Woes with Setup a Small Office or Home Network
Hello,
I am frustrated with the whole home network thing in XP! Everytime I try to set up networks, I see my life flashing before my eyes. I allot 2 hours and 6 later I'm still befuddled!
I'm working on a pretty straightforward situation. Three PC's running Win XP SP2 w/Norton Internet Security. They want to have two connect wirelessly and one be connected to the Linksys Router directly. (I'll call this computer "Main"). (One of the two wireless computers is in one of those desk cabinets and getting really poor connectivity to the wireless router--may need to be changed to a wired connection).
They want to do file and printer sharing with an HP OfficeJet 7110 which is hard wired to the Main computer.
First, I found out about 2 hours after I started that they tried to set up a network before unsuccessfully on the MAIN computer.
First, I got the wireless router up and running w/everyone connecting to the internet. Then I went through the s/u a home or small office network wizard on each computer w/the same options for all--basically ignoring the internet component and wanting to enable printer and file sharing.
Then, I went to the local computer on MAIN and enabled sharing.
Then I went to the two other computers to see if they could access the printer. NOTHING.
Restarted everyone and still the same result.
This should be so simple. What am I doing wrong?
mhsanddollar
I am frustrated with the whole home network thing in XP! Everytime I try to set up networks, I see my life flashing before my eyes. I allot 2 hours and 6 later I'm still befuddled!
I'm working on a pretty straightforward situation. Three PC's running Win XP SP2 w/Norton Internet Security. They want to have two connect wirelessly and one be connected to the Linksys Router directly. (I'll call this computer "Main"). (One of the two wireless computers is in one of those desk cabinets and getting really poor connectivity to the wireless router--may need to be changed to a wired connection).
They want to do file and printer sharing with an HP OfficeJet 7110 which is hard wired to the Main computer.
First, I found out about 2 hours after I started that they tried to set up a network before unsuccessfully on the MAIN computer.
First, I got the wireless router up and running w/everyone connecting to the internet. Then I went through the s/u a home or small office network wizard on each computer w/the same options for all--basically ignoring the internet component and wanting to enable printer and file sharing.
Then, I went to the local computer on MAIN and enabled sharing.
Then I went to the two other computers to see if they could access the printer. NOTHING.
Restarted everyone and still the same result.
This should be so simple. What am I doing wrong?
mhsanddollar
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You have the steps correct.
The Linksys is also your wireless access point correct?
To be honest with you, I never use the wizard. Just verify that file and printer sharing are installed by going to control panel, network connections, properties of the local area connection. You should see "File and Printer Sharing for M$oft Networks".
When you reinstall NIS, I recommend ONLY installing the AV portion. If you read the posts, NIS and AOhell are the two biggest breaks! The router will give you protection through NAT and some basic firewall features.
The Linksys is also your wireless access point correct?
To be honest with you, I never use the wizard. Just verify that file and printer sharing are installed by going to control panel, network connections, properties of the local area connection. You should see "File and Printer Sharing for M$oft Networks".
When you reinstall NIS, I recommend ONLY installing the AV portion. If you read the posts, NIS and AOhell are the two biggest breaks! The router will give you protection through NAT and some basic firewall features.
ASKER
This is going to sound obtuse, but what is NAT?
I would be really glad to do anything WITHOUT the wizards! I just did not know the steps. Would you still need to define a workgroup somewhere?
mhs
I would be really glad to do anything WITHOUT the wizards! I just did not know the steps. Would you still need to define a workgroup somewhere?
mhs
NAT is Network Address Translation. The router uses your public, routable address and uses it on the outside interface. You define an private non-routable internal scheme (usually 192.168.1.X for home users)
Each PC will be in the "work group" workgroup by default, if you want to custumize that to be say MilehighsanddollarWG you would modify that by right clicking on my computer, properties, computer name and change. All PCs need to be in the same WG to see each other.
Each PC will be in the "work group" workgroup by default, if you want to custumize that to be say MilehighsanddollarWG you would modify that by right clicking on my computer, properties, computer name and change. All PCs need to be in the same WG to see each other.
ASKER
First, remove NIS from all three machines.
I am only using one (Linksys) router. It is attached to an Actiontec Modem (that has wireless capabilities--but I've always had better luck sticking with Linksys). The MAIN PC is attached to the Linksys router via a ethernet connection.
Next, restart the PC's and verify the DHCP settings from the router.
Next, enable file and printer sharing on all PC's. Two questions: By using the wizard? Aren't they already set up from what I already did?
Last, test the sharing using the "network neighborhood".
Can you clarify the gray spots? When do I reinstall NIS?
Thanks,
mhsanddollar