XP Home/Pro File Share

[Matt Schmunk]

Is there any way for me to share files and printers
between my home computer, running Windows XP Home, and my
laptop from work, running Windows XP Pro?

I use my laptop on a wireless network I set up at home,
but haven't been able to find any way to share the
resources on my home computer with the laptop.

 

[Bob Willard]

Is there any way for me to share files and printers
between my home computer, running Windows XP Home, and my
laptop from work, running Windows XP Pro?

I use my laptop on a wireless network I set up at home,
but haven't been able to find any way to share the
resources on my home computer with the laptop.

Sure. The easiest way is to have all PCs, wired and wireless,
running as DHCP clients with a common DHCP server. I suspect
you already have a SOHO router/WAP which can serve IPAs to all
PCs using DHCP. Just connect your desktop(?) XP HE PC's NIC into
a downlink port on your router, and the hardware part is done.

After that, it is a "mere matter of software". Actually, since
Windows includes all the networking software you'll need, it is
a mere matter of picking the pieces that M$ supplied: turn off
ICF and ICS, turn on TCP/IP and NetBIOS over TCP/IP, turn off
NetBEUI and IPX/SPX, turn on M$ Client for Nets, and turn on F&P
sharing.