Wit's End with Networking

[pubscout]

Here's my deal: I have four computers. One is an iMac hardwired to my Belking
router. The other three are laptops--one MacBook and two PC's running XP Pro.
All four can access the internet, three of them wirelessly.

My Macs can see each other, share files, copy files, etc. I'd like my PC's
to do the same. I don't care if the PC's can see the Macs. I'd like to be
able to share files between the two PC's, since one is in a remote part of
the house.

My problem: Everything I've tried, using HP help, Microsoft help and a next
door neighbor who claims expertise on PC's has proven unsuccessful. I've put
in about six hours on this and I'm where the title of this post suggests.

Isn't there a simple way to have these two computers recognize each other?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Jim]

Here's my deal: I have four computers. One is an iMac hardwired to my
Belking
router. The other three are laptops--one MacBook and two PC's running XP
Pro.
All four can access the internet, three of them wirelessly.

My Macs can see each other, share files, copy files, etc. I'd like my PC's
to do the same. I don't care if the PC's can see the Macs. I'd like to be
able to share files between the two PC's, since one is in a remote part of
the house.

My problem: Everything I've tried, using HP help, Microsoft help and a
next
door neighbor who claims expertise on PC's has proven unsuccessful. I've
put
in about six hours on this and I'm where the title of this post suggests.

Isn't there a simple way to have these two computers recognize each other?

Thanks in advance.

OK, exactly what have you tried?
I surmise that your problem is that you cannot share files and folders.
I surmise that the computers can ping each other.

Which method of authentication are you expecting to use?

If you are using Guest authentication, then is the Guest account on each
computer operational?
If you are using classic authentication, have you setup identical accounts
on each of the computers?

It was easier for me to get to the command line processor so that I could
use the "net" commands.
For example, "net share" lists all of the shareable folders on the
particular machines.
"net use" creates a drive letter for a remote sharable folder.
Pay particular attention to the help instructions for these commands because
operating systems are not mind readers.

If you have not been able to get this working after such a very long time,
you probably have the software tied in a knot. In such a case, it would be
better
to delete everything and start over. By that, I mean to delete all remote
drive letters and to delete all sharable folders.
Jim

 

[pubscout]

Jim,

I surmise that your problem is that you cannot share files and folders. Correct.

Which method of authentication are you expecting to use?

Huh? The Network Wizard did not mention the word "authentication."

If you are using Guest authentication, then is the Guest account on each

computer operational?
If you are using classic authentication, have you setup identical accounts
on each of the computers?

Huh? There are no Guest accounts on either laptop.


It was easier for me to get to the command line processor so that I could

use the "net" commands.
For example, "net share" lists all of the shareable folders on the
particular machines.
"net use" creates a drive letter for a remote sharable folder.
Pay particular attention to the help instructions for these commands because
operating systems are not mind readers.

Huh? My Macs seemed to be able to read minds pretty easily.

Sorry, Jim. I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm the admin on both
computers. I just want one to be able to see what's on the other, like my
Macs do.

I appreciate your attempt to help. Thanks.

 

[Jim]

Jim,

Huh? The Network Wizard did not mention the word "authentication."

No, it does not, but that is because the Network Setup Wizard only provides
the most basic part of file and printer sharing.

If you are using Guest authentication, then is the Guest account on each

Huh? There are no Guest accounts on either laptop.

If you are running XP SP2, there is an account called Guest on the machine.
It cannot be deleted.
The Guest account may or may not show up on the login screen.

It was easier for me to get to the command line processor so that I could

Huh? My Macs seemed to be able to read minds pretty easily.

Sorry to say, the last Mac I used was a Mac SE.

Sorry, Jim. I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm the admin on
both
computers. I just want one to be able to see what's on the other, like my
Macs do.

Then you need to learn about file and printer sharing. It only seems hard;
I can completely change my setup in about 5 minutes per computer.
The best resources are the websites of either MVP Jack or MVP Chuck.
The last time I looked at Help & Support, it seemed that the text had not
been updated to recognize the significant changes made by SP2.
Jim

 

[Steve Winograd]

Here's my deal: I have four computers. One is an iMac hardwired to my Belking
router. The other three are laptops--one MacBook and two PC's running XP Pro.
All four can access the internet, three of them wirelessly.

My Macs can see each other, share files, copy files, etc. I'd like my PC's
to do the same. I don't care if the PC's can see the Macs. I'd like to be
able to share files between the two PC's, since one is in a remote part of
the house.

My problem: Everything I've tried, using HP help, Microsoft help and a next
door neighbor who claims expertise on PC's has proven unsuccessful. I've put
in about six hours on this and I'm where the title of this post suggests.

Isn't there a simple way to have these two computers recognize each other?

Thanks in advance.

You didn't give us any details of what you've already tried, so please
forgive me if this duplicates it.

Run the Network Setup Wizard (in Start > All Programs > Accessories >
Communications) on each XP computer. If the Wizard detects the
router's shared Internet connection, tell it to use that. Otherwise,
tell the Wizard that the computer connects to the Internet through a
residential gateway. Tell the Wizard to enable File and Printer
Sharing.

Configure any firewall program to allow file sharing on the local area
network. Note that some antivirus programs, such as Norton Antivirus,
have firewall components that have to be configured.
--
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

 

[pubscout]

Hi Steve,

You may be on to something there. I'm on my Mac now, but I noticed that
after I run the Wizard on both PC's and restart, I get a note that says
Norton Firewall has been turned off and Windows Firewall is on. I will look
at configuring Norton to allow file-sharing, and get back to you. Thanks for
the tip.

 

[pubscout]

Voila! I think I've managed to connect the PC's so each can access the
other's files. Here's what I did:

I went to Network Connections and clicked "Create a new connection." The New
Connection Wizard appears. Click "Next."

Click "Set up an advanced Connection."
Click "Connect directly to another computer." Click next
Click Host. Click Next
Click Next again
Be sure "Guest" is checked. Click Next.

When you finish, you should see a new connection under the heading "Incoming."

Warning: all computers have to be on and running to share; they cannot be on
standby or hibernate.

 

[Steve Winograd]

Voila! I think I've managed to connect the PC's so each can access the
other's files. Here's what I did:

I went to Network Connections and clicked "Create a new connection." The New
Connection Wizard appears. Click "Next."

Click "Set up an advanced Connection."
Click "Connect directly to another computer." Click next
Click Host. Click Next
Click Next again
Be sure "Guest" is checked. Click Next.

When you finish, you should see a new connection under the heading "Incoming."

Warning: all computers have to be on and running to share; they cannot be on
standby or hibernate.

I'm glad if you've got the computers connecting to each other and
sharing files.

But I don't know how what you did could have helped. The New
Connection Wizard, and the connection that it created, have nothing to
do with Ethernet networking. Their purpose is to allow two computers
to connect to each other using:

1. Parallel, serial, or infrared ports.
2. Virtual Private Networking over the Internet.
3. Dial-up modems.

Perhaps setting up that connection configured the Windows Firewall to
allow access by other computers. If so, you could have made the same
firewall setting without using the New Connection Wizard. In any
event, the new connection isn't needed.
--
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

 

[pubscout]

I confess that I don't understand either, but it works. Interestingly,
though, my screensaver doesn't kick in while there's a connection, even if
I'm not accessing the other computer.