Networking My Gateway MK6453 Laptop

[W. Watson]

I took my laptop out into the garage and connected it to the network hub out
there. After some futzing with the PC in the house, it finally recognized
the laptop, but would not allow me to sign on. It gave me a message to the
effect that I did not have permission. From the laptop (with I believe is
called XP Media), I could not find a My Network Places icon. Looking at
Network Connections (on the Control Panel) and using Local Networks, there
is nothing listed. Only properties are available. I have no idea whether the
laptop is connected or not, or can see the PC in the house (it uses XP Pro).
The house PC can see another PC in the garage. How can I get the laptop to
show me what it think the LAN looks like? That is, tell me what PCs are on it?

 

[W. Watson]

This is pretty kludgy. The Gateway manual says go to My Network Places on
Start. It's not there. Help says use Search on Start. That leads me to use a
search for computers and people. This in turn tells me to use Network Wizard
(in the CP I think). Network Wizard is supposed to allow me to make certain
folders available for sharing. I sure didn't see it; however, I can now have
access to the printers, Shared Docs, and two printers on the laptop (but I
don't really have any there, so I guess they mean ports).

I guess I get to use Wizard again and hope to find where I can specify
folders. At some point it had me make a choice between the internet, LAN and
other. Maybe I needed other. Back to experimentation. The manual isn't
exactly helpful on Wizard. It's not even mentioned.

 

[W. Watson]

Solved. Xp Media Central is a bit different than XP Pro. I did find My
Network Places. That wasn't the answer. The short of it is to avoid using
Network Wizard. There is a choice on the sharing tab that allows one to not
choose it. That opens the door to perform the sharing. Even at that what
follows is atypical XP, but simply enough to proceed.