Home network

It is called file and printer sharing, it has to be enabled in XP SP2 by simply right clicking on a folder you wish to share on the network, and select "share this folder" follow the prompts, do this on each machine you wish enable this feature.

 

The same with a printer, go to Printer and Faxes and right click on the printer and select "sharing"

 

If you are using Windows Firewall you must check the firewall settings in control panel "exceptions Tab"

 

If you are using a third party firewall , consult the documentation on how to allow this file and print sharing to get through the firewall.

 

Make sure the workgroup names are all the same on each PC

My computer properties/computer name tab, change if necessary.

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/maintain/troubleshoot.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/setup/default.mspx
http://www.pcworld.com/video/id,368-page,1-bid,0/video.htm
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/howto/
http://www.theeldergeek.com/quick_guide_to_simple_file_sharing.htm
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/default.mspx
http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html
http://joelshoemaker.com/computer/mac/wxpfs.html

On any computer running Windows XP with SP1, disable the Windows XP firewall. It will not allow File and Printer Sharing. On computers running Windows XP with SP2, make sure that the Windows XP firewall has File and Printer Sharing checked off on the Exceptions tab. If you are running any third party firewalls, like those provided by such programs as Zone Alarm, Norton Internet Security, or McAfee Security Suite, make sure they are configured to allow local network traffic

I was able to get the network working properly but I'm still having trouble with the printer setup.

 

The printer is connected to the old computer.  I was able to share, install and use the printer on the laptop for one user.  But when I went to the second user, the printer did not show in the control panel / printers.  Isn' t this unusual?  I tried to re-install for the second user, but it didn't find the printer over the network and the port was not listed as an option.

 

Any thoughts?

You have to add it in for every user or do it this way:

 

Create a new Local Port that matches the name of the host print server such as :

 

\\myoldcomputer\shared_printer

 

and then you can add the printer details in follwing this.  this way the printer shows up for all users.