Wireless File & Print Sharing

MercilessKiller

It's just an older networking protocol... with using default settings on XP however, it shouldn't be something needing to be considered

Good luck with the other options

wolfman

Ok, here's goes.

1) For now disable any software firewalls on either machine. This isn't a permanent thing though, just for getting it working.

2) Make sure the computers can ping each other:
Start > Run > type "cmd", press enter. In the command prompt type "ipconfig" and press enter. Do this for both machines. Note down their ip address, and make sure they have the same subnet mask and default gateway.

3) From machine A, Start > Run > type "cmd". This time in the command prompt type "ping xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx" (where the x's are the ip address of machine . And do this from B to A. You should see responses, and not timeouts.

4) Try and access one of the machines. Do so via ip address to start with (rather than name). Open up My Computer, and in the address bar type "\\xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx" where the x's are the ip address of the machine you want to get on.

5) Hopefully you should see something. If not file sharing is not yet enabled on the machine. The easiest thing is to follow Spurs1234's post and make sure simple file sharing is on. Then go to a folder, right click on it, select properties. Then on the following window go to the "Sharing" tab and enable the file to be shared. In doing this it'll enable file sharing on the computer as a whole. Now try accessing the machine.

Once everything is working remember to put your firewalls back on. These may need configuring to allow file sharing.

MercilessKiller

Wolfman... good of you to read previous entries point 1/2/3 all already recommended :P

wolfman

MercilessKiller wrote:

Wolfman... good of you to read previous entries point 1/2/3 all already recommended :P

Yeah I know , just wanted to put it all down in one and in order as it often helps, it's the simple problems that can often be a real pain.

marbar2k

well thanks for the help i think i have got it working. first a changed the workgroups so the where the same. i then tyried to ping the 2 but they would not communicate, i diabled the firewall and they communicated. i then enabled file & print sharing and reenabled the firewall, and hey presto it SEEMS to work ok.

ill test further later

MercilessKiller

Its always the firewalls

Glad you got it working mate. When you're behind a network, due to NAT you are behind a Hardware Firewall. Due to this you don't need any software firewalls on the pc really

wolfman

Until a virus/trojan/worm or spyware gets on your system/network and tries to communicate home...

A hardware firewall is only really setup for incoming attacks. It doesn't protect any outbound attempts, or leaks. A software firewall in invaluable as it provides protection per machine, is application specific per port, and stops outgoing attempts.

MercilessKiller

Which is why you use anti virus software.... it's all about trust

wolfman

True, but I'd never trust av software as it's not 100% fullproof. Or antispyware etc... as it's about fixing something that has already got in. A software firewall can help prevent that in the first place. Plus if you do get infected (virus, keylogger, spyware), and it doesn't get picked up, then the firewall will possibly at least restrict it.

It also acts per machine so you can have different settings, and it also protects you internally (a hardware firewall is external), and it works on an application (not port) level. For the 10-15mb footprint it's well worth it.

Aiadi

wolfman wrote:

Once everything is working remember to put your firewalls back on. These may need configuring to allow file sharing.

Wolfman, great instructions. Followed them to the letter and everything worked fine with the printer connected to my desktop running wirelessly from my laptop. that was until I put the firewalls (zone alarm) back on. Could you please advice? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.