Networking Issues

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Guest

My friend and I have been trying to network our computers. Since he lives about two blocks away and we have independent connections, we determined (after much difficulty) that we could not use a workgroup. Out of curiousity - do computers have to be on the same router to form a workgroup

Anyway, since neither of us has a server, we can't use a domain, and we'd like to share some folders and a printer. The problem with windows XP is when you are not on a network only other winXP users can access your files - and also, for that matter, ANY winXP user can access your files. We can't password protect our printers or files if we're not on the same network

So how can we securely share these files & printers?
 
I am assuming you are trying to do the over the Internet? If so, try
creating a VPN connection.

Starcreator said:
My friend and I have been trying to network our computers. Since he lives
Click to expand...
about two blocks away and we have independent connections, we determined
(after much difficulty) that we could not use a workgroup. Out of
curiousity - do computers have to be on the same router to form a workgroup?
Anyway, since neither of us has a server, we can't use a domain, and we'd
Click to expand...
like to share some folders and a printer. The problem with windows XP is
when you are not on a network only other winXP users can access your files -
and also, for that matter, ANY winXP user can access your files. We can't
password protect our printers or files if we're not on the same network.
 
A VPN will allow you to connect to your friends PC and share the resources.

Set one PC up as the VPN server. Use the Advanced option in the Create a
new connection wizard. Set the other up as client following the wizard to
create a VPN.
 
How will we then share resources? Will I be able to see him in my network places, and vice versa? We have connected by VPN, but we don't know what to do after that. I want to be able to see his resources, and vice versa - would we have to both connect to each other's VPN?
 
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