Setting up a network?

littlemissmoney

Hi

I have a pc and a laptap and a wireless internet connection. There are quite a lot of files that I want to be able to access on both computers. At the moment I keep these files on a pen drive and move it depending which computer I'm on.

This current system is slightly annoying and I was wondering if it's possible to set up a network so I can access the files from both computers? I've had a look on the internet, but I'm a bit confused as people seem to use the word network to discribe their wireless internet connection, and I'm not sure that's what I want. Can anyone help me please, because I don't have a clue! If it's difficult I'll just forget it, but I thought I'd ask incase it's easy

elvch01

You have a number of options:

• Share the files either on your laptop or PC and you will be able to access them remotely - provided both machines are switched on at teh time.
• Buy some network attached storage - essentially a disk drive with a network interface. Store the files there and they will be accessibel by both
• Use some file synchronising software such as sugarsync and/or File Hamster team edition

I'm sure others will have alternatve solutions

antispam246

littlemissmoney wrote: »

Hi

I have a pc and a laptap and a wireless internet connection. There are quite a lot of files that I want to be able to access on both computers. At the moment I keep these files on a pen drive and move it depending which computer I'm on.

This current system is slightly annoying and I was wondering if it's possible to set up a network so I can access the files from both computers? I've had a look on the internet, but I'm a bit confused as people seem to use the word network to discribe their wireless internet connection, and I'm not sure that's what I want. Can anyone help me please, because I don't have a clue! If it's difficult I'll just forget it, but I thought I'd ask incase it's easy

Can both your laptop and pc connect to the internet?

What operating system do you use on both your laptop and your pc (desktop)? Is it windows XP for example?

totalsolutions

The very basic and simplest MAY be just to use a CROSSOVER cat5 cable. This is the simplest way to connect two PC's together, plug in each end into the ethernet (RJ45) sockets.

You will need to "share" the folders and have an account on each PC.
Get back when you get stuck. A cable would be a few pounds but cheap to make. Can you get one from work/friends to save the cash?

littlemissmoney

antispam246 wrote: »

Can both your laptop and pc connect to the internet?

Yes

antispam246 wrote: »

What operating system do you use on both your laptop and your pc (desktop)? Is it windows XP for example?

Desktop is XP and laptop is Vista.

robredz

Is the wireless internet one of the USB dongles, or have you something like BT Homehub with the router?

littlemissmoney

robredz wrote: »

Is the wireless internet one of the USB dongles, or have you something like BT Homehub with the router?

I've got a BT homehub attached by a wire to my desktop. Then I use that wireless connection on my laptop.

pcombo

You dont need an internet connection to share files over a lan

my computer > tools > view > scroll down to the very bottom > untick "use simple file sharing (recommended)" apply and exit.

go to start run [URL="file://\\192.168.0.5"]\\192.168.0.5[/URL] (Change ip to match computer). Make sure any computers allow file sharing in the windows firewall or u wont be able to access.

fiendishlyclever

If you want to share files wider than your network have a look at Live Mesh from Microsoft. I have it on 3 computers and it syncs folders and documents between them, regardless of where they are connected to the internet.

You can set it to just sync files locally rather than saving a copy online. Look at Mesh.com

RobTang

pcombo wrote: »

You dont need an internet connection to share files over a lan

my computer > tools > view > scroll down to the very bottom > untick "use simple file sharing (recommended)" apply and exit.

go to start run [URL="file://\\192.168.0.5"]\\192.168.0.5[/URL] (Change ip to match computer). Make sure any computers allow file sharing in the windows firewall or u wont be able to access.

its probably best to keep simple file sharing on unless your pretty familiar with windows file sharing, it overrides all the silly windows principle stuff and all the issues of access rights in a non-domain enviroment..