Help networking computers

[jking]

Here's the background. Our main desktop runs XP Pro. My wife has a new laptop running Vista (will be upgrading to Win7). We want to network the computers for file & printer sharing. Every attempt I've made has done nothing but make me want to toss the computer out the window.

We have DSL & a combined router/wireless. The desktop is connected to the router via network cable. The laptop connects to the via wireless connection. Both computers are connecting to the internet just fine.

I've run the network setup wizard on the XP desktop. It seems to run through everything fine, but, when I try to access the network (I'm still on the desktop) I get a message that I don't have permission. Contact network administrator, etc. I'm still logged in on the desktop (I have full admin rights) that I just ran the wizard & it won't let me access my own network? It looks like I can't even get step one working. There must be something else I need to do?

I've gone to the windows website & searched for help. According to their info, I've done everything I need to do. At one point, I thought I had the network setup & it was just an issue of not being able to see the computers on the network, but, now I'm wondering if there's something more missing.

[crokett]

What machine is the server (has the files and printer you want to share)?

If the server is your XP machine, then open My Computer and go to the folder you want to share. Right click it, then select sharing and share it. It will give you a default name but you can change it to whatever you want. Your laptop (the client) then should be able to connect to the share name. The process is much the same for the printer.

Easiest way to try this is the net use command. This example will connect myshare on a computer named mymachine to local drive letter x, using username myuser:

net use x: \\mymachine\myshare /user:myuser

[jking]

XP desktop would be considered the server. The Vista laptop is the client. I've enabled file sharing, but, I'm not able to find the server on the laptop. It doesn't show up in the network on the laptop.

I am now able to see the laptop from desktop. So, it appears there's been some progress.

So, maybe, it just takes a few minutes for things to show up. As I've been typing this response I've been checking to see what I have access to & what I don't. The desktop is now showing up on the laptop, but, the laptop cannot access the desktop. It pinged the desktop & couldn't communicate.

[eccentrictinkerer]

I had the same problem. I found an application, 'NetworkMagic', that solved all my networking problems. Best $20 I've spent.

I take care of IT for my medical clinic and we have 10 computers and 2 printers, takes care of that mess, too.

I think it's still free-to-try, also.

Good luck!

J.D.

[LinuxRandal]

Doesn't sound like the complete background. Do you have login id's that match (name and password) on both computers?

[RayintheUK]

Are both computers part of the same workgroup? Basic, but easily missed.

Ray

[jking]

The desktop is not setup to require passwords. The login id's are not the same - I do the admin work with my login, the laptop is only set up with my wife's login profile (still admin priviledges).

I have both machines set as part of the same workgroup.

[cgallery]

Have you made sure there is an exception in any firewall software (on both machines) for Windows file/printer sharing?

Is this XP Pro or Home on the desktop? Are you aware of the "Deny access to this computer from the network" setting where, if "Guest" is included, anonymous logins from the network will not be granted? If you don't know about this, tell me what version of XP you have and I'll tell you how to check this setting.

[jking]

XP Pro is what's installed on the desktop. I won't have time until tonight to check firewall settings. I thought I had that set per the windows instructions.

Strange, I checked this morning & the desktop doesn't show up on the laptop now. Last night it showed up, but, couldn't access the desktop. The desktop can still see and access the laptop, though.

[cgallery]

For XP Pro, click on Start, then Run, and type "gpedit.msc" and hit [Enter].

Expand "Computer Configuration," then ""Windows Settings," then "Security Settings," then highlight "User Rights Assignment."

On the right-hand panel, look at "Deny access to this computer from the network" and see if "Guest" is listed. If yes, remove "Guest," reboot the machine, and try again.

[justaguy]

On the right-hand panel, look at "Deny access to this computer from the network" and see if "Guest" is listed. If yes, remove "Guest," reboot the machine, and try again.

I'm not a big fan of enabling Guest account access. If any other machine gets connected to the wirelss network (friend or foe) they have access to the XP machine files without doing another thing if guest is enabled unless each directory has specific permissions applied.

1. With both machines on have them both join a new workgroup. Something other than workgroup.
2. on the XP machine create a user account for the Vista user using the exact same user name and password that is used to log into the Vista machine.
3. For testing create a folder (keep the folder name 8 charactes or less and no spaces or special charcater for now) on the XP machine, enable sharing, give the Vista user access to the share by giving the XP account for the user read/write access.
4. On the vista machine try to map a drive to the folder shared on the XP machine. If you don't see the XP machine in the network browser you can provide the share name by typing the name as \\xpmachinename\sharename. If that dosen't work you can also try to map it by ip address \\192.168.x.x\sharename
5. If you can't map the share one of two problems is most likely the cause. Some routers don't allow bridging the wired and wireless networks by default. If this is the case you will need to find the setting for your router and enable it. The other cause maybe be that the the way workgroup passwords are checked changed between XP and vista. Make the change described at this link and retry mapping the shared folder.
6. Once you can map the shared folder print sharing should work as well. Just share the printer and give the user account access.

That is the best I can suggest from memory while not in front of the machines. If you upgrade both machines to Win 7 workgroups are a bit more secure, use the same password checking communication, and are easier to setup. But it still might be the router not bridging the wired/wireless networks.

YMMV

[cgallery]

I'm not a big fan of enabling Guest account access. If any other machine gets connected to the wirelss network (friend or foe) they have access to the XP machine files without doing another thing if guest is enabled unless each directory has specific permissions applied.

False. They'd only have access to the shared resources (printers, SharedDocs, etc.) And even there, you can limit that by removing "Everyone" from any of those.

But no, someone with a network connection via guest cannot see/change other files on your drive.