Computer Nerd, I Need Your Help

[3Fitty]

Okay, so I'm a bit of a computer nerd myself, but not nearly smart enough to do anything even modestly complex, so instead of going to a computer forum, I figure I'll check with my peeps over here to see if anyone can help me.

Here's my deal...

I have two computers at home. One has a direct connection to the internet through a normal "wired" connection (Verizon FiOS is my service) and the other is connected via wireless network card. Not rocket science, but that much I set up myself.

Now I'm trying to share drives between both computers (if it can be done). I've done some online research and found various threads, followed all the instructions and still nothing.

Both computers have Windows XP Pro (SP 3 on each). If it can be done, can anyone walk me through the necessary steps to be able to access document files, photo files, video and music files etc?

Thanks in advance.

[RacerX88]

Re: Computer Nerd, I Need Your Help

3Fitty-

I'm kind of a nerd too. I have one WIN Vista laptop and one WIN 2K desktop. Both on wireless.

I did some Googling and came up with this
HTH

[3Fitty]

Re: Computer Nerd, I Need Your Help

Didn't see that one, I'll give it a try and let you know.

[3Fitty]

Re: Computer Nerd, I Need Your Help

Half way there, but the wrong half.

The wired computer (upstairs) can see the shared drives of the wireless computer (downstairs), but the downstairs can't see upstairs. When I run the wizard upstairs I get an error message that asks me to do it manually.

Any ideas?

[Jokeman]

Re: Computer Nerd, I Need Your Help

Make sure both PC's are in the same work group. Right click and go to properties, share the folder that you would like shared. Once this is done I usually reboot both boxes. After that do a search for the other computer name. When you open up the computer it should show the shared drive.

[RacerX88]

Re: Computer Nerd, I Need Your Help

Well I'm glad to know I got you part of the way there... Jokeman's advice sure makes sense.

[3Fitty]

Re: Computer Nerd, I Need Your Help

Make sure both PC's are in the same work group. Right click and go to properties, share the folder that you would like shared. Once this is done I usually reboot both boxes. After that do a search for the other computer name. When you open up the computer it should show the shared drive.

Did it and NADA.

I've tried to share the "C" Drive from the upstairs computer and I have done so (it has the "shared hand" under the drive), but I still can't see it down stairs. Not sure why. (Both are in the work group designated as "MSHOME").

[amari]

Re: Computer Nerd, I Need Your Help

Both PC's must have "WORKGROUP" not "MSHOME"

I hope this helps

[Nick Chapman]

Re: Computer Nerd, I Need Your Help

14 hours later....


You realize that you could have walked downstairs and just looked at the other computer by now.....don't you?

[Nappers]

Re: Computer Nerd, I Need Your Help

Wise guy eh? woo woo woo (smacking forehead)

[kellyinkc]

Re: Computer Nerd, I Need Your Help

14 hours later....


You realize that you could have walked downstairs and just looked at the other computer by now.....don't you?

[Mikejl]

Re: Computer Nerd, I Need Your Help

3Fitty,

You may have done all these steps already but it is easier for me to start you from scratch. Let me know if you need more detail on any of the steps.

1. Make sure both computers are in the same workgroup and can ping each other. Open a dos window by clicking Start --> Run --> typing CMD in the run box --> at the command prompt type: ping computername

2. Make sure both computers have "File and Print Sharing" enabled. You can do this by right-clicking My Network Places --> Click Properties --> In the right pane, right-click Local area connection --> Click Properties. Verify that there is a check mark in the box for "File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks".

3. For right now turn off Windows Firewall. You can turn it back on after you have the drives shared.

4. Share the drives on each computer.

5 Map the Shares by opening My Computer --> Click on Tools --> Select Map Network Drive -->Select a Drive letter --> in Folder type \\computer name\sharename.

If that doesn't work there are other things that will need checking.

Mike

[3Fitty]

Re: Computer Nerd, I Need Your Help

Mikejl,

Well, I can't get past step one, so I guess that is a good indication of my problem. When I try to ping the respective computernames, I get nothing.

Now what?

Oh, and I changed the workgroup name from MSHome to Workgroup and that didn't do anything either. I'll also tell you the following...

For the time being, both firewalls are disabled.

Both have file a printer sharing enabled.

The respective drives I want shared are both shared and have the "hand" underneath each indicating "shared" status. I have not mapped the network drives because I figured it was still premature because I can't even ping one another.

[Mikejl]

Re: Computer Nerd, I Need Your Help

3Fitty,

Ok. Lets check some stuff first.

1. You can get to the Internet from both computers, Right?

2. It doesn't matter what the name of the workgroup is as long as both have the same name.

3. Make sure you user you are an administrator on both machines.

4. Go to each computer, open the command prompt and type ipconfig /all
and hit enter. Scroll up as necessary to the find the ip address. See the bold line in the sample below.

5. From each computer try to ping the other address. If you get a reply:

6. Map the drive as in the previous instuctions except use the ip address instead of the computer name.


Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : XXXXXXX
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . : XXXXXXXX
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : XXXXXXXXX
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 9:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : VMware Accelerated AMD PCNet Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0C-29-A9-83-09
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.54
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.69
68.105.28.12
68.105.29.12
Primary WINS Server . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.69

What we do next depends on the results of above.

Mike

[3Fitty]

Re: Computer Nerd, I Need Your Help

1. You can get to the Internet from both computers, Right?

Yes.

2. It doesn't matter what the name of the workgroup is as long as both have the same name.

They do.

3. Make sure you user you are an administrator on both machines.

I am.

4. Go to each computer, open the command prompt and type ipconfig /all
and hit enter. Scroll up as necessary to the find the ip address. See the bold line in the sample below.

See below. You'll be able to figure out which is which.

5. From each computer try to ping the other address. If you get a reply:

Got a reply from both.

6. Map the drive as in the previous instuctions except use the ip address instead of the computer name.

Don't know how to do this.


Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : UPSTAIRS
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : home
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : home
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel Pro/100 VE Network Connection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-11-D8-1E-E3-74
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.3
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server........................: 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

------------------------------------------------------------


Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : DOWNSTAIRS
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : home

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State............................: Media Disconnected
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel Pro/100 VE Network Connection

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : home
Description.............................: Compact Wireless-G Wireless Adapter #2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1E-E5-23-5F-E3
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.2
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server........................: 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

-------------


Now, if I were smart, I'd no what to do next. LOL