Windows XP Home and a Home Network

[Goober]

I have a friend who has DirecWay satellite service, and has just gotten
a second computer to go on the internet at home.

He bought a wireless Linksys router, and his main (old) computer is
hardwired to the router, and his new laptop is wireless.

Each PC is running Windows XP Home, and each is capable of accessing the
internet and receiving email and web surfing right now, independently of
each other.

However, he wants to share files and printers between the two, but we've
not been able to get them to do so (yet).

We've gone thru the obvious stuff on the configuration, but so far, have
not hit anything that would work.

The laptop is able to ping (by IP address) the old computer, but is not
able to ping it by resolving the name. The old computer cannot ping the
laptop by either IP address or by name.

To my knowledge, we've disabled all the firewall settings on both of
them, have enabled the guest account for each of them, but still cannot
even ping each way, much less share files between them.

My friend lives 400 miles away, and I cannot get in front of the machine
to troubleshoot it, but am running out of ideas on getting two Windows
XP Home systems to see each other on this network (my experience is with
xp pro).

Any idea what's going on with this? Help!!

SC

[Mark Barrett]

Windows XP home has no advanced networking capibilities. you cannot join a
domian nor can you share out files like you can on Pro. My advice would be
to upgrade to windows XP pro.
"Goober" > wrote in message
...
> I have a friend who has DirecWay satellite service, and has just gotten
> a second computer to go on the internet at home.
>
> He bought a wireless Linksys router, and his main (old) computer is
> hardwired to the router, and his new laptop is wireless.
>
> Each PC is running Windows XP Home, and each is capable of accessing the
> internet and receiving email and web surfing right now, independently of
> each other.
>
> However, he wants to share files and printers between the two, but we've
> not been able to get them to do so (yet).
>
> We've gone thru the obvious stuff on the configuration, but so far, have
> not hit anything that would work.
>
> The laptop is able to ping (by IP address) the old computer, but is not
> able to ping it by resolving the name. The old computer cannot ping the
> laptop by either IP address or by name.
>
> To my knowledge, we've disabled all the firewall settings on both of
> them, have enabled the guest account for each of them, but still cannot
> even ping each way, much less share files between them.
>
> My friend lives 400 miles away, and I cannot get in front of the machine
> to troubleshoot it, but am running out of ideas on getting two Windows
> XP Home systems to see each other on this network (my experience is with
> xp pro).
>
> Any idea what's going on with this? Help!!
>
> SC
>
>
>

[DLink Guru]

Were do you get that drivel??? File sharing capabilities of XP Home are just
as easy as Pro, if not easier. While its true Home cant join a domain, that
is not what the OP wants to do, He is using a router, not a domain. In Home
you share files just as you did in 98, 98se, ME and 2000.

This is the most common problem people come up against when setting up thier
netwrks because they believe it is all automatic. Its not.
1. You need to give each computer a unique name.
2. You need to have each computer in the same Workgroup
3. You need to either remove your firewall software and install it after you
get your network up and running or learn to configure it manually to allow
access between the two computers.
4. You need to turn on File and Printer Sharing for your network connection.
But just turning on File and printer sharing is not enough.
5. You then need to manually configure the folders and files that will be
shared in the workgroup. To do this right click on a folder and goto Sharing
and Security and share what you want. HINT: Just turning on sharing for the
C drive will not share everything on that drive.

Note: Tese steps must be performed on both computers.

Now to test your network goto computer #1 and open the DOS command window
and Ping the IP address of computer #2.
If that works without any timeouts goto computer #2 and Ping the IP address
of computer #1. If that works you should have a good network.


Robert...

"Mark Barrett" > wrote in message
...
> Windows XP home has no advanced networking capibilities. you cannot join a
> domian nor can you share out files like you can on Pro. My advice would be
> to upgrade to windows XP pro.
> "Goober" > wrote in message
> ...
>> I have a friend who has DirecWay satellite service, and has just gotten
>> a second computer to go on the internet at home.
>>
>> He bought a wireless Linksys router, and his main (old) computer is
>> hardwired to the router, and his new laptop is wireless.
>>
>> Each PC is running Windows XP Home, and each is capable of accessing the
>> internet and receiving email and web surfing right now, independently of
>> each other.
>>
>> However, he wants to share files and printers between the two, but we've
>> not been able to get them to do so (yet).
>>
>> We've gone thru the obvious stuff on the configuration, but so far, have
>> not hit anything that would work.
>>
>> The laptop is able to ping (by IP address) the old computer, but is not
>> able to ping it by resolving the name. The old computer cannot ping the
>> laptop by either IP address or by name.
>>
>> To my knowledge, we've disabled all the firewall settings on both of
>> them, have enabled the guest account for each of them, but still cannot
>> even ping each way, much less share files between them.
>>
>> My friend lives 400 miles away, and I cannot get in front of the machine
>> to troubleshoot it, but am running out of ideas on getting two Windows
>> XP Home systems to see each other on this network (my experience is with
>> xp pro).
>>
>> Any idea what's going on with this? Help!!
>>
>> SC
>>
>>
>>
>
>

[Goober]

<<This is the most common problem people come up against when setting up
thier
netwrks because they believe it is all automatic. Its not.
1. You need to give each computer a unique name.>>

This has been done.

<<2. You need to have each computer in the same Workgroup>>

This has been done. Both are MSHOME workgroup.

<<3. You need to either remove your firewall software and install it
after you
get your network up and running or learn to configure it manually to
allow
access between the two computers.>>

To my knowledge, this has been done. On the network neighborhood, each
PC shows on the connection to the router as connected, not firewalled.
To my knowledge, the XP SP2 firewall is disabled.

<<4. You need to turn on File and Printer Sharing for your network
connection.
But just turning on File and printer sharing is not enough.>>

This has been done.

<<5. You then need to manually configure the folders and files that will be
shared in the workgroup. To do this right click on a folder and goto
Sharing
and Security and share what you want. HINT: Just turning on sharing
for the
C drive will not share everything on that drive.>>

This step has NOT been done.


<<Note: Tese steps must be performed on both computers.>>

Steps 1-4 above have been done on both computers, not #5. Reason is the
test below.


<<Now to test your network goto computer #1 and open the DOS command window
and Ping the IP address of computer #2.
If that works without any timeouts goto computer #2 and Ping the IP
address
of computer #1. If that works you should have a good network.>>

This test works one direction, but not the other. The laptop, the
second computer on the network, is able to ping the desktop, the
original one on the network. It gets all 4 responses. If you try to
ping the second computer (laptop) from the original (desktop), you get 4
timeouts. Neither computer will ping the other via resolving the name,
but the pings work 1 way only when run on each desktop.

I have NOT done step #5 above, because I figured that in order for the
network to work, the PINGs should already be working. As it is, the
laptop knows the desktop is there, but not viceversa.

To my knowledge, the virus scanners & firewalls are disabled on the 2
pc's. However, the machine is 400 miles away, and I cannot see it, am
having to rely on what I'm being told about it.

SC


>
>
> Robert...
>
> "Mark Barrett" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>Windows XP home has no advanced networking capibilities. you cannot join a
>>domian nor can you share out files like you can on Pro. My advice would be
>>to upgrade to windows XP pro.
>>"Goober" > wrote in message
...
>>
>>>I have a friend who has DirecWay satellite service, and has just gotten
>>>a second computer to go on the internet at home.
>>>
>>>He bought a wireless Linksys router, and his main (old) computer is
>>>hardwired to the router, and his new laptop is wireless.
>>>
>>>Each PC is running Windows XP Home, and each is capable of accessing the
>>>internet and receiving email and web surfing right now, independently of
>>>each other.
>>>
>>>However, he wants to share files and printers between the two, but we've
>>>not been able to get them to do so (yet).
>>>
>>>We've gone thru the obvious stuff on the configuration, but so far, have
>>>not hit anything that would work.
>>>
>>>The laptop is able to ping (by IP address) the old computer, but is not
>>>able to ping it by resolving the name. The old computer cannot ping the
>>>laptop by either IP address or by name.
>>>
>>>To my knowledge, we've disabled all the firewall settings on both of
>>>them, have enabled the guest account for each of them, but still cannot
>>>even ping each way, much less share files between them.
>>>
>>>My friend lives 400 miles away, and I cannot get in front of the machine
>>>to troubleshoot it, but am running out of ideas on getting two Windows
>>>XP Home systems to see each other on this network (my experience is with
>>>xp pro).
>>>
>>>Any idea what's going on with this? Help!!
>>>
>>>SC
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

[Goober]

<<This is the most common problem people come up against when setting up
thier
netwrks because they believe it is all automatic. Its not.
1. You need to give each computer a unique name.>>

This has been done.

<<2. You need to have each computer in the same Workgroup>>

This has been done. Both are MSHOME workgroup.

<<3. You need to either remove your firewall software and install it
after you
get your network up and running or learn to configure it manually to
allow
access between the two computers.>>

To my knowledge, this has been done. On the network neighborhood, each
PC shows on the connection to the router as connected, not firewalled.
To my knowledge, the XP SP2 firewall is disabled.

<<4. You need to turn on File and Printer Sharing for your network
connection.
But just turning on File and printer sharing is not enough.>>

This has been done.

<<5. You then need to manually configure the folders and files that will be
shared in the workgroup. To do this right click on a folder and goto
Sharing
and Security and share what you want. HINT: Just turning on sharing
for the
C drive will not share everything on that drive.>>

This step has NOT been done.


<<Note: Tese steps must be performed on both computers.>>

Steps 1-4 above have been done on both computers, not #5. Reason is the
test below.


<<Now to test your network goto computer #1 and open the DOS command window
and Ping the IP address of computer #2.
If that works without any timeouts goto computer #2 and Ping the IP
address
of computer #1. If that works you should have a good network.>>

This test works one direction, but not the other. The laptop, the
second computer on the network, is able to ping the desktop, the
original one on the network. It gets all 4 responses. If you try to
ping the second computer (laptop) from the original (desktop), you get 4
timeouts. Neither computer will ping the other via resolving the name,
but the pings work 1 way only when run on each desktop.

I have NOT done step #5 above, because I figured that in order for the
network to work, the PINGs should already be working. As it is, the
laptop knows the desktop is there, but not viceversa.

To my knowledge, the virus scanners & firewalls are disabled on the 2
pc's. However, the machine is 400 miles away, and I cannot see it, am
having to rely on what I'm being told about it.

SC


>
>
> Robert...
>
> "Mark Barrett" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>Windows XP home has no advanced networking capibilities. you cannot join a
>>domian nor can you share out files like you can on Pro. My advice would be
>>to upgrade to windows XP pro.
>>"Goober" > wrote in message
...
>>
>>>I have a friend who has DirecWay satellite service, and has just gotten
>>>a second computer to go on the internet at home.
>>>
>>>He bought a wireless Linksys router, and his main (old) computer is
>>>hardwired to the router, and his new laptop is wireless.
>>>
>>>Each PC is running Windows XP Home, and each is capable of accessing the
>>>internet and receiving email and web surfing right now, independently of
>>>each other.
>>>
>>>However, he wants to share files and printers between the two, but we've
>>>not been able to get them to do so (yet).
>>>
>>>We've gone thru the obvious stuff on the configuration, but so far, have
>>>not hit anything that would work.
>>>
>>>The laptop is able to ping (by IP address) the old computer, but is not
>>>able to ping it by resolving the name. The old computer cannot ping the
>>>laptop by either IP address or by name.
>>>
>>>To my knowledge, we've disabled all the firewall settings on both of
>>>them, have enabled the guest account for each of them, but still cannot
>>>even ping each way, much less share files between them.
>>>
>>>My friend lives 400 miles away, and I cannot get in front of the machine
>>>to troubleshoot it, but am running out of ideas on getting two Windows
>>>XP Home systems to see each other on this network (my experience is with
>>>xp pro).
>>>
>>>Any idea what's going on with this? Help!!
>>>
>>>SC
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

[DLink Guru]

I guessing that both computers are 400 miles away.

If you cant ping the laptop from the desktop, but can vice versa then I
would have to say that the firewall on the Laptop is still on. Some third
party firewalls, especially the free version of ZoneAlarm, done disable
correctly when told to, so you should try uninstalling the firewall on the
laptop until you get the network running and then try reinstalling it.

Robert....

"Goober" > wrote in message
...
> <<This is the most common problem people come up against when setting up
> thier
> netwrks because they believe it is all automatic. Its not.
> 1. You need to give each computer a unique name.>>
>
> This has been done.
>
> <<2. You need to have each computer in the same Workgroup>>
>
> This has been done. Both are MSHOME workgroup.
>
> <<3. You need to either remove your firewall software and install it after
> you
> get your network up and running or learn to configure it manually to
> allow
> access between the two computers.>>
>
> To my knowledge, this has been done. On the network neighborhood, each PC
> shows on the connection to the router as connected, not firewalled. To my
> knowledge, the XP SP2 firewall is disabled.
>
> <<4. You need to turn on File and Printer Sharing for your network
> connection.
> But just turning on File and printer sharing is not enough.>>
>
> This has been done.
>
> <<5. You then need to manually configure the folders and files that will
> be
> shared in the workgroup. To do this right click on a folder and goto
> Sharing
> and Security and share what you want. HINT: Just turning on sharing for
> the
> C drive will not share everything on that drive.>>
>
> This step has NOT been done.
>
>
> <<Note: Tese steps must be performed on both computers.>>
>
> Steps 1-4 above have been done on both computers, not #5. Reason is the
> test below.
>
>
> <<Now to test your network goto computer #1 and open the DOS command
> window
> and Ping the IP address of computer #2.
> If that works without any timeouts goto computer #2 and Ping the IP
> address
> of computer #1. If that works you should have a good network.>>
>
> This test works one direction, but not the other. The laptop, the second
> computer on the network, is able to ping the desktop, the original one on
> the network. It gets all 4 responses. If you try to ping the second
> computer (laptop) from the original (desktop), you get 4 timeouts.
> Neither computer will ping the other via resolving the name, but the pings
> work 1 way only when run on each desktop.
>
> I have NOT done step #5 above, because I figured that in order for the
> network to work, the PINGs should already be working. As it is, the
> laptop knows the desktop is there, but not viceversa.
>
> To my knowledge, the virus scanners & firewalls are disabled on the 2
> pc's. However, the machine is 400 miles away, and I cannot see it, am
> having to rely on what I'm being told about it.
>
> SC
>
>
>>
>>
>> Robert...
>>
>> "Mark Barrett" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>
>>>Windows XP home has no advanced networking capibilities. you cannot join
>>>a
>>>domian nor can you share out files like you can on Pro. My advice would
>>>be
>>>to upgrade to windows XP pro.
>>>"Goober" > wrote in message
...
>>>
>>>>I have a friend who has DirecWay satellite service, and has just gotten
>>>>a second computer to go on the internet at home.
>>>>
>>>>He bought a wireless Linksys router, and his main (old) computer is
>>>>hardwired to the router, and his new laptop is wireless.
>>>>
>>>>Each PC is running Windows XP Home, and each is capable of accessing the
>>>>internet and receiving email and web surfing right now, independently of
>>>>each other.
>>>>
>>>>However, he wants to share files and printers between the two, but we've
>>>>not been able to get them to do so (yet).
>>>>
>>>>We've gone thru the obvious stuff on the configuration, but so far, have
>>>>not hit anything that would work.
>>>>
>>>>The laptop is able to ping (by IP address) the old computer, but is not
>>>>able to ping it by resolving the name. The old computer cannot ping the
>>>>laptop by either IP address or by name.
>>>>
>>>>To my knowledge, we've disabled all the firewall settings on both of
>>>>them, have enabled the guest account for each of them, but still cannot
>>>>even ping each way, much less share files between them.
>>>>
>>>>My friend lives 400 miles away, and I cannot get in front of the machine
>>>>to troubleshoot it, but am running out of ideas on getting two Windows
>>>>XP Home systems to see each other on this network (my experience is with
>>>>xp pro).
>>>>
>>>>Any idea what's going on with this? Help!!
>>>>
>>>>SC
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>

[Goober]

Both computers are 400 miles away from me.

I know that he has the Windows firewall on the laptop disabled, but do
not know what virus/firewall program he has running on it. I'll try
this approach, and then see where it gets us.

Thanks for the input.

SC

DLink Guru wrote:
> I guessing that both computers are 400 miles away.
>
> If you cant ping the laptop from the desktop, but can vice versa then I
> would have to say that the firewall on the Laptop is still on. Some third
> party firewalls, especially the free version of ZoneAlarm, done disable
> correctly when told to, so you should try uninstalling the firewall on the
> laptop until you get the network running and then try reinstalling it.
>
> Robert....
>
> "Goober" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>><<This is the most common problem people come up against when setting up
>>thier
>> netwrks because they believe it is all automatic. Its not.
>> 1. You need to give each computer a unique name.>>
>>
>>This has been done.
>>
>><<2. You need to have each computer in the same Workgroup>>
>>
>>This has been done. Both are MSHOME workgroup.
>>
>><<3. You need to either remove your firewall software and install it after
>>you
>> get your network up and running or learn to configure it manually to
>>allow
>> access between the two computers.>>
>>
>>To my knowledge, this has been done. On the network neighborhood, each PC
>>shows on the connection to the router as connected, not firewalled. To my
>>knowledge, the XP SP2 firewall is disabled.
>>
>><<4. You need to turn on File and Printer Sharing for your network
>>connection.
>> But just turning on File and printer sharing is not enough.>>
>>
>>This has been done.
>>
>><<5. You then need to manually configure the folders and files that will
>>be
>> shared in the workgroup. To do this right click on a folder and goto
>>Sharing
>> and Security and share what you want. HINT: Just turning on sharing for
>>the
>> C drive will not share everything on that drive.>>
>>
>>This step has NOT been done.
>>
>>
>><<Note: Tese steps must be performed on both computers.>>
>>
>>Steps 1-4 above have been done on both computers, not #5. Reason is the
>>test below.
>>
>>
>><<Now to test your network goto computer #1 and open the DOS command
>>window
>> and Ping the IP address of computer #2.
>> If that works without any timeouts goto computer #2 and Ping the IP
>>address
>> of computer #1. If that works you should have a good network.>>
>>
>>This test works one direction, but not the other. The laptop, the second
>>computer on the network, is able to ping the desktop, the original one on
>>the network. It gets all 4 responses. If you try to ping the second
>>computer (laptop) from the original (desktop), you get 4 timeouts.
>>Neither computer will ping the other via resolving the name, but the pings
>>work 1 way only when run on each desktop.
>>
>>I have NOT done step #5 above, because I figured that in order for the
>>network to work, the PINGs should already be working. As it is, the
>>laptop knows the desktop is there, but not viceversa.
>>
>>To my knowledge, the virus scanners & firewalls are disabled on the 2
>>pc's. However, the machine is 400 miles away, and I cannot see it, am
>>having to rely on what I'm being told about it.
>>
>>SC
>>
>>
>>
>>>
>>>Robert...
>>>
>>>"Mark Barrett" > wrote in message
...
>>>
>>>
>>>>Windows XP home has no advanced networking capibilities. you cannot join
>>>>a
>>>>domian nor can you share out files like you can on Pro. My advice would
>>>>be
>>>>to upgrade to windows XP pro.
>>>>"Goober" > wrote in message
...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>I have a friend who has DirecWay satellite service, and has just gotten
>>>>>a second computer to go on the internet at home.
>>>>>
>>>>>He bought a wireless Linksys router, and his main (old) computer is
>>>>>hardwired to the router, and his new laptop is wireless.
>>>>>
>>>>>Each PC is running Windows XP Home, and each is capable of accessing the
>>>>>internet and receiving email and web surfing right now, independently of
>>>>>each other.
>>>>>
>>>>>However, he wants to share files and printers between the two, but we've
>>>>>not been able to get them to do so (yet).
>>>>>
>>>>>We've gone thru the obvious stuff on the configuration, but so far, have
>>>>>not hit anything that would work.
>>>>>
>>>>>The laptop is able to ping (by IP address) the old computer, but is not
>>>>>able to ping it by resolving the name. The old computer cannot ping the
>>>>>laptop by either IP address or by name.
>>>>>
>>>>>To my knowledge, we've disabled all the firewall settings on both of
>>>>>them, have enabled the guest account for each of them, but still cannot
>>>>>even ping each way, much less share files between them.
>>>>>
>>>>>My friend lives 400 miles away, and I cannot get in front of the machine
>>>>>to troubleshoot it, but am running out of ideas on getting two Windows
>>>>>XP Home systems to see each other on this network (my experience is with
>>>>>xp pro).
>>>>>
>>>>>Any idea what's going on with this? Help!!
>>>>>
>>>>>SC
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>