home network

[Gardenboy95]

I just purchase a new computer, and I need to set up a network between it and the old computer. I am already have a wireless network not for file sharing, but so my daughter can get onto the internet. Both computer A and B are plug into a Linksys router. computer A uses trend micro for firewall, and B uses Norton for firewall. I followed the instructions that windows xp shows, but they still do not recognize the workgroup. I need complete detail instructions. My aim is to set up my fancial program and transfer the data files from one to the other, and also I have hundreds of Doc files to transfer. I turned down professional help (for $50) thinking I could do it on my own. Well that was a joke. Anyone with that experience, I would appreciate it.
Eddie

 

[mike_n_herrin]

hi eddie

i don't have a home network, but i did find some instructions by googling. you can try these, but they may not be detailed enough for you. In which case the other folks here in the forum i'm sure will provide a lot of help to ya.

http://www.geekgirls.com/windowsxp_home_network.htm

i also found some info on microsoft's web site. to get to the next steps just go down to where it says "references" and click on the blue underlined number for the next step.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/813936

i also found some more detailed instructions here this one might be the most informative: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1277381,00.asp

hope that helps you out some.

 

[provenlogic]

Setting up a home network is one of the hardest things to wrap your head around, even for techies... Things never seem to work right a lot of times. My best advice is to follow the network setup instructions, and disable both firewalls (and windows firewall). Once that is done, make sure to restart your computers, and give both computers ample time to recognize the network. And even if it doesn't show up in windows explorer, that doesn't neccessarily mean the network isn't established. Try doing a network search for the other computer's computer name.

 

[Gardenboy95]

Thank you all, I will try to print this and study it carefully. I use to set up financial programs in businesses, but stop short of doing it full time. NOw I know why, it takes daily practice in these things to keep up on it. Anything worth while is worth the effort to endure. Thanks to all.

 

[rotary]

I could never manage to get a home network working properly for more than 5 minutes. Once one of the computers was restarted, I had to redo the entire process, and finally gave up.

You don't need to create a home network for both computers to use the internet. It might be in your best interest to simply burn your files that need to be transfered onto a disc, providing you have a CD or DVD writer. I'm assuming your financial files are mostly text, so they would probably fit on a disc.

 

[Gardenboy95]

Here is an update, things got worse as I went alone. I finally tried to make a copy of the back up file, so i could transfer it to the other computer microsoft money. The new computer had only one dvd, read, write combo. My old one had a 250 mg zip drive, dvd read only. I did have an external burn drive. I took it out of stowage and it did not work. I finally went and got a new external drive, one that could read, write dvd etc. errors occured. I finally realized, the speed was 52, and the disk could only handle 48. So I slowed it down, and with some difficulty, did successfullky transfer the data to the new computer. Praise the Lord. The old computer is on its last legs. But I plan to work on the network thing, so I can transfer the doc files from the word processor. Its just a challenge. I want to do it so I know how to do it.

 

[Gardenboy95]

I finally got the two computers to talk to each other, and display the files or folders I had selected to to share. I have hundreds of photos of the war, that i wanted to transfer over, and other good things. Now I can use the newer computer and use the better (I think) other printer. They had gave me a free printer which will do but thats about it. Anyway, I understand the language they are using much better. My old computer is on its last legs I am afraid. It also teaches me to visit the other threads to seek what good things may be laying there. Thanks to all. Eddie, Orlando

 

[mike_n_herrin]

/\ wow glad you got it to work. home networking is something that scares me, but being persistent at it like you were is just great. i think you deserve a big hand just for sticking with it.

 

[Corny]

i am kinda suprised by the people who post that it's such a difficult job to set up a home network the last time i had troubles with windows networks was in win 95a times. sure, internet connection sharing under win98 also was a PITA but it worked

 

[provenlogic]

I think my biggist issue is that nothing happens instantly when setting up a home network. So i never know if it's work, and immeadiately go on trying something different, which messes things up.

 

[Corny]

hm? you don't need to reboot any more and ping is THE tool to see if it is working (and in "setup" or "test" mode just always disable all firewalls)

 

[Corny]

I beg to differ corny.

For starters to put your PC in the same workgroup you need to reboot (that's one).

workgroup? for what should i need that? everything works without that. we are talking about a home network here .. not a company network with a domain server

Ping is very basic and doesn't tell you enough - in fact tracert is far better.

HOME network! for what do i need a tracert when i have just one route?

If it's a matter of "just always disable all firewalls" then why do so many people find it so difficult and the hits on Google reach the hundreds of thousands for people having problems doing it? (or why didn't you answer the original query for that matter and save us all the bother?)

because the issue was already solved when had the time to read the whole thread. i am not much around here lately. if you can't disable your firewall - your firewall sucks - get a new one.

Again in XP Pro there are Peer to Peer networking tools that require a reboot (that's two) if you install them plus most changes to Group Policy require a reboot (that's three) even after you use the gpupdate /force command.

that's a bit advanced for a home network, don't you think

It's really disparaging of you of our combined knowledge and of our willingness to help to wade in at the end and tell us all how easy it is (I've noticed a few others doing that here also who seem to be concerned only with keeping their post count up).

and i think that's quite offensive from you to say or imply that i am doing that.

In fact it's offensive for you to say it since a member of the forum asked how he would do it and asked for our help - why don't you just post the first reply and say "RTFM" or "Hey it's easy just disable all your firewalls" and hey presto.

see above. apart from that - i was only wondering that some of you guys that it is such a hard job and you are having problems with it, when i have read about far more complex things from you in the past.

 

[Corny]

Firstly - there is a vast difference between a domain and a workgroup and that I have to point this out to you of all people is problematic.

you don't need to point it out for me. i said that a home network does not have a domain server. and workgroups are TOTALLY unneeded.

Secondly - whether you know it or not XP Home creates a workgroup called MSHOME when you decide to start file sharing etc between two or more home PCs - before that most XP machines have the default workgroup (called Workgroup) that won't usually work if left like that.

the workgroup is unrelevant for file sharing. it adds some comfort but that's it. and the name of the workgroup is even more unrelevant.

Thirdly - if you're going through your broadband router you have two routes (one from PC1 to the router and one from the router to PC2) and if that router isn't configured properly or if it's a crappy router then you could end up trying to connect PC1 to PC2 via your ISP's DNS server (which will never happen) and that's why tracert is better unless of course you use a crossover cable between the two PCs and then you've got one route.

who needs a dns when you have IPs?

Fourthly - Microsoft provides a detailed guide for setting up a home network - it's eight pages long:
[..]

I think if the guys who made the OS in the first place say you need to have a workgroup and configure the protocol and share the folders then they probably
know what they're talking about.

yes they know that they make a way overcomplicated os. still you just need to ensure you have the microsoft networking stuff + tcpip installed for basic functionality.

Anyhow - don't take it too personally corny (probably too late for that) but I'm more annoyed with the others that I've noticed who step in at the end of an otherwise resolved thread and add their 2 cents worth just to get posting kuodos.

BTW I actually found setting up a peer2peer network on 9x a lot easier.

well then why are you again getting personal? i didn't claim that a well functioning home network is a trivial task, i just stated that i was kinda confused that some people stated that it is that complicated and "never works". if you look at it from another viewpoint that's also something that might give unexperienced user more of the "uh oh too complicated, let's better not try at all and let someone do it" feeling.

 

[Corny]

I'm sorry corny but you obviously have no idea what you're talking about.

i beg to differ. i hate those "oh i have clues because i do xy" posts, but i am one of those guys who used to organized large LAN parties here. and i am doing this since 1997, with parties reaching from 50 - 800 guests. i've seen the whole development or better say "evolution" of windows networking.

I've done this a dozen or more times and I know for a fact that workgroups are not irrelevant and the workgroup name is not irrelevant either.

it is. whether i can connect to another machine or not (in a simple home network) does not rely on the workgroup.

Also IP is not enough - IP addresses by themselves mean nothing - when you connect to another PC you rarely use the IP address - you normally use it's name and that is handled by DNS - which is a huge component of networking in XP ever since MS decided to abandon WINS and NetBeui.

an ip is NOT enough? last time i checked tcp/ip networking still used IP adresses, and everything else was built atop that.

i stop myself from responding to the rest - didn't you want to stop getting personal? oh well, maybe i should better stop responding to you ..

 

[Corny]

stop baiting and do read what i post. your ego seems to have a huge problem with post #14 although it wasn't remotely intended so. but you see what you want to see. welcome on my ignore list - i'm sorry it is a bit lonely there, but you just happen to be the first person there, so enjoy yourself.

 

[Gardenboy95]

I found the information from Mike N Herrin and Noelie to use microsoft write ups. I was first over whelm, but I pulled some experience from taking thick military manuals and reduce them to two pages of set up procedures. It gave me the general procedure which was better than the self helps on the windows program. Prorelogic said be sure to resart. Rotary said use back up disks .
My financial program was done with a back up disk, which was a zoo in itself. Equipment did not work, and had to take care of that. Now for the set up, I had to rename the computers so that I could understand which was which. I was afraid of hurting the wireless network already set up. I found that on computer B, the old one, I had to turn off norton's firewall, I did use the trust the other computer section, which I had to put in the ip address of the computer a. I did not know how to find the answer, but a search took to me to a site that told me on the front page me ip address. That allowed the two to talk. I use the windows firewall on B computer with exception to the selected files and printers. So I an now in good shape. My computer a can go to either printer, but computer b will not go to printer a. It did not find the driver, no big deal. The dvd drive is out for that computer, but I do have a read write drive external now. Everybody has something to contribute. Good work to all of you.

 

[mike_n_herrin]

/\ YAY glad you got it working.

you should be able to see your IP address by opening double clicking on your networking icons down beside your clock. then click the "support" tab. Just FYI for future use.

Corny and noelie...is it possible you are both right, but have just experienced different things? aren't there sometimes more than one way to get to a solution. you guys should hug and make up.

 

[provenlogic]

Corny.... hate to say it but Noelie's right about the workgroup... You DO need it. I don't have the slightest idea where you got the notion that you don't. But it's just not true. Isn't it at least possible you are incorrect? or have beleived something to be true that isn't?

Corny, I think you're coming down a little hard on Noelie. And Noelie, don't take it personally, we're all techies here, we all have our "religious" tech beleifs. Anyways, lets all hug, it's all good right?