need help setting up network

i have windows xp on 2 computers, i have a wireless connection with a linksys router and adapter, i am able to get onto aol on both computers, but that is all i can do. how do i go about sharing printers, files, etc. the 2nd computer shows up under 'my workgroup" but when i click on it, it says i do not have permission to access it.

 

A search in the networking section here should show you a couple dozen threads dealing with this exact issue and many giving exact how-to instructions.

Basically you must be logging on to both PCs with a username and non-blank password and each PC must have all the username/passwords set up in the local users section.

So if you have Joe and Moe using PCs, Joe and Moe have to be set up as local users on both PCs and they must be using a password to get on.

 

I can not find a groups section in my control panel, all I have is a user's section, nothing about local users. am i looking in the right part of the control panel?

 

Rightclick the My Computer icon and go to manage. Are you using XP Home or Pro? Here is a link for sharing Pro http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_filesharing/03userpasswords.htm

 

I am using windows home. after i click on manage, then where do i go? Sorry i'm so dense on this whole subject

 

That makes it simple. Make sure they are both in the same workgroup. You might have to have the guest account enabled with a password. The only protocols you need installed are TCP/IP (with netbios over tcp/ip enabled) Client for Microsoft Networks and printer and file sharing enabled. Let the Router be the DHCP server.

If there are any other protocols installed get rid of them. You have to have the same ones on each machine. Share some folders on each machine. The printer only needs to be shared on the computer it is hooked to.

Since you only have Home on there you have two choices Administrator account or limited user account. You will have to do all the configuring through the Administrator profile. Which is probably the one you are using anyway.

To check your bindings go to the Network Connections Folder and click on advanced in the toolbar and go to advanced setting make sure tcp/ip is bound to printer and file sharing and client for microsoft networks.

I forgot if you change things around reboot. That clears a bunch of things in memory. Rebooting is good.