Networking two XP Home computers

[Xerxes]

Hi,
I am having problem setting up a home network on a PC and a laptop,
both running Windows XP Home, although I thought it would be a breeze
since they are both XPs.
I have a Linksys Wireless router. The PC is connected to a port on the
router (actually, thorugh a jack on the wall) and the alptop is using
a Linksys Wireless PC card. There is no problem as far Internet
sharing is concerned.
I (attempted to) setup a home network so that both computers could
share each other's printers/files. I created a workgroup and assigned
both to the same workgroup, rebooted, but can't have access from
either one to the other, let alone sharing printers. When I click on
View Workgroup Computers, I get "workgroup blah is not accessible". I
connected the laptop directly to network jack on the wall (after
removing the wireless PC card), but to no avail.

Can someone tell me what idiotic mistake I am making here? Really
appreciate it.

Moe.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Hi,
I am having problem setting up a home network on a PC and a laptop,
both running Windows XP Home, although I thought it would be a breeze
since they are both XPs.
I have a Linksys Wireless router. The PC is connected to a port on the
router (actually, thorugh a jack on the wall) and the alptop is using
a Linksys Wireless PC card. There is no problem as far Internet
sharing is concerned.
I (attempted to) setup a home network so that both computers could
share each other's printers/files. I created a workgroup and assigned
both to the same workgroup, rebooted, but can't have access from
either one to the other, let alone sharing printers. When I click on
View Workgroup Computers, I get "workgroup blah is not accessible". I
connected the laptop directly to network jack on the wall (after
removing the wireless PC card), but to no avail.

Can someone tell me what idiotic mistake I am making here? Really
appreciate it.

Moe.

1. Permanently disable XP's built-in Internet Connection Firewall on
local area network connections -- it's for use only on a direct modem
connection to the Internet. Disable and un-install all other
firewalls while troubleshooting. Details here:

Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/ic_firewall.htm

2. Use only one protocol for File and Printer Sharing. If the network
needs more than one protocol, unbind File and Printer Sharing from all
but one of them. Details here:

Windows XP Network Protocols
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/network_protocols.htm

3. Make sure that NetBIOS over TCP/IP is enabled on all computers.
Details here:

Enable NetBIOS Over TCP/IP (NetBT)
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/troubleshoot/netbt.htm
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[MarioG]

Whoever replied THANKX!!!!

I have a desktop and laptop both running XP Pro, they
connect to the internet through a wireless residential
gateway. I have had major trouble trying to network the
two together so I could share files and printer. Your
instructions were right on!!!

For anyone reading this. Please diable your firewalls as
that was one of the problems.

Also after following the instructions in the last post you
still might not be able to see the two computers. Make
sure you reboot and then do an IPCONFIG /ALL to ensure
both pc's are on the same subnet mask. Mine appeared to
be but the DHCP server addresses where different. I did a
ipconfig/release then renew and it cleared the problem.

After weeks of trying to figure it out it now works fine

Mariog

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