Re: Networking two computers

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anonymous_at_discussions.microsoft.com
Date: 04/10/04 

Date: Fri, 9 Apr 2004 21:49:59 -0700

Nick,
I appreciate the time you put into your response, but I
must say that the length of your answer only
substantiates my opinion that the Windows XP "wizard" is
just the opposite. If I have to go through all of that
to get a network set up, how the heck can they call it a
wizard?? After having spent hours attempting to set this
thing up only to get one error after another, I am
absolutely certain that there has to be an easier way to
do this, and Microsoft does not use that way!
thanks again,
Bob

>-----Original Message-----
>What are the IPs of each of the computers?
>
>Are you able to manually enter a shortcut to the other
>computer in the form:
>
>\\Desktop\Shared
>or
>\\Laptop\Shared
>
>Where Shared is the name of a folder on that computer
>that is set to be shared on the network.
>
>If you want to get the two computers to be networked
>safely, you need to have them both with the same first 3
>sections of the IP address, i.e. 192.168.1.xx and the
>router should have a connection to the cable modem.
>
>I have set up several networks with XP on networks with
>anywhere from 2 to 15 computers using either a single
>router or a switch or 3 routers daisy chained together.
>Once I got the routers set up to properly, I just ran
the
>network setup wizard for each computer and I was up and
>running.
>
>Try starting from scratch. Unplug everything.
EVERYTHING.
>Connect the power to the router and then press and hold
>the reset button for 30 seconds (there should be one on
>the back or the bottom).
>
>Find the instructions that came with the router (or find
>them of the router manufacturer's website) and follow
>them step by step. While you're setting everything up,
>only have ONE computer connected, once the router is
>configured properly, connect the other computer. Make
>sure that you have the router set to act as a DHCP
server.
>
>Check the IP addresses of each computer. Check this both
>from "ipconfig /all" in the command prompt and in the
>router's DHCP configuration menu. The computers should
>have the exact same subnet mask and the first 3 parts of
>the IP addresses the same, i.e 192.168.1.xx. If this
>doesn't fit, then you're never going to get the Windows
>Network Setup Wizard to work.
>
>Once you've got the IPs and subnet masks described
above,
>NOW run the setup wizard. Make sure that you input the
>exact same settings into each computer. Share a folder
>and see if you can make a shortcut to that folder in the
>form
>
>\\computer\folder
>
>If this still doesn't work (and you've actually followed
>everything that I've said here), let us know.
>
>
>Hope this helps,
>
>Nick
>nkjg/at\interchange/dot\ubc/dot\ca
>
>"The definition of insanity: doing the same thing over
>and over expecting different results."
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>Joe,
>>Maybe I should give you more information about my
>>situation. I have been connected to the internet for
>>years. Each computer can connect on their own. I have
>a
>>cable modem. The router is connected to the modem and
>>then each computer is connected to the router. I have
a
>>desktop and a laptop. Each computer connects
>separately,
>>but I cannot share files between the two computers. I
>>have tried the "wizard" as Microsoft calls it, and I
>have
>>tried it using every single configuration they offer.
>No
>>matter what I try, it doesn't work. The computers
can't
>>find each other, and then I keep getting error messages
>>telling me to run the wizard again. Hopefully I have
>>provided enough information to give you more insight.
>>Please refer to my original post to see the error
>message
>>I keep getting.
>>Thanks,
>>Bob
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>Glad to see your back. So you have never been able to
>>>connect to the internet? Ok is there a main PC or does
>>>your internet connection come from the wall per se"
>into
>>>the router?
>>>
>>>I suggest that you have your internet connection from
>>your
>>>ISP (from the wall) go directly into your PC and then
>>add
>>>another NIC card going out to your router or just
>>install
>>>a wireless nic and one inside your laptop. Another
>>>configuration is this. If all you have are two PC's 1
>>>desktop and 1 laptop It should work with the router
>>Like
>>>this:
>>>
>>>Into the router from your cable modem/ISP/Wall make
>sure
>>>you are using the correct port on the router (there is
>>>only one for incoming) and then the following cables
>or
>>>wireles out of the router (outgoing) Think about
trying
>>to
>>>connect without using the wizard an see what you get.
>>>
>>>Just another test here Bob:
>>>plug the internet connection from the wall into the
>>router
>>>and then plug a cable out of the router into the
laptop
>>or
>>>PC just one of them and see if you can get to the net.
>>>
>>>I do not know exactly how you want to network so I am
>>>assuming you want all your PC's to access the net via
>>the
>>>router.
>>>Joe
>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>Joe,
>>>>what do you mean by your question? I'm not sure what
>>you
>>>>mean, but I'll try to answer it. I am using a router
>>and
>>>>I have a desktop and laptop. The network wizard in
XP
>>is
>>>>doing absolutely nothing to help me. I keep getting
>>>>error messages when I try to run the wizard, the
>>>>computers can't find each other, it cannot find
>>MSHOME.
>>>>I have tried to run the wizard at least a couple
dozen
>>>>times over the past year and a half, and it NEVER
>>works.
>>>>You think I'm frustrated? I passed frustrated about
6
>>>>months ago. Thanks,
>>>>Bob
>>>>
>>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>>How are you connecting the PC's Bob?
>>>>>with what type of hardware? and please calm down I
>>know
>>>>>you are frustrated but hang in there you will get it.
>>>>>Joe
>>>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>>>Eric,
>>>>>>thanks for your reply, but I tried your suggestions
>>and
>>>>>>of course they didn't work. As far as I'm
>concerned,
>>>>>>Microsoft can take their network wizard and shove
it
>>up
>>>>>>Bill Gates' ass.
>>>>>>Bob
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>>>>Greetings Bob,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Make sure the XP's firewall is disabled. It will
>>block
>>>>>>file and printer
>>>>>>>sharing by default. If you installed a third party
>>>>>>firewall such as
>>>>>>>ZoneAlarm, Sygate, or Norton make sure it is
>>properly
>>>>>>configured for the
>>>>>>>network. Ensure NetBIOS over TCP/IP is enabled.
>>>>Details
>>>>>>here.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Enable NetBIOS Over TCP/IP (NetBT)
>>>>>>>http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/trouble
s
>h
>>oo
>>>>t/
>>>>>>netbt.htm
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>__________________
>>>>>>>Eric
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>"Bob" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote
>in
>>>>>>message
>>>>>>>news:1aa6001c41e86$f90f0aa0$a301280a@phx.gbl...
>>>>>>>> I have tried dozens of times to get my two
>>computers
>>>>to
>>>>>>>> network, but I have had no luck. I have run the
>>>>>>Windows
>>>>>>>> XP netork wizard (if you want to call it that),
>but
>>>>>>>> EVERYTIME I run it, it fails to set up the
>>wizard. I
>>>>>>>> keep getting the following message when I try to
>>>>View
>>>>>>the
>>>>>>>> workgroup computers--
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Mshome is not accessible. You might not have
>>>>>>permission
>>>>>>>> to use this network resource. Contact the
>>>>>>administrator
>>>>>>>> of this server to find out if you have access
>>>>>>>> permission. The list of servers for this
>>workgroup
>>>>is
>>>>>>>> not currently available.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Any clues as to what I can do to get this
network
>>to
>>>>>>>> work? Obviously Windows XP does not work well
for
>>>>>>>> networking!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>.
>>>>>>
>>>>>.
>>>>>
>>>>.
>>>>
>>>.
>>>
>>.
>>
>.
>

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