How to network 2 computers at home?

[evan.tually]

Hello,
I'm almost functionally illiterate about computers, and am hoping to
find some help here.

I have a desktop computer connected to the same cable that my TV
connects to. The cable guy installed some kind of box behind the
computer. The company is Charter Cable, if that matters.
My daughter is a first year student at a local community college and
has a notebook computer (or is it laptop? is there a difference?). My
son, a second year student at same school, installed some kind of
wireless gadget, and the notebook computer can connect to the internet
through it, but can not "see" my computer, and my computer can not
"see" hers. We can not share files or the printer as it is. When she
does her reports, she has to email them to me so I can print them for
her. What we would like, is to be able to have her computer be able to
access the printer, and be able to copy files from computer to
computer.
If my son gets a computer, he would like to be able to do that too.

If anybody out there can tell us how, or even point us in the right
direction, it would be greatly appreciated. Oh, I almost forgot to
mention the system information.
Desktop computer runs "xp pro".
Notebook computer runs "xp home"
Thanks very much for any advice!

 

[Robert L [MS-MVP]]

this may help, quoted from http://www.howtonetworking.com/

How to enable Windows sharing
One of the reasons to create a workgroup or domain network is for all computers on the network to access the network resources such as files, printers, internet and other network devices.

Peer to Peer Workgroup Setup

Domain network sharing - Macintosh file sharing

Sharing between Mac and Windows

Web sharing

FTP Sharing

Sharing Printers and Files over a private network

Internet access sharing


Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
Hello,
I'm almost functionally illiterate about computers, and am hoping to
find some help here.

I have a desktop computer connected to the same cable that my TV
connects to. The cable guy installed some kind of box behind the
computer. The company is Charter Cable, if that matters.
My daughter is a first year student at a local community college and
has a notebook computer (or is it laptop? is there a difference?). My
son, a second year student at same school, installed some kind of
wireless gadget, and the notebook computer can connect to the internet
through it, but can not "see" my computer, and my computer can not
"see" hers. We can not share files or the printer as it is. When she
does her reports, she has to email them to me so I can print them for
her. What we would like, is to be able to have her computer be able to
access the printer, and be able to copy files from computer to
computer.
If my son gets a computer, he would like to be able to do that too.

If anybody out there can tell us how, or even point us in the right
direction, it would be greatly appreciated. Oh, I almost forgot to
mention the system information.
Desktop computer runs "xp pro".
Notebook computer runs "xp home"
Thanks very much for any advice!

 

[evan.tually]

Hello Bob,
Thanks for your response. I see I have much reading to do! Maybe I can
learn some of this stuff.
While browsing the pages at the site you pointed me to, my daughter
asked a question, and we could not find anything about it there.
Her computer "expects" to connect to the domain at her school. Can a
notebook computer be used on a school domain AND on a home network?
If so, where do I find information about setting it up?
What's the difference between a domain and a workgroup?
Is a "home network" always a "workgroup"?

Thanks very much. I appreciate your time.
Eileen

 

[Robert L [MS-MVP]]

Hi Eileen,

In most cases, home network is workgroup. If the notebook has domain setup, keep it. What you need to do is create the same domain username with the same password in other computers so that they use using the same credentials to share. You do need to follow this instruction to enable sharing, Sharing Printers and Files over a private network

post back with any questions.

Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
Hello Bob,
Thanks for your response. I see I have much reading to do! Maybe I can
learn some of this stuff.
While browsing the pages at the site you pointed me to, my daughter
asked a question, and we could not find anything about it there.
Her computer "expects" to connect to the domain at her school. Can a
notebook computer be used on a school domain AND on a home network?
If so, where do I find information about setting it up?
What's the difference between a domain and a workgroup?
Is a "home network" always a "workgroup"?

Thanks very much. I appreciate your time.
Eileen

 

[evan.tually]

My apologies for delayed response, and my deepest gratitude for your
advice. After much playing, we (well, my son mostly) got things
working.
I really appreciate your time and wisdom.
Eileen