file and print sharing using TrueMobile 2300

The most common thing that prevents file and printer sharing is the Windows XP firewall.  If it is enabled on you any Windows XP computer, disable it.  Second is improperly configured third party firewalls.  If you are using a third party firewall either disable it until you get the network working, or configure it to allow local traffic.  Changing routers may have changed the  IP address range on your network.  if you have been running firewalls on the old setup, the firewall may no longer be configured for the correct address range. 

On mixed Windows XP, Windows 9X networks, the following may also help:

1. Make sure all computers are in the same workgroup and have unique names on the network

2. Make sure all firewalls are disabled while setting things up.  In particular make sure that Windows XP's built-in firewall is disabled on the local area connection (as discussed above).

3. Make sure the NetBIOS over TCP/IP is enabled on all computers. 

4. Make sure the drives and/or folders have been designated as shared.

5. If the Windows 98/ME computers have Client for Microsoft Networks as the primary network logon, make sure that the proper username and password are entered when these machines boot.  If Windows logon is the primary network logon, make sure that either a null password is used or that the correct password is used when booting these computers.  Hitting the cancel button at the password prompt may prevent network connectivity.

Steve

The printer should only be marked as shared on the computer to which it is attached.  If the Micron is running a verision of Windows other than XP, then you will need to install the printer drivers for that version of Windows on the Micron and designate it as a network printer.

Steve

Configuring the XP firewall is difficult.  It is pointless, however, because the XP firewall provides the same protection as provided by your router.  Both the router and the XP firewall protect against attacks from the outside.  Neither, however, protect against attacks that may originate from trojans that somehow get downloaded to your computers.  If you want that protection, get a third party firewall like Zone Alarm (there is a free version) or Norton Personal Firewall.  Note also that when Windows XP Service Pack 2 comes out, the firewall will be better and more easily configurabable.  But again, there is no need for the current XP firewall when you are behind a router.

Steve

I think it must have been the WinXP firewall.  Everything share-able now.

 

In the firewall settings, there appears to be a way to run the firewall yet allow the IP address of the Micron computer to penetrate.  However, I have to know the external port numbers and internal port numbers.   Is this the best thing to do (i.e., enable firewall but except the Micron IP)?  If so, how do I determine the necessary port numbers?

Thanks for the help.

OOPS!!  Problem.  I can share files, but not the printer.  I can not print a document from the Micron computer to the shared printer hooked to the Dell.  Any ideas why that won't work, now that file sharing seems okay?  The printer is marked Shared on both computers.

Thanks

ps--I have ZoneAlarm, so I will leave WinXP firewall disabled.

If the printer is in fact a shared resource on the computer to which it is connected, you should be able to browse for the printer and find it.  Is this printer a USB printer?  If so, when you intalled the software on the Windows 98 computer, it may be looking for the printer on a USB port.  If this is the case you may have to open the printer folder for that printer and tell it to print to a port, then set up the port using the naming structure \\computer\printername, where computername is the network name of the computer to which the printer is attached, and printername is the name you gave that printer when you set it up as a shared resource.

Steve

I installed the printer drivers on the Micron.  Rebooted the Micron.  Use the Add New Printer wizard, choose Network printer.  I can see the Dell computer icon, but no printer hooked to it, so I can't hit Okay to choose that as my network printer.  Why does it not "see" the printer hooked to the Dell?

 

The printer is a shared resource.  It is hooked to LPT1 on the WinXP Dell.  I have downloaded latest drivers on the Win98 Micron, but still can't browse to the printer.  I can see the Dell computer icon, but no printer hooked to it.  I have disabled ZoneAlarm, but that didn't help.

Ok, here's a trick.  Hook the printer up to the Micron and install it as a printer on LPT1:.  Once it is installed, disconnect it from the Micron and hook it up to the Dell.  On the Micron, go into the Printers folder, right click on the newly installed printer and select Properties from the drop down menu.  Click on the Details tab, and click on Add Port.  Select Network Printer and type in the path to the printer as directed in my last reply - i.e. \\computername\printername , subsitituting the correct network names for the computer and the printer.  Ok your way out and see if the printer now works as a network printer.

Steve

You be da MAN !!  Actually, I did not have to physically hook up the printer to the Micron.  There was an icon as default printer when I installed the drivers, so I right-clicked on that and followed your instructions.  Bingo!!  No problemo!

Thanks Steve.

Miller time!!