wired network doesn't work - help?

Learning_Curve

Hi All,

I am trying to set up a home network between my desktop PC which runs on XP, and my laptop which runs on Vista Home Premium. All I want to be able to do is to move files from the desktop to the laptop.

I read that it can be done with a crossover cable which I bought, and I followed all the instructions I could find on the net and on Windows help but I can't get it to work.

I get an error code on the Vista laptop "error code 0x80070035 The Network Path was not found" and an error message on the XP desktop "could not refresh IP address" (after having been instructed by Windows to do this and clicking to do so). I have to disconnect the modem (from the laptop) to attach the crossover cable and wasn't sure if the desktop had a problem because it was trying somehow to connect to the modem and the crossover cable had confused it somehow.

The laptop can 'see' the desktop in the network folder and I've set the sharing and discovery settings in the network and sharing centre to 'on' where applicable. I also followed all the Windows instructions on the XP desktop to ensure it should be visible to the laptop.

It's so frustrating, we want to get rid of the desktop as it's over 6 yrs old and taking up a lot of space with it's giant monitor and HD, and the DVD drive is broken so I can't copy files to DVD to transfer. I looked into getting an external DVD drive for the desktop, but apart from being the more expensive option, I've been told the spec of the desktop might not support one. Copying to CD is a no-no because havign tried, it takes an unbelievable amount of time just to prepare the files to copy to disk and then tells me that there isn't enough space on the disk instead of selecting what will fit and leaving the rest uncopied (and I've tried selecting smaller amounts to copy). I just don't have the time for that.

Help please!?:(

NiVZ

Easiest and fastest way to do this is to connect your crossover cable directly between the laptop and the desktop PC. There are other ways, but it would involve asking you lots of questions and might give your internet IP address away so I'd say this is better.

If this doesn't work, then it's possible your firewall settings are preventing the sahring and you'll need to tick change the 'File and Print' settings on your firewall.

After you've connected the crossover cable to both PC's, do the following:

On the Desktop:
1. Click Start - Settings -> Control Panel
2. Double click Network Connections
3. Right click on 'Local Area Connection'
4. Click Properties
5. Scroll down to 'Internet Protocol (TCP/IP' and click to select it
6. Click Properties (you might want to make a note of the current settings to change back to afterwards)
7. Click 'Use the following IP address'
8. In IP Address type: 192.168.0.2
9. In subnet mask type: 255.255.255.0
10. Click OK
11. Click OK (You may need to re-boot)

On the laptop (I'm using Windows 7 but should be close enough to Vista):
1. Click Start -> Control Panel
2. Click 'Network and Internet'
3. Click 'Network and Sharing Center'
4. Click 'Local Area Connection'
5. Click 'Properties'
6. Click 'Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)'
7. Click 'Properties' (Make a note of the settings to restore afterwards)
8. Click 'Use the following IP address'
9. In IP Address type: 192.168.0.3
10. In subnet mask type: 255.255.255.0
11. Click OK
12. Click Close
13. Click Close

You have now setup both PC's with a fixed IP address on the same subnet. After they've re-booted test they can see each other by:

On the laptop:
1. Click Start -> Run
2. Type: cmd
3. Click OK
4. In the black command prompt box type: ping 192.168.0.2
5. If it's working you should get 'Reply from 192.168.0.2' or similar

You can then proceed to do the file sharing and copying. Again easiest way is to:

On the desktop:
1. Right click on the folder with the files you want to share
2. Click 'Sharing and security'
3. Click 'Share this folder as' and make a note of the name that appears in the 'Share name' line below
4. Click OK

On the laptop:
1. Click Start -> Run
2. Type: [URL="file://\\192.168.0.2"]\\192.168.0.2[/URL]
3. Click OK
4. You should now see the folder with the 'share name'
5. Drag and drop (or Copy and Paste) files as normal

Once you're finished copying all your files you'll need to restore the previous TCP/IP settings.

It's especially important to do this on the laptop so that the TCP/IP is set to 'Obtain IP address automatically' otherwise you will not be able to access the internet.

Good luck,

NiVZ

googler

Buy a USB caddy to match the HDD that's in your desktop.
Take the HDD out of the desktop and put it in the caddy
Connect the USB caddy, with HDD, to a USB port on the laptop
Copy files from this external drive to the HDD on the laptop.

Then keep the external HDD as a backup. Use spare space on it to store important files from the laptop.

Sell the desktop without the HDD. It's more secure that way. Or buy a blank HDD to install to replace the one you just removed, then sell the PC.

This must be easier than fritzing about with networking on two OS's...

Learning_Curve

Hi guys,

thank you both very much for your replies (and so quick too). NiVZ: this is how I was trying to do it, by having the crossover cable directly between the PCs, you've given me lots of info there which I will try out/cross-check against what I was doing, and I'll let you know how I get on...watch this space as it may take me some time!

Googler: I'm proficient at using computers as a user but when things get a bit more technical I get a bit more lost...I don't understand your reply about a USB caddy (don't know what one of those is!). I take on board your point about keeping the desktop HD for security though. What I had thought was a way round that, was once I'd copied all the files and programs over, to use the system restore disk which came with the desktop to wipe it all clean. I also have a program which purportedly wipes everything rather than merely deleting it so I could try that. I'd rather get rid of the whole desktop if possible, and the crossover cable solution is supposed to be really simple (and as the cable only set me back a few pounds really cheap) as an option.

Thanks again guys, and if I manage to sort it I will post back my success! Much appreciated.

bingo_bango

Just as a quick heads up. I was doing similar the other night (from a laptop on Vista home premium to a desktop with W7). Although they could see each other on the network, and I had sharing enabled on the folders I wanted to use, there was no transfer allowed.

To get around this, I had to copy the content I wanted into the 'Public' folder on the laptop. After doing so, I was allowed to view and copy the files to the W7 desktop.

closed

do you have a router?

Learning_Curve

Hi again NiVZ,


I tried your instructions but I still haven't had success. I've pasted your instructions below with my comments in bold capitals (sorry for using capitals as I know it' not etiquette but it makes it easier to stand-out), I'd be grateful for further help if you are able?:



After you've connected the crossover cable to both PC's, do the following:

On the Desktop:
1. Click Start - Settings -> Control Panel
2. Double click Network Connections
3. Right click on 'Local Area Connection'
4. Click Properties
5. Scroll down to 'Internet Protocol (TCP/IP' and click to select it
6. Click Properties (you might want to make a note of the current settings to change back to afterwards)
7. Click 'Use the following IP address'
8. In IP Address type: 192.168.0.2 THIS WAS BLANK WHEN OPENED
9. In subnet mask type: 255.255.255.0 THIS WAS BLANK WHEN OPENED
10. Click OK
11. Click OK (You may need to re-boot) DIDN'T REQUEST REBOOT SO I DIDN'T

On the laptop (I'm using Windows 7 but should be close enough to Vista):
1. Click Start -> Control Panel
2. Click 'Network and Internet'
3. Click 'Network and Sharing Center'
4. Click 'Local Area Connection' ACCESSED IT ELSEWHERE AS IT WASN'T IN THIS FOLDER
5. Click 'Properties'
6. Click 'Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)'
7. Click 'Properties' (Make a note of the settings to restore afterwards)
8. Click 'Use the following IP address'
9. In IP Address type: 192.168.0.3 THIS WAS BLANK WHEN OPENED
10. In subnet mask type: 255.255.255.0 THIS WAS BLANK WHEN OPENED
11. Click OK
12. Click Close
13. Click Close
I KEEP HAD ERROR MESSAGE FROM DESKTOP SAYING THE SERVER FOR THE LAPTOP WASN'T FOUND AS WELL AS SAYING TO CHECK WITH ADMINISTRATOR THAT I HAD PERMISSIONS, AND ERROR MESSAGE FROM LAPTOP SAYING INVALID IP ADDRESS
You have now setup both PC's with a fixed IP address on the same subnet. After they've re-booted test they can see each other by:

On the laptop:
1. Click Start -> Run
2. Type: cmd
3. Click OK
4. In the black command prompt box type: ping 192.168.0.2
5. If it's working you should get 'Reply from 192.168.0.2' or similar REQUEST TIMED OUT INSTANTLY MANY TIMES
LAPTOP IS NOW RECOGNISED ON THE DESKTOP (IT WASN'T PREVIOUSLY) BUT THE DESKTOP ISN'T SHOWING ON THE LAPTOP (IT DID INTERMITTENTLY B4)
You can then proceed to do the file sharing and copying. Again easiest way is to:

On the desktop:
1. Right click on the folder with the files you want to share
2. Click 'Sharing and security'
3. Click 'Share this folder as' and make a note of the name that appears in the 'Share name' line below
4. Click OK

On the laptop:
1. Click Start -> Run
2. Type: \\192.168.0.2
3. Click OK
4. You should now see the folder with the 'share name'
5. Drag and drop (or Copy and Paste) files as normal

Once you're finished copying all your files you'll need to restore the previous TCP/IP settings.

Learning_Curve

Hi Bingo Bango and Closed,

I think I did try moving all the desktop files into the shared folder, but moved them back again as that only seemed to apply to files you wanted other users on the same PC to access and it didn't appear to make any difference to the network problem (being able to see each other on the network).

By router do you mean modem? If so yes I have a broadband modem but I have to disconnect it to attach the crossover cable to the laptop as there only appears to be one port for this type of connection.

Thanks.

googler

Sometimes a USB caddy is referred to as a Hard Drive Enclosure.

This is a Hard Drive Enclosure that will take either a SATA or IDE drive (you could have either in the desktop).

Google search or look in YouTube for guides to replacing/removing hard drives, and it should become clear what you need to do to remove the HDD from the desktop and place it in the enclosure (the instructions with the enclosure may make it clear)

Does this help?

Learning_Curve

Hi Googler,

thanks for the explanation, I will look into it (still not sure what it is or what exactly I would use it for!) and see if it might be a solution if all else fails with the crossover cable.

I would probably make a good computer geek if I undertook some training lol.

Thanks.

NiVZ

Hello,

Sounds like the Firewall on the XP machine could be blocking things.

Do this, then try pinging again:

On the desktop PC:
1. Click Start -> Settings Control Panel
2. Double click Windows Firewall
3. Click 'Exceptions' tab
4. Put a tick in 'File and Print Sharing'
5. Click OK

Now try doing the ping 192.168.0.1 bit and the Start -> Run, and type [URL="file://\\192.168.0.2"]\\192.168.0.2[/URL] and click OK bit again

P.S These settings will probably only allow the Laptop to 'see' the Desktop and not the other way round - you'd need to modify the laptop's firewall settings to allow that.

NiVZ