home network how to?

I have two computers...they are conneted to the internet through a Netgear Router. I have one printer and I have managed to get computer 2 to share and print on the printer that is hooked to computer 1....
Now I would like to share some files. I have tried to configure both computers for sharing....#1 is windowsxp home and #2 is xppro..... When I go through the network configuration there isn't an option for both computers being hooked to a router....there is option for a hub and I chose this and ran the configuration...but when I put files in the shared folders I can't see them on the other computer.
could someone help me?
Katy

 

Internet Sharing On a Dial Up

Kati ,

it is fairly simple.
One computer has to do the dial in and be on to share with the other computer.
Computer one can do the dial in and connect.
Computer 2 can accept the internet connection .
Since they are XP era computers I am assuming that they both have network cards installed. If not just pop them into the PCI ( white) slots.
Make sure on the device tree that the network cards are not disabled since you are using your modem and the setup person may of done this.
The key thing is that you have to turn on internet connection sharing on computer number one. This is the key.
On the internet connection properties tab it is " allow other network users to connect through this computers internet connection "

photos are on this link : http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/ics_xp

You can connect the two computers via the network cards.
If you connect computer to computer you will need a diffirent type of network cable than the standard type. It is called "Crossover Cable ".
If you have a router and they are often on sale you can connect regular network cable to the 4 port area of the router ( lan) turn on the router and there you are.
Lastly not sure if you cannot connect try turning off the firewalls.

hope this helps
the key thing is turn on internet sharing on computer number one and to use the right type of network cable .

 

I have Cable Internet and Dial up may be different but I do not understand the above at all.

If indeed a Router is present and each machine is connected to it, I believe each machine should be able to access the Internet regardlesss of the status of the other.

I believe I can legitmately question here because I have 3 machines and a Printer plugged into a Router and no one machine depends on the other for anything. Each machine is 100 % independent.

BillyBob

 

What am I missing ? Or am I just not awake yet ?

If indeed the PCs are connected to the Internet via a Router then why is any Internet connection sharing of one machine even mentioned ?

Unless I am way of base and/or doing things worng, each machine should be capable of being 100% independent of the others as far as the Internet goes.

Again, I have three and they are.

BillyBob

 

The network settings are misconfigured.

If a router is involved, there is no need to set Internet sharing on any of the machines.

Run Network wizard again & select -> This computer connects to Internet through some other computer/router.

 

There is no reason in this instance to run the network wizard at all, and a lot of good reasons to avoid it. See TonyT's link from MS-MVP Steve Winograd who makes exactly this point.

The original poster is able to share a printer, and is able to see the other computers on the lan.

The question was: Why cannot I access each other's Shared Folder?

The shared folder is designed for inter-user communication on the same computer and not for LAN sharing. The default permissions on the folder do not allow a remote connection.

Rather than fiddle with permissions, simply create a new folder on each machine for network sharing. Make the folder Outside the \Documents and Settings folder to simplify life.

Then each computer should create a new share for this new folder. Use this new folder to share documents, as the "Shared Documents" folder is oddly unsuitable for this task without some fiddling. Make sure on the Share permissions of the folder you include the Group Everyone.

 

thank you Bill.....I wasn't asking about sharing the "internet ".....they are both online, quite independent of each other. I reread my post....I don't know how they got off on sharing the internet??
I was just having trouble sharing "files" from one computer to the other......I got it figured out......a bit of hassling(mostly my ignorance) but I understand it now and have a shared folder with it's shortcut on the destop of each computer! workin' good!
thanks
LKM

 

I thought the file sharing was getting sort of lost.

Great news that you sorted the issue.

 

Seting UP a Cable Broadband Connection with Router

Billy - welcome to the world of networking.
I may be confused but you are across the map.
If you have a cable broadband connection it should be very easy
Press the small button on the back of the router with a pin when the router is plugged in. ( it will be reset back to factory defaults)
Unplug your cable modem box for several minutes.
Attach the line from the cable modem into the single port marked "internet" or "wan ".
Plug a ethernet cable from each of the computers that you are attaching into one port of the 4 port area ( marked lan) . It does not matter which one you use.
Plug in the cable modem and router.
That should be it after the lights stop flashing on both boxes.
Never hurts to reboot the computer .
Your internet connection should work now.
You are correct . The computers can each go on the internet independently.
You should have no troubles sharing the bandwidth unless one computer is an excessive hog with internet file sharing.
If you have difficulties on setup simply call tech support of the router company.

 

Getting bored and need to jump in here with my 2 cents.

I myself gave up on sharing a LONG time ago. We had 2 machines and shared some stuff between then. One machine went down and we lost a lot of shared stuff.
At that point I decided to have a go at installing some games on each machine. Then we could still play them if one went down. But most of the time my Wife and I play games between the machines. She just loves beaating me at Crribage.
Yes, it does mean that the software does need to be installed on each machine. Or some stuff on one and some on the other. And still some on both. But in the long run it pays off big time. At least I think so.

Y'all have a nice day.

 

I wanted to do this simply cause I wanted to know how....hubby and I switch back and forth between computers.....for a while we could only have one online at a time .....then I got the router.....then I "finally" got the print sharing to work (I did have ME on this computer and xphome on the other and we could never get the printer shared! so I wiped the drive and installed xp pro on this computer ...THEN printer sharing was easy)
so I mainly wanted to share some stuff just to see if I "could"
It's working now.....quite cool
Katy

 

Gald to read that you have things working.

But I still suggest that you think about getting a Printer that Plugs directly into the Router making it a stand-alone for each machine and get rid of the sharing bit. I firmly believe you would find it welll worth it. I know I did.

BillyBob

 

File Sharing Windows XP

Katy ,

It should be fairly easy.
Once hooked to the router your basic network has been set up.
You have to set up "Simple File Sharing" in your xp computers.
Here is Microsoft's how to :

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304040

and here is a simpler version with diagrams and photos:

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/filesharing.htm


Having the router should make it fairly easy .