Sharing betwewen 2 PCs

[Ben Hardy]

I have 2 PCs. One has Windows XP Pro SP2 and the other has Windows XP
Home SP2. Each of them has Zone Alarm Firewall installed.
I have them both connected to a Dynamode R-ADSL-C4S which is a 4 port
hub combined with an ADSL Broadband Modem.
Each PC can connect to the Internet no problem.
What I would like to do is to be able to share files & folders between
the two PCs securely i.e. that there is no possibility for anyone else
to access my data via the Internet.
I have configured certain folders on each PC to be shared.
So far I have tried the ‘Set up a Home or Small office Network’ option
on both PCs to no avail.
I have re-configured Zone Alarm to allow for exceptions using each PCs
IP address.
Can someone point me in a direction where I might find layman’s
instructions on how to achieve sharing between these 2 PCs?

 

[Flamer]

I have 2 PCs. One has Windows XP Pro SP2 and the other has Windows XP
Home SP2. Each of them has Zone Alarm Firewall installed.
I have them both connected to a Dynamode R-ADSL-C4S which is a 4 port
hub combined with an ADSL Broadband Modem.
Each PC can connect to the Internet no problem.
What I would like to do is to be able to share files & folders between
the two PCs securely i.e. that there is no possibility for anyone else
to access my data via the Internet.
I have configured certain folders on each PC to be shared.
So far I have tried the 'Set up a Home or Small office Network' option
on both PCs to no avail.
I have re-configured Zone Alarm to allow for exceptions using each PCs
IP address.
Can someone point me in a direction where I might find layman's
instructions on how to achieve sharing between these 2 PCs?

My Computer/tools/map network drive, click browse and then open a few
folders (under work group( until you can see the name of the other pc
and choose the directory, select "reconnect on startup" you should see
it appear as if it were a local hardrive now.

Flamer.

 

[Ben Hardy]

Thanks. But a couple of points here:
1: When I select to turn on File & Printer Sharing I am warned that if
turned on then anyone on the Internet can see my files!
2. When I use the 'Computer/tools/map network drive, click browse'
option you suggest then I can only see the local PC, not the one I want
to connect to.

 

[Guest]

Thanks. But a couple of points here:
1: When I select to turn on File & Printer Sharing I am warned that if
turned on then anyone on the Internet can see my files!
2. When I use the 'Computer/tools/map network drive, click browse'
option you suggest then I can only see the local PC, not the one I want
to connect to.

Ben, get into control panel, system, (i think) tab called computer
name./description, in the field called workgroup enter workgroup or
something but just make sure its the same on both pcs, reboot, now go
back to map network drive and you should see the tab workgroup open
that up and you should see the other pc too now.

When you connect to a mapped drive your prompted for a username
password which must be an account on the pc your connecting to, this
prevents unwanted access, you have the option of saving password so you
dont need to enter it each time.

Flamer.

 

[Ben Hardy]

Yup. Already done that. Each PC is set as part of the workgroup: 'MACHINES'.
When attempting to 'Map Network Drive' from PC1 both PCs are listed
under Microsoft Windows Network/Machines. PC1s shared folders are shown
but PC2s are not. Double-clicking on 'PC2' brings up the message
'...network path not found'
Mapping Network Drive from PC2 only shows the shared files/folders on
PC2 etc - just the same.

 

[Ben Hardy]

From within 'Network Connections' I have run 'Setup a home or small
office network' a dozen times or more on each PC. The query I have about
this is: Which connection method do I use?
It seems that in my situation the one to use is: 'This computer connects
to the Internet directly or through a hub...'. Is this correct?

This is so frustrating. I mean, if I was trying to connect a Linux to a
computer from Venus then I'd expect problems but when using two of the
current MS OS's surely there should be a wizard that works without
involving rocket science.

 

[Ben Hardy]

Well, after two days of tearing my hair out I finally got it to work!
The problem was caused by the unticked option in 'Advanced TCP/IP
Settings'/WINS/Enable Netbios over TCP.
Having wasted my time running 'Set up a Home or small Office Network'
about 25 times on each PC, having messed around with Firewall settings,
pinged and ipconfig and endless other stuff I am now totally bemused by
Microsoft.
What is the point of having a 'Set up a Home or small Office Network'
wizard that doesn't work?
AAAAAARGH!!!