Resolved Basic repair or setup issue

Forgive my ignorance. I have spent two days trying to set up a network between two PCs on a DSL router.
Both are operating on XP, one is Pro. There is a DSL router and another one to handle all the ethernet connectors. Each PC has a network identity - shows up on each one's network profile. There are files approved for sharing. Both have (had) internet connections.
The ethernet cable goes to the service router on each. According to the MS diagram, the client should be connected to the server MS Home computer, then to the routers for a server/client relationship. I can not do this without a new card.
I have run "Repair" on the client. But neither one sees the other on their network profile in Windows Explorer.
How can I get the client recognized? Must I cease the network on both and start over in setup?

Further, is there software or an XP service which allows access to the other computer so the programs and files are visible on a monitor?

Thank you in advance for your help and patience. I have run out of mine.

 

Thank you for your response.

Point one: can I simply delete the current icon for a network profile and start over?

Point two: I do not have the file option in File Options>Use simple file sharing(recommended). Using XP Home on one PC, XP Pro on other.

Can I delete Share on Server (\\server\share) and start over on that?

 

Are you sure that you don't have a cable modem connecting the router to the internet? From your description of your setup, thats what it looks like to me.

Personally, I use Teamviewer for remote access of PCs and I find it works very well - even over slower connections. I've also used VNC in the past but none of the later versions.

I've not had much joy with windows remote desktop to be honest. I've found that it works fine in theory and in the training videos but not so well in the real world - especially if you're trying to control a different version of windows. Windows remote desktop will only allow your XP Pro computer to control the XP Home computer - not the other way round. As long as both computers have Teamviewer installed, you can control them any way you like.

Hope that helps.

Regards,
Don.

 

No reason why not. Can you create a network drive on one PC that's then available to the other one?

 

I do have a DSL modem and connection.
Teamviewer seems easier than network. I do have it on the XP Home and will install it on the Pro.
Network setup has been a problem. Can I delete the network positions already established and start over to make two clients? How to do that? No options for backing out on network setup.
I have tried to do a network drive, but network does not recognize the other computer (mutually.) That is why I asked about the ethernet cable routing from one computer tho the other rather than through the modem. My sense tells me that the modem should perform the same function as a direct PC2PC connection.

 

First thing I always do when troubleshooting network connections is to disable all firewalls. Have you tried that?

2nd thing is to make sure they are both on the same workgroup.

 

Not the modem in your setup - the router performs this function.

You should have the cable modem connected to the outside (internet) and then connected to the line socket of your router using a cat 5 ethernet cable.

Both computers should then be connected to the router ports (usually marked 1-4) using cat 5 cables.

I'm assuming that this is how you've got it set up??

 

If there's nothing obvious like this, I'd run the network setup wizard again on both computers. And make sure you enable file and printer sharing in the wizard.

 

The DSL router is provided by Embarq model 660, the ISP. The other router is a TP-Link TL-R402M. They have worked just fine for more than a year together. I do not suspect outside connection problems. Cat 5 cables are used.
BTW, the Pro PC was reset to previous state and commo and files problems were resolved, but access to Home PC was not.
File sharing enabled on both. The ICS host sees the other PC but it does not recognize me as administrator from the host. Both have shared files listed.
I'll check both sharing settings. Since both have files shown as shared, would that not be the proper setup?

 

If you are trying to connect two PCs directly using a cat 5 cable then its no surprise that it won't work. To connect two PCs directly you need a crossover cable. Is this why you're trying to use ICS?

There should be no need to use ICS in your setup. You should have both PCs connected to the TP Link router - not to each other. Daisy chaining PCs in this way isn't a good idea.

Can you confirm exactly how you are connecting them?

Then can you confirm that you are getting sync between both PCs and the router. Go to Network connections > Select your LAN connection and right click > Properties. Check that you are getting an IP address from the router (on both PCs). Then verify that you can access the router status page from both PCs.

When you have done that, then ping each PC from the other. Note the IP address of each from the Network Properties above, It'll be in the format 192.168.1.xx. Use Start > Run and type: ping 192.168.1.x - where x is the last number in the IP address and see if you get any response.

Let us know how you get on with that.

I could be wrong but it seems to me that there's a fundamental problem with your setup and not just a case of a box incorrectly ticked.

Regards,
Don.

 

One more thing...

Are you trying to do this?

Or this?

 

Same work group with computer names listed is probably the key. I noticed two work groups this morning. Everything else is correct. Thanks.

 

Workgroup name change. I see other computer, but access issues exist via administrator privileges. I thought I had filled out computer name of one on the other, but privileges not recognized.

 

Also, linked computers via parallel connector. Still no privileges.

 

Gave up on this issue until later, when I can devote a whole weekend to setup. Another MS SNAFU, IMO.