Home networking

bluep

OK. This should be a really easy thing to do, but for some reason I just can't get it all working at once.

Basically I have a wireless home network set up with a desktop which is attached to the wireless router via LAN cable as they both sit together and a laptop (centrino) which floats around the house. I have got the wireless bit set up so that they can both access the internet without a problem - have assigned them both static addresses and the network is protected WEP although it does have WPA-PSK option. The router is a Netgear DG834GT and has a built in firewall. Both machines also have norton internet security running although I have switched the firewall off of the desktop as only the laptop comes into contact with other stuff. Both running on XP home.

However, what I want to do is: allow them both to share everything between each other - i.e. all hard drives to wirelessly swop files and to send stuff from the laptop to the two printers that are attached to the desktop. At the moment, I have to connect the laptop via a lan cable to the router and even this isn't reliable network-wise as sometimes the two recognise each other and share some folders, but more times than not...nothing! I can't understand why using the home network wizard, it sets up..might not work, might work and then even if it does work, a couple of hours later, it doesn't work! BIZARRE!!

so...
a) will it help if I put a wireless card in the desktop so the laptop can link to it directly and the desktop becomes another point on the wireless network rather than through the router?

b) surely if I have norton security set to allow the IP address of the desktop this shouldn't then cause any problems?

c) what's the best way to share all hard drives between the two

d) how do I allow the laptop to connect to the printers?

I have tried reading the microsoft internet help pages on setting up networks but it just seems to go round in circles, advising me to do what I already seem to have done and didn't work!

Help!

wiraone

Check this how-to on XP file sharing, basically, when you've more than 1 PC on the workgroup, one needs to get elected as MASTER BROWSER, the one that provide information about the workgroup.

http://www.tomsnetworking.com/2004/01/06/how_to_xp_share_fix/

And to answer your questions:
a) It won't help.
b) Try disabling Norton and see if the problem gone, if not, you can safely said that Norton doesn't play any role in causing this problem.
c) Right click on your hard disk while in File Explorer and set the sharing.
d) Right click on your printer, go to properties and enable printer sharing.

Additional to the above, the how-to article does mentioned about Wireless Privacy that might be turned-on on some wireless router. I had DG834GT before but I had no problem with file sharing, so .. most probably this feature wasn't there (unless if the very recent firmware upgrade has that).

albertross_2

Make sure that wireless isolation is turned off on the wireless config page for the router.

There is a whole sticky thread on file and print sharing at the top of this page.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=121274

You may want to use WPA instead of WEP,

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=1460703&postcount=2

WEP is crackable. Also it is still a good idea to have the firewall turned on on both PC's as :

Something may get through the hardware one, especially if you have unpnp enabled on the router (it's on by default), or tinker with port forwarding.

Suppose one PC gets infected with a worm, it will help protect the other one from the same infection.

If someone hacks your WEP, then it will help to protect your PC's from them.

You will need to enable file and print sharing through the norton firewall though..