Network Help - Multiple Operating Systems

[rodmac]

Can anyone point me to a simple step-by-step instruction set for connecting
up our Windows computers:

Currently we have this, no network, just sharing internet from cable modem
via a Linksys wireless / wired router

1 Vista Home Premium : wired to router
2. Windows XP : wireless to router
3. Windows 2000 Pro : wired to router
4. Windows XP (Laptop) : wireless to router

We'd like to be able to share 2 printers (both are sharable) and file
sharing.

Everything I have found on more than 100 web sites promising simple
networking instructions is missing something, like one of the operating
systems, or how to configure this or that on individual computers.

Thanks.

Rodmac

 

[Malke]

Can anyone point me to a simple step-by-step instruction set for
connecting up our Windows computers:

Currently we have this, no network, just sharing internet from cable
modem via a Linksys wireless / wired router

1 Vista Home Premium : wired to router
2. Windows XP : wireless to router
3. Windows 2000 Pro : wired to router
4. Windows XP (Laptop) : wireless to router

We'd like to be able to share 2 printers (both are sharable) and file
sharing.

Everything I have found on more than 100 web sites promising simple
networking instructions is missing something, like one of the operating
systems, or how to configure this or that on individual computers.

If you go through these steps - and they look more daunting than they
really are, you will be able to share files and printers on your Local
Area Network. For Win2k, you just need to make sure your firewall is
configured correctly and you've created identical user accounts and
passwords that match the ones on the other computers. Win2k is very much
like WinXP Pro except that you don't have the option of
disabling/enabling Simple File Sharing.

This link will take you through Vista networking very well:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/network/evaluate/vista_fp.mspx

Problems sharing files between computers on a network are generally
caused by 1) a misconfigured firewall; or 2) inadvertently running two
firewalls such as the built-in Windows Firewall and a third-party
firewall; and/or 3) not having identical user accounts and passwords on
all Workgroup machines; 4) trying to create shares where the operating
system does not permit it.

Here are some general networking tips for home/small networks:

1. Configure firewalls on all machines to allow the Local Area Network
(LAN) traffic as trusted. With Windows Firewall, this means allowing
File/Printer Sharing on the Exceptions tab. Normally running the Network
Setup Wizard on XP will take care of this for those machines.The only
"gotcha" is that this will turn on the XPSP2 Windows Firewall. If you
aren't running a third-party firewall or have an antivirus with
"Internet Worm Protection" (like Norton 2006/07) which acts as a
firewall, then you're fine. With third-party firewalls, I usually
configure the LAN allowance with an IP range. Ex. would be
192.168.1.0-192.168.1.254. Obviously you would substitute your correct
subnet. Do not run more than one firewall.

2. With earlier Microsoft operating systems, the name of the Workgroup
didn't matter. Apparently it does with Vista, so put all computers in
the same Workgroup. This is done from the System applet in Control
Panel, Computer Name tab.

3. Create identical user accounts and passwords on all machines. If you
wish a machine to boot directly to the Desktop (into one particular
user's account) for convenience, you can do this. The instructions at
this link work for both XP and Vista:

Configure Windows to Automatically Login (MVP Ramesh) -
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/Autologon.htm

4. If one or more of the computers is XP Pro or Media Center:

a. If you need Pro's ability to set fine-grained permissions, turn off
Simple File Sharing (Folder Options>View tab) and create identical user
accounts/passwords on all computers.

b. If you don't care about using Pro's advanced features, leave the
Simple File Sharing enabled.

Simple File Sharing means that Guest (network) is enabled. This means
that anyone without a user account on the target system can use its
resources. This is a security hole but only you can decide if it matters
in your situation.

I think it is a good idea to create the identical user
accounts/passwords in any case when Vista machines are involved and it
isn't an onerous task with home/small networks.

5. Create shares as desired. XP Home does not permit sharing of users'
home directories (My Documents) or Program Files, but you can share
folders inside those directories. A better choice is to simply use the
Shared Documents folder. See the first link above for details about
Vista sharing.


Malke

 

[rodmac]

Thanks Malke. I have so many questions, so many terms you used that I don't
understand at all. I hope they are defined / answered in the links you
provided, because they aren't explained in your post. For example,
firewalls: a huge subject. I presume that the firewall provided by the
router isn't a problem, but configuring the router for all this is a bit of
a mystery. I already ran the setup network router wizard in Vista and it
told me it cannot configure the router automatically, but to go manual and
make a few settings. Those exact settings already exist on the router. Now
what? Anyway back to firewalls. The W2K box has an old Zone Alarm Pro
running, but has NOD32 running (no Symantec or McAfee etc. firewall). The
new Vista box came from Dell with a massively intrusive McAfee Security
Center thing which I am considering removing and replacing with NOD32,
whatta you think? I presume Vista itself has some kind of firewall but I
have no idea where it is or what to do with it. The Microsoft link you sent
will cover that I hope. One of the two XP boxes (the laptop) has whatever XP
has for a firewall and it has some McAffee thing, ditto for the XP desktop,
which also has some McAfee AND Symantec stuff on it plus a new ZoneAlarm
Pro. Wow - so much about firewalls. You talk about "identical user accounts
and passwords" and I have no clue how to do that. This technology is so
confusing for end users it just makes my head spin -- why would seemingly
intelligent people produce products such as this. I scanned down several
dozen newsgroup messages here and even network-savvy people cannot make this
stuff work. I'll give it a go but I hope you'll still be here in a couple of
days to scrape me off the wall . . . Thanks for your help Malke, say a
little prayer for me. I see you helping so many people on this board, I'm
amazed you have the grit to keep doing it. You deserve a medal, a free box
of beer and a night on the town, man.

rodmac

 

[Malke]

rodmac wrote:

Next time use bulleted or numbered points please. It's very hard to read
a solid block of text like you wrote and pick out the questions. See my
answers inline.

With snippage -

I presume that the firewall provided by the
router isn't a problem, but configuring the router for all this is a bit
of a mystery.

Normally you would not configure the router at all for file/printer
sharing between computers. Unless you have a specialized router with a
real firewall in it (unlikely) instead of the normal
Linksys/Netgear/Belkin type of wired/wireless router, you should leave
the router alone.

Anyway back to firewalls. The W2K box has an old

Zone Alarm Pro running, but has NOD32 running (no Symantec or McAfee
etc. firewall).

You need to configure Zone Alarm to allow the LAN as trusted. Read my
previous post about doing this. Read Zone Alarm's Help files for more
details. If you still can't get sharing to work on that box, completely
uninstall Zone Alarm. You can reinstall it after you get sharing set up.
Since you have a router, you'll be protected while you're getting the
LAN configured. I used to have ZA and had no issues with LAN sharing so
I would try configuring it first since Win2k does not have a built-in
firewall to use instead.

The new Vista box came from Dell with a massively

intrusive McAfee Security Center thing which I am considering removing
and replacing with NOD32, whatta you think?

Yes, I would uninstall McAfee and replace it with NOD32. The built-in
Windows Firewall is adequate for most people.

XP boxes (the laptop) has whatever XP has for a firewall and it has some
McAffee thing, ditto for the XP desktop, which also has some McAfee AND
Symantec stuff on it plus a new ZoneAlarm Pro

The above paragraph is at least part of why you are having such
problems. Uninstall all McAfee and Symantec security programs (if you
have Norton Ghost you can leave that) and replace with NOD32 or even
Avast if you want a free antivirus. The built-in XP Service Pack 2
firewall is adequate for most people. If you can't figure out how to
configure Zone Alarm, I would completely uninstall it.

You talk about "identical user accounts and passwords" and I
have no clue how to do that.

HOW TO Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;279783

The process is the same for Vista.

All that said, based on your post you may simply wish to have a
professional come on-site and set you up properly. I say this not to
offend but rather in a practical sense. We all have our areas of
expertise and there is no shame in admitting that computer stuff isn't
yours. I don't hesitate to call the plumber or electrician when I have a
problem there. If you decide to do this, I strongly suggest that you not
use a BigComputerStore/GeekSquad type of place. Instead, get
recommendations from family, friends and colleagues.


Malke

 

[rodmac]

Hey Malke--thanks again. I wrote a big block because I wasn't expecting
answers from you. It was basically a rant, for which I apologize. As for
calling in an expert no offense taken, I've been thinking about it since
yesterday.

rodmac

 

[Malke]

Hey Malke--thanks again. I wrote a big block because I wasn't expecting
answers from you. It was basically a rant, for which I apologize. As for
calling in an expert no offense taken, I've been thinking about it since
yesterday.

Well, people usually post because they are hoping for answers! Good
thing I didn't realize it was just a rant. ;-)

Cheers,


Malke

 

[rodmac]

Malke: I've been reading stuff everywhere I can about the networking
issues, and have pretty much concluded that what I want to do is impossible
given the current state of Vista. Over and over again people are saying
there's no way I'll get W2K / XP / Vista all talking to each other on a
mixed wired / wireless net.

As a last question, after which I won't bother you again (well maybe I
will - : Do you agree with my conclusion?