a
Residential Gateway -- RG is M$'s codeword for a router like yours.

On all XP PCs, disable ICF -- it inhibits F&P sharing. If you want
a firewall, you need something more flexible than ICF, such as
one of the ZoneAlarm apps (www.ZoneLabs.com).

Get file sharing working first, since printer sharing uses most of
the same code but also relies on non-M$ code which does not work
with some printers.

Enable DHCP serving on the router, and set each PC to be a DHCP
client; that will get the PCs in the same IP subnet, which you need.

Use only TCP/IP on all PCs, and enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP on all.
Disable NetBEUI and IPX/SPX, at least until you get F&P sharing working.