nyc kid wrote:
> i have a wireless dsl router with verizon. s laptops and a desktop that all
> get net through this router. All xp.
>
> Is there an easy way to setup a wireless network to share files and maybe
> even a printer, between them?
>
>
Of course. You've already got your Local Area Network (LAN), now you
just need to set up file/printer sharing.
Here are general network troubleshooting steps. Not everything may be
applicable to your situation, so just take the bits that are. It may
look daunting, but if you follow the steps at the links and suggestions
below systematically and calmly, you will have no difficulty in setting
up your sharing.
For XP, start by running the Network Setup Wizard on all machines (see
caveat in Item A below).
Problems sharing files between computers on a network are generally
caused by 1) a misconfigured firewall; or 2) inadvertently running two
firewalls such as the built-in Windows Firewall and a third-party
firewall; and/or 3) not having identical user accounts and passwords on
all Workgroup machines; 4) trying to create shares where the operating
system does not permit it.
For XP and Windows 2003 Server, MVP Hans-Georg Michna has an excellent
small network troubleshooter. It may also be useful with Vista.
Here are some general networking tips for home/small networks:
A. Configure firewalls on all machines to allow the Local Area Network
(LAN) traffic as trusted. With Windows Firewall, this means allowing
File/Printer Sharing on the Exceptions tab. Normally running the Network
Setup Wizard on XP will take care of this for those machines.The only
"gotcha" is that this will turn on the XPSP2 Windows Firewall. If you
aren't running a third-party firewall or have an antivirus with
"Internet Worm Protection" (like Norton 2006/07) which acts as a
firewall, then you're fine. With third-party firewalls, I usually
configure the LAN allowance with an IP range. Ex. would be
192.168.1.0-192.168.1.254. Obviously you would substitute your correct
subnet. Do not run more than one firewall.
B. For ease of organization, put all computers in the same Workgroup.
This is done from the System applet in Control Panel, Computer Name tab.
C. Create matching user accounts and passwords on all machines. You do
not need to be logged into the same account on all machines and the
passwords assigned to each user account can be different; the
accounts/passwords just need to exist and match on all machines. If you
wish a machine to boot directly to the Desktop (into one particular
user's account) for convenience, you can do this. The instructions at
this link work for both XP and Vista:
D. If one or more of the computers is XP Pro or Media Center:
1. If you need Pro's ability to set fine-grained permissions, turn off
Simple File Sharing (Folder Options>View tab) and create identical user
accounts/passwords on all computers.
2. If you don't care about using Pro's advanced features, leave the
Simple File Sharing enabled. Simple File Sharing means that Guest
(network) is enabled. This means that anyone without a user account on
the target system can use its resources. This is a security hole but
only you can decide if it matters in your situation.
E. Create shares as desired. XP Home does not permit sharing of users'
home directories (My Documents) or Program Files, but you can share
folders inside those directories. A better choice is to simply use the
Shared Documents folder.
F. After you have file sharing working (and have tested this by
exchanging a file between all machines), if you want to share a printer
connected locally to one of your computers, share it out from that
machine. Then go to the printer mftr.'s website and download the latest
drivers for the correct operating system(s). Install them on the target
machine(s). Or, since you have XP, if you have the CD that came with the
printer you can use that. The printer should be seen during the
installation routine. If it is not, install the drivers and then use the
Add Printer Wizard.
"Malke" <notreally@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:%23sq%23fWfZIHA.536@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> nyc kid wrote:
>> i have a wireless dsl router with verizon. s laptops and a desktop that
>> all get net through this router. All xp.
>>
>> Is there an easy way to setup a wireless network to share files and maybe
>> even a printer, between them?
>
> Of course. You've already got your Local Area Network (LAN), now you just
> need to set up file/printer sharing.
>
> Problems sharing files between computers on a network are generally caused
> by 1) a misconfigured firewall; or 2) inadvertently running two firewalls
> such as the built-in Windows Firewall and a third-party firewall; and/or
> 3) not having identical user accounts and passwords on all Workgroup
> machines; 4) trying to create shares where the operating system does not
> permit it.
Malke I don't see why #3 is an issue. I have 5 systems on a home network
which is mixed wired and wireless. I share files and a printer is connected
to one of the systems and I share it with all the others. 3 systems are
running XP Pro, one is a linux box and the other runs Vista (if I turn it
on). None of them have identical user accounts and passwords. Why should
networked systems need to have identical user accounts and passwords? I am
not trying to argue I am just interested in knowing why this is important as
it doesn't seem to affect me in the least.
nyc kid wrote:
> i have a wireless dsl router with verizon. s laptops and a desktop
> that all get net through this router. All xp.
>
> Is there an easy way to setup a wireless network to share files and
> maybe even a printer, between them?
Malke wrote:
> Of course. You've already got your Local Area Network (LAN), now you
> just need to set up file/printer sharing.
>
> Here are general network troubleshooting steps. Not everything may
> be applicable to your situation, so just take the bits that are. It
> may look daunting, but if you follow the steps at the links and
> suggestions below systematically and calmly, you will have no
> difficulty in setting up your sharing.
>
> For XP, start by running the Network Setup Wizard on all machines
> (see caveat in Item A below).
>
> Problems sharing files between computers on a network are generally
> caused by 1) a misconfigured firewall; or 2) inadvertently running
> two firewalls such as the built-in Windows Firewall and a
> third-party firewall; and/or 3) not having identical user accounts
> and passwords on all Workgroup machines; 4) trying to create shares
> where the operating system does not permit it.
>
> For XP and Windows 2003 Server, MVP Hans-Georg Michna has an
> excellent small network troubleshooter. It may also be useful with
> Vista.
> http://winhlp.com/wxnet.htm
>
> Here are some general networking tips for home/small networks:
>
> A. Configure firewalls on all machines to allow the Local Area
> Network (LAN) traffic as trusted. With Windows Firewall, this means
> allowing File/Printer Sharing on the Exceptions tab. Normally
> running the Network Setup Wizard on XP will take care of this for
> those machines.The only "gotcha" is that this will turn on the
> XPSP2 Windows Firewall. If you aren't running a third-party
> firewall or have an antivirus with "Internet Worm Protection" (like
> Norton 2006/07) which acts as a firewall, then you're fine. With
> third-party firewalls, I usually configure the LAN allowance with
> an IP range. Ex. would be 192.168.1.0-192.168.1.254. Obviously you
> would substitute your correct subnet. Do not run more than one
> firewall.
> B. For ease of organization, put all computers in the same
> Workgroup. This is done from the System applet in Control Panel,
> Computer Name tab.
> C. Create matching user accounts and passwords on all machines. You
> do not need to be logged into the same account on all machines and
> the passwords assigned to each user account can be different; the
> accounts/passwords just need to exist and match on all machines. If
> you wish a machine to boot directly to the Desktop (into one
> particular user's account) for convenience, you can do this. The
> instructions at this link work for both XP and Vista:
>
> Configure Windows to Automatically Login (MVP Ramesh) -
> http://windowsxp.mvps.org/Autologon.htm
>
> D. If one or more of the computers is XP Pro or Media Center:
>
> 1. If you need Pro's ability to set fine-grained permissions, turn
> off Simple File Sharing (Folder Options>View tab) and create
> identical user accounts/passwords on all computers.
>
> 2. If you don't care about using Pro's advanced features, leave the
> Simple File Sharing enabled. Simple File Sharing means that Guest
> (network) is enabled. This means that anyone without a user account
> on the target system can use its resources. This is a security hole
> but only you can decide if it matters in your situation.
>
> E. Create shares as desired. XP Home does not permit sharing of
> users' home directories (My Documents) or Program Files, but you
> can share folders inside those directories. A better choice is to
> simply use the Shared Documents folder.
>
> F. After you have file sharing working (and have tested this by
> exchanging a file between all machines), if you want to share a
> printer connected locally to one of your computers, share it out
> from that machine. Then go to the printer mftr.'s website and
> download the latest drivers for the correct operating system(s).
> Install them on the target machine(s). Or, since you have XP, if
> you have the CD that came with the printer you can use that. The
> printer should be seen during the installation routine. If it is
> not, install the drivers and then use the Add Printer Wizard.
Xandros wrote:
> Malke I don't see why #3 is an issue. I have 5 systems on a home
> network which is mixed wired and wireless. I share files and a
> printer is connected to one of the systems and I share it with all
> the others. 3 systems are running XP Pro, one is a linux box and
> the other runs Vista (if I turn it on). None of them have identical
> user accounts and passwords. Why should networked systems need to
> have identical user accounts and passwords? I am not trying to
> argue I am just interested in knowing why this is important as it
> doesn't seem to affect me in the least.
Xandros,
I put the whole posting back in, because the answer lies in Malke's own
words - already posted...
Hint:
You have "Simple File Sharing" turned on still on all machines, I assume? I
would bet the Linux box (if not some of the others) connects to the other
machines only *after* you enter credentials (username/password) - although
they may be setup to use the guest account as well... heh
Thanks for that. I dont see this wireless gateway as an option when setting
up the network. It is a VersaLink 327W Gateway provided by verizon for my
dsl service. I am not sure if this will act as a router too.
"Malke" <notreally@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:%23sq%23fWfZIHA.536@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> nyc kid wrote:
>> i have a wireless dsl router with verizon. s laptops and a desktop that
>> all get net through this router. All xp.
>>
>> Is there an easy way to setup a wireless network to share files and maybe
>> even a printer, between them?
>
> Of course. You've already got your Local Area Network (LAN), now you just
> need to set up file/printer sharing.
>
> Here are general network troubleshooting steps. Not everything may be
> applicable to your situation, so just take the bits that are. It may look
> daunting, but if you follow the steps at the links and suggestions below
> systematically and calmly, you will have no difficulty in setting up your
> sharing.
>
> For XP, start by running the Network Setup Wizard on all machines (see
> caveat in Item A below).
>
> Problems sharing files between computers on a network are generally caused
> by 1) a misconfigured firewall; or 2) inadvertently running two firewalls
> such as the built-in Windows Firewall and a third-party firewall; and/or
> 3) not having identical user accounts and passwords on all Workgroup
> machines; 4) trying to create shares where the operating system does not
> permit it.
>
> For XP and Windows 2003 Server, MVP Hans-Georg Michna has an excellent
> small network troubleshooter. It may also be useful with Vista.
>
> http://winhlp.com/wxnet.htm
>
> Here are some general networking tips for home/small networks:
>
> A. Configure firewalls on all machines to allow the Local Area Network
> (LAN) traffic as trusted. With Windows Firewall, this means allowing
> File/Printer Sharing on the Exceptions tab. Normally running the Network
> Setup Wizard on XP will take care of this for those machines.The only
> "gotcha" is that this will turn on the XPSP2 Windows Firewall. If you
> aren't running a third-party firewall or have an antivirus with "Internet
> Worm Protection" (like Norton 2006/07) which acts as a firewall, then
> you're fine. With third-party firewalls, I usually configure the LAN
> allowance with an IP range. Ex. would be 192.168.1.0-192.168.1.254.
> Obviously you would substitute your correct subnet. Do not run more than
> one firewall.
>
> B. For ease of organization, put all computers in the same Workgroup. This
> is done from the System applet in Control Panel, Computer Name tab.
>
> C. Create matching user accounts and passwords on all machines. You do not
> need to be logged into the same account on all machines and the passwords
> assigned to each user account can be different; the accounts/passwords
> just need to exist and match on all machines. If you wish a machine to
> boot directly to the Desktop (into one particular user's account) for
> convenience, you can do this. The instructions at this link work for both
> XP and Vista:
>
> Configure Windows to Automatically Login (MVP Ramesh) -
> http://windowsxp.mvps.org/Autologon.htm
>
> D. If one or more of the computers is XP Pro or Media Center:
>
> 1. If you need Pro's ability to set fine-grained permissions, turn off
> Simple File Sharing (Folder Options>View tab) and create identical user
> accounts/passwords on all computers.
>
> 2. If you don't care about using Pro's advanced features, leave the Simple
> File Sharing enabled. Simple File Sharing means that Guest (network) is
> enabled. This means that anyone without a user account on the target
> system can use its resources. This is a security hole but only you can
> decide if it matters in your situation.
>
> E. Create shares as desired. XP Home does not permit sharing of users'
> home directories (My Documents) or Program Files, but you can share
> folders inside those directories. A better choice is to simply use the
> Shared Documents folder.
>
> F. After you have file sharing working (and have tested this by exchanging
> a file between all machines), if you want to share a printer connected
> locally to one of your computers, share it out from that machine. Then go
> to the printer mftr.'s website and download the latest drivers for the
> correct operating system(s). Install them on the target machine(s). Or,
> since you have XP, if you have the CD that came with the printer you can
> use that. The printer should be seen during the installation routine. If
> it is not, install the drivers and then use the Add Printer Wizard.
>
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP
easy wireless network? 
Linear Mode
