A networking problem that is driving me nuts

I know next to nothing about networking and I have a networking problem that is driving me nuts.
Both my note books are potentially vulnerable because they are simultaneously connected to the Internet through through a wireless modem that is configured for open access
My old note book holds all my confidential data and it is set up & fire walled through Windows XP
The second note book is a brand new notebook with Vista Home Premium pre-installed and I need to set it up.
I want to FREELY share ALL information between the main HDD's on BOTH note books
I can connect the the notebooks one to another by means of a conventional LAN connection using a conventional LAN cable.It is easy enough to network the two notebooks securely using a conventional LAN connection using a conventional LAN cable.
Normally information is shared between networked computer through the "Shared Documents" folder.
However this is not enough, I seems that need to open the root of the HDD on my old notebook and the root of the HDD of my new note book so that I can freely transfer data between them at all times.
In other words it seems that I must disable the Windows Firewall on the root drive on both notebooks if I want FREELY to transfer data between them.
However if I disable the Widows Firewall on both notebooks seems that I will set up an unsecured network. If I do this any outsider can the Internet to access data stored on my notebooks

My question is this. How on earth do I set up a secure network in such a way that will allow ME to FREELY to transfer data between my two notebooks whilst still preventing outsiders from accessing the data that is stored on them though the Internet?

 

networking problem

Hi Peter,
are you useing the wireless network as adhoc or infrastructure? is it being run through a hub, ie: modem/router, either way it should be able to be encrypted, check out the user manuals for the wireless network cards if they are add-ons or the user guides for the computers should detail the ways of setting up a secure network between the 2 computers

 

More and more confused

G'dai.

This Pommie is a total networking dill (Australian for English networking idiot!) the more I try to work out what I am doing the more bogged down and more confused I become.

I tried to solve this problem through Windows BBS when I got back from the UK in March but got hopelessly lost.

Since that time I have been putting off setting up a beautiful brand new spanking new Sony VAIO with all the bells and whistles because I don't want to appear naked on the net.

The position is this

I have two note books.

One is an aging Compaq Presario which has many dead pixels and XP Pro SP2 installed

The second is a Sony Vaio that has Vista Home Premium pre-installed

Both notebooks use internal wireless cards to connect to the Internet and (I THINK) to network with each other through the same wireless modem

I contacted the modem manufacturer asking if I could solve the problem by securing the modem and, if so, how it was possible do this. The reply was as follows:

[FONT= "Comic Sans MS"]The modem is pre-configured to share files via Ethernet without the need to alter any settings or disable the firewall.
Simply enable file and printer sharing on the relevant machines.
Any issues enabling file and printer sharing and with Windows Firewalls will need to be directed to Microsoft.[/FONT]​

Which leaves this techno-twit absolutely non the wiser.

Essentially my aim is to set things up so that each of my two notebooks can "see" what is on each other's hard drives; and I want do this in such a way that will enable me to "drag and drop" files and transfer data between them at will.

My problem is that I cannot work out how to do this without making absolutely sure that it will be impossible for even the most inexperienced of hackers to have his or her wicked way with my precious data

It seems to me that if it were not necessary to connect the notebooks to the Internet it would simply be a question of physically connecting them by means of a "what-do-you call-it" type wire and setting up a LAN

I am sure there is an absolutely simple way of doing this but I am darned if see it!!

I suspect the problem may be that I am not clear about what the heck Windows XP "Help" means when it says, in respect the "networking wizard "

[FONT= "Comic Sans MS"]
"If you select This computer connects to the Internet through a residential gateway or through another computer on my network on the Select a connection method page, the Network Setup Wizard will open the Windows Firewall ports needed to discover a residential gateway and ensure that Internet Gateway Device Discovery and Control is running "[/FONT]​

I am also not sure what I must do to when it comes to networking a notebook using Windows XP Pro with a notebook that is using Vista Home Premium.

 

Try these Thoughts

Your modem should allow you to hide the SSID name, make sure write down the required info for later use, you maybe able to also set up only allow ??Computer/s to connect to the modem, these setting make your Internet connections less vunerable!
When you turn on file/printer sharing, password protect any folders that contain any sensative information, you would only need to do this if you are sharing the root of the drive?!
Have you set up the wireless network from the XP computer or from the Vista computer? I would use the Vista set up to create your home/small office network connection, I admit I am still to experience the Vista way of life.

 

Try this thread

Hi Peter,
I have been browseing this catagory & found a thread posted by "ollyk" "Wireless Security Concerns ", the responses posted by TonyT should help you
Regards Jac

 

proctecting the drive with a password

Jac.

I REALLY appreciate all your help!

Before I go on to ollyk" "Wireless Security Concerns" I may be able to solve all my problems by simply password protecting the drive that is not fire walled.

However I few years ago I discovered that it was possible to down load cracks from the net that would crack Word file passwords in the blink of an eye.

With this in mind, my question is this, would a 19 digit password be 99.99% effective in protecting the root drive that is not fire walled and is using the Vista O/S ?

 

For someone who is so concerned with securing their PC (and rightly so), sharing the whole system drive is a mistake! Share the folders you need to access remotely using permissions to restrict access.

 

I'm an idiot and tying myself up in knots

Hi Reggie.
Let's face it I'm an idiot and tying myself up in knots (I mean this sincerely).
Let the truth be out, I am a technology twit who is allowing himself to be totally "Vista Phobic" I just can't get my head around this O/S. I know that basic stuff will fall into place once I can bring myself to start using Vista BUT.....
I have been procrastinating for more than three months and putting off setting up my new notebook because I am scared stiff
1] of sharing two whole system drives
2] sharing my data with the world.
3] of attempting to sync the XP PRO O/S on the one 'puter with the Vista O/S on the other 'puter
I sure was kidding myself by thinking that my basic knowledge of Windows Operating systems was a little better than average.

I am so darned thick that I do not even know how to do as you suggest and "share the folders need to access by remotely using permissions to restrict access ".
How do I discover how to do this in words of one syllable that a technology twit like me can understand ?

 

Turn on encryption first of all
Info and diagrams here - PortForward.com - Free Help Setting up Your Router or Firewall

in terms of choice wep 64 or wap you can ask the experts here
You can set a Hamachi network easily
zero config for a private virtual private network - read secure , fast and easy

https://secure.logmein.com/products/hamachi/vpn.asp?lang=en

Hamachi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

your data goes between your 2 computers not the hamachi server

another easy option is a product called Network Magic
Will set up your networking - shared folders , printers in a snap
easy to use , simple english

Network Magic - Set up and Manage Your Home Network with One Easy Application

Its always best to make life the easiest
I am a lazy man

 

No. The idiots are the designers of Vista who made it difficult for you to do what you want.

The main problem is that MS Windows networking is designed to work with a server (in which environment it works well). Peer to peer (no server) is an after-thought and has never been as well designed.

If you are having difficulties with the in-built systems, using a third party app may be just the ticket. I think visionof's advice is good here. Something like "Network Magic" could be just the job.

However, work through this guide first:
File and Printer Sharing in Windows Vista

The things you need are:

• A specific folder into which you can put files you want to share
• Use usernames and passwords. Networking is much simplified, works a lot better, and is more secure if you do. And a blank password is not a password.
• You need to enable a firewall and it needs to recognise and work with 'file and print sharing'