Understanding netwokring in Windows XP.

[Dave Smithz]

Why is it Networking in windows XP seems more complicated then it did in
Windows 2000.
For example, when I select Network Places I sometimes first have to wait for
"Entire Network" to appear.

then when I finally click on Windows Network, all the PC's I expect do not
always show right away. Sometimes I have to go to the other PC and find my
PC, before my PC can see the other and vice versa.

It all seems a bit hit or miss.

On Windows 2000 the results seemed more consistent without the delay.

Also before when I had shared files on my PC, if another PC on the network
tried to view them, they were prompted for the username and password of a
user on that PC. However on my XP laptop, if I go on someone else's network,
they can just see the files in my shared folder which is not what I want.

What is a good, concise book which will help me understand it once and for
all.

Any comments on these subjects would be appreciated.

Cheers

Dave

 

[Tony]

Why is it Networking in windows XP seems more complicated then it did in
Windows 2000.
For example, when I select Network Places I sometimes first have to wait
for "Entire Network" to appear.

then when I finally click on Windows Network, all the PC's I expect do not
always show right away. Sometimes I have to go to the other PC and find my
PC, before my PC can see the other and vice versa.

It all seems a bit hit or miss.

On Windows 2000 the results seemed more consistent without the delay.

Also before when I had shared files on my PC, if another PC on the network
tried to view them, they were prompted for the username and password of a
user on that PC. However on my XP laptop, if I go on someone else's
network, they can just see the files in my shared folder which is not what
I want.

What is a good, concise book which will help me understand it once and for
all.

Any comments on these subjects would be appreciated.

Cheers

Dave

To be honest, I think MS has issued so many dodgy "security updates" and
"patches" that they have screwed up the networking in XP. Original version
of XP with no service packs or updates installed works fine with no problems
but a fully patched version is so inconsistent.

The NG's are just full of people having problems connecting with very much
the same symptoms. Perhaps its MS's way of making people so fed up of XP
that they upgrade to Vista - if they ever manage to release it

There is no option to password protect files/folders in XP. I looked for it
as well as it was a handy feature with W98SE. You can turn off simple file
sharing (My Computer, Tools, folder options, view tab - right at the bottom
of the list). This will allow you to control who has permission to access
folder - default is everybody but if you change it to named users, if that
user is logged in under a different name on another PC, it will prompt for a
user name and password before connecting.

Far from wanting to upgrade, I've just installed W98SE on a spare PC and it
runs like a dream so if anything, I will be downgrading!! My other PC's are
now running Ubuntu which again is so stable and doesn't give any problems
(it reminds me of the simplicity and control you get with W98). This is the
only XP pc I have left and surprise surprise, the dam thing has stopped
seeing half the PC's on the network.