Wirelss networking, How do I...

Question

I have two computers, a dimension 8100 and a dimension 8300, both using XP Pro (the 8100 used to run Windows ME but now has XP Pro). For internet connections, a comcast modem goes to a linksys wireless g router and the dimension 8300 connects to it wirelessly with a hawking wireless pci card while the 8100 is hard wired through a 3com 3c920 ethernet controller card.

My question is...

How can I link these two computers wirelessly for the ability of transfering files? I'd assume some sort of shared foler would wrok well but I can't setup a network after trying many things and trying many times. I know I am making some sort of stupid mistake or forgeting something that is a big problem so if someone could help me out I would really appreciate it. Thanks inadvance.

- Scott

JersWork · Answer

If both computer can successfully connect to the internet now, you are already most of the way there to sharing files between the two computers.

Most likely, both PC's are getting IP addresses from the wireless router so they can access the internet. This means that one PC should be able to access the other. You cna test this by "pinging" the second PC from the first. One of my computers here at home is names clarinet, so I can test access to it by pinging it like this:

C:\>PING CLARINET

Pinging CLARINET [10.0.0.101] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 10.0.0.101: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 10.0.0.101: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 10.0.0.101: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 10.0.0.101: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Ping statistics for 10.0.0.101:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms

Next you need to create a shared folder or drive on your PC so that the other one can access it. You can do this through the "Computer Management" icon in the Administrative Tools (off the Control Panel). Create a new share off the "Shared Folders" section in the left panel. Once you have done that, you can map a drive to it from the other PC. In Explorer, select "Tools->Map Network Drive". From there, choose the drive letter to e used on your local PC in the first box, and in the second box, type \\[remote PC Name]\[Share Name]. The [remote PC Name] is the name of your second computer, and the [Share Name] is the name you used to create the new share on it.

If you do not use the same username/password to logon to both computers, you may also need to use the "Connect using different user name" option on that mapping window too. If you do, then in the username field, you would need to specify the username and password for the user on the remote PC so that it knows what security settings to use. Once you have done this a few times, it gets much easier. ;)

shutout31 · Answer

thanks for the reponse. i can't seem to ping the other computer. i just get "request timed out". and for kicks i tried to create a new share but there isn't an option for a new share or anything, am i missing something? i thought it might be because i am logged in under default instead of administrator but it's the same.

- Scott

JersWork · Answer

OK, if you have SP2 installed, the Windows Firewall could be blocking the ping requests. It could also be blocking the network drive mappings.

Oh yeah, I should have asked this first, are you using XP Home or XP Pro? I haven't seen XP Home so I can't say for sure about how to do things there, but it should be similar to XP Pro (unless it is one of the few features that they disabled in the "Home" edition).

If you right click on "My Computer" and select "Manage" you should get to the Computer Management app I mentioned before. Under System Tools, Shared Folders is the second option. When you double click on Shared Folders it opens out and gives you several more options. Shares is the one you use to create a new share on the remote PC. You can also do it from teh command line using the "NET SHARE..." command. For help with that, you can tyoe the command "NET HELP SHARE" at a command prompt.

shutout31 · Answer

As stated above I am running XP Pro on both (although the 8100 used to run off ME). i forgot to mention that i previously disabled windows firewall and norton's firewall on both computers.

i still am not sure how to create a new share from what i am looking at but i will read your instructions again and try some more tomorrow since it's getting early here.

oh and i took a screen shot of what i am looking at if it helps at all.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/shutout31pyro/screenshot.jpg

Thanks again.

- Scott

Message Edited by shutout31 on 05-31-2005 01:35 AM

skierbri10 · Answer

Shared folder is fine, but you need to activate sharing on both computers. Right click on the folder you want to share, then choose sharing and security. Then clik the box that says share this folder, type in a name for the folder then click the box that says allow others on metwork to change my files.

Then you can goto your network connections and you should see the folder.

shutout31 · Answer

Thanks so much everyone. This forum has yet to let me down. It's all working smoothly now. Thanks again. - Scott

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