topic Re: Home networking in PCs & Accessories

Home networking

Josh-2552 — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 11:24:14 GMT

i want to set up a wireless network between my desktop and laptop, and possibly my other pc, although that is not important. anyway, i ran the wizard on both my laptop and desktop, and created a workgroup. However, i cannot access the workgroup from either of the machines.

i have created one before, between my 2 desktops, and i just don't know why i cant get it to work. please help me as i am having to use msn between them both, and as i need to be at both machines, it totally gets rid of the whole wireless idea!

any help would be greatly appreciated.

one thing that may be the cause is that my laptop has sp2, and my desktop has sp1 (it is not verified serial key)

thanks, Josh

Re: Home networking

Blencogo — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 11:44:04 GMT

Hi Josh,

Are you connecting through an ASDL wireless router (infrastructure) or peer-to-peer? Are you using Windows or the software that came with your wireless card?

Two things to check first:

Try it with your firewall off - you may have to configure it to allow access by another PC.

Have you 'Shared' the folders you wish to share on each machine?

It can be a lot of things!!

Re: Home networking

Josh-2552 — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 11:51:49 GMT

we connect to the internet by an adsl router (both the laptop and desktop are wireless).

the router is BT, and so is the adapter for the desktop. i am using the built in WLAN on my laptop. I followed the instructions, when using the bt adapter, and it says to install the drivers, then follow window's wizard.

i have shared the folders, and i have allowed it the desktop using norton. assuming it is not the firewall (which i will check again), ehat could be the problem? is the difference between sp1 and sp2 an issue?

thanks, Josh

Re: Home networking

Blencogo — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 12:04:20 GMT

Have you tried without any security set (WEP/WPA).

When I have had problems in the past, I have found it often helps to try and establish the network with both machines WIRED to the router to eliminate any wireless problems.

Are both machines using XP Home or is one using XP Pro?
Do you use the same login/password on both?
Do you have to 'enable' a new PC in the router's settings?

I wouldn't have thought SP1/SP2 would cause a problem - but maybe someone knows differently!

Re: Home networking

Josh-2552 — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 12:12:48 GMT

one is xp pro, i forgot about that, sorry. my laptop is xp home edition.

so far as i know, i dont have to do anything to the router.

the router has a password, if that's what you mean, but i enter that without a problem.

Re: Home networking

Blencogo — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 12:31:00 GMT

I vaguely remember there being some permissions problems between XP Pro and XP Home - I'll see if I can find it!

I assume you are using the router as a DHCP server. Has the router allocated an IP address to both PCs? Run 'cmd' from the Start menu to open the DOS screen. Type ipconfig/all and check they both have an IP address in the network range.

Can you 'Ping' the other computer both ways? Ping the loopback first on 127.0.0.1 to check your TCP/IP configuration is OK. Then try Pinging the other PCs IP address.

I'll see what I can find on the PRO/Home issue.

Re: Home networking

Josh-2552 — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 12:43:06 GMT

ok, thanks for the trouble. Yes, i have found IP addresses for both computers, but as to the other things, u may have to be more explanatory; i'm ok with pcs, but not brilliant, and as you can see, home networking isnt my strongpoint.

Thanks, Josh

Re: Home networking

tonybeard — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 12:59:48 GMT

Grab a twisted pair cable and do an ethernet connection. Home Edition does not have the Xp networking functionality of pro. Use Spoon proxy to connect the two platforms together assigning .001 and .002 respectively to each computer and activate the share computer in the my computer properties and voila. Forget using the firewire it just won't respond...ethernet is the go.:smileygrin:

Re: Home networking

Josh-2552 — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 13:44:10 GMT

ok, but do i put the ethernet directly between the desktop and the laptop; or from the desktop to the router, and from the router to the laptop?

whats "spoon proxy"?

Josh

Re: Home networking

Thalamus. — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 15:07:38 GMT

Connect your laptop and PC to the the router with an ethernet cable.

It may be advisable to update your SP1 system to Sp2 as well.

whats "spoon proxy"?

Here is a link to information on Spoon proxy, but maybe see if connecting your systems via ethernet allows for file sharing.

Re: Home networking

kee-lo_ — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 15:13:46 GMT

I think you need to check they're both connecting to the router and that file and printer sharing is enabled

Re: Home networking

Josh-2552 — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 15:22:51 GMT

2 problems; i cant upgrade sp1 as it is not lajit windows, also, there is only one ethernet port in the router; there is a usb though.

both are connected to the router, as it is the internet "gateway", and they both have internet access.

i shall take all the advice given about file sharing enablement, and firewall allowing. i shall let you know how i get on :smileygrin:

thanks for all your help, even if i can't get it to work, Josh

Re: Home networking

kee-lo_ — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 15:25:44 GMT

Is it not the preinstalled Windows that came with the VAIO?

Re: Home networking

Josh-2552 — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 16:29:33 GMT

the VAIO laptop home edition is lajit, but my desktop was personally built, and the windows cannot be verificated, so i am assuming it is not lajit. (the desktop is not VAIO, or any brand, but i know the guy, so i can always get the new version of windows)

Re: Home networking

Blencogo — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 16:46:08 GMT

Can you 'Ping' the other computer both  ways?  Ping the loopback first on 127.0.0.1 to check your TCP/IP configuration is OK.  Then try Pinging the other PCs IP address.

To Ping the loopback, go to the cmd prompt and type

Ping 127.0.0.1

See if you get four replies.

Repeat with the IP address of the other computer - then try to ping your computer from the other one. This will establish if there is a connection to the other device.

On both PCs, go to Network Connections and right-click on your LAN or Wireless Connection and choose Properties. Highlight 'Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)' and select Properties. Under General>Advanced>IP Settings make sure DCHP is enabled and under General>Advanced>WINS change the setting from 'Default' to "Enable NETBIOS over TCP/IP'.

I believe SP2 had a few enhancements for wireless networking. I thought these were just to enable WPA/PSK Security but there may have been more ...............

Re: Home networking

Josh-2552 — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 16:50:01 GMT

i heard that as well (about sp2), but i believe it is only for security. anyway, i will let you know how i get on :smileygrin:

thanks for your time and effort,

Josh

Re: Home networking

Blencogo — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 17:44:49 GMT

Just re-reading your first post. What do you mean when you say you have to share MSN between the two PCs?

You are trying to connect in INFRASTRUCTURE mode aren't you? Connecting direct to the router NOT to the card in the desktop? You aren't connecting to the internet THROUGH the desktop?

Re: Home networking

Josh-2552 — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 17:57:12 GMT

what i mean by using msn, is that i sign in on the desktop with one email address, and on my laptop with another. i can then send files between the pcs using MSN, however it transfers at LAN speed. i know it is LAN speed because songs send in 2seconds, whereas sending to a freind takes can take up to 20mins.

i do not connect to the internet through the desktop. the desktop acts like another laptop, as it has a wireless usb adapter that is connected to the router (wirelessly), just like the built in capabilities of the laptop.

yes, i am connecting directly to the router.

Josh

Re: Home networking

Blencogo — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 18:00:41 GMT

OK - sorry I misread what you meant.

This is becoming a bit of a saga, isn't it!!!!!!!!!!!

:smileyd_oh:

Re: Home networking

Josh-2552 — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 18:07:50 GMT

lol. don't worry now. ive saved all your help and advice, and i am going to give it a big, propper attempt when i can giv it all my attention.

THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR HELP, ADVICE, AND TIME, i will let you know how i get on.

Thanks, Josh