Linking everything together - Network

donny-gal

Hi folks

I have a home network up, running, secured, etc., fine, both wired and wi-fi, however, I am now getting adventurous and want to be able to link things together and control things from my laptop.

Current equipment
Desktop with Wired & wi-fi abiity - used wired
Laptop the same - used wirelessly
Printer - all in one wired and wi-fi - being used wi-fi (am having some problems here, as the laptop keeps "losing" it and I have to uninstall and install the printer when I want to use it, but once connected is fine for both printing and scanning.
Netbook - used at home infrequently wirelessly
Phillips WAC750 and extra station - Music player with wi-fi and hard drive, which is connected to the network, and also a station which can play the music from the main centre.
Wii



So now the query, how do I set up each machine so that pictures, videos, music and files can be shared and controlled from the laptop, safely, and maintain these via the laptop, and also play some of the music on the musicplayer from the desktops HDD.

Thanks. DG

fwor

donny-gal wrote: »

looking at treating myself for Xmas to this,

Wow, what are you going to do on the laptop that requires a i7 processor and 6GB of memory??? Video editing/transcoding? Must be something fairly resource-intensive to need that much power!

Leaving that aside, the simplest way to share data like that - assuming that all have a recent version of Windows installed - is to make sure they are all in the same Workgroup and then enable Windows file sharing. It may also be necessary to adjust the settings of the firewal for any that have one set up - IIRC the standard Windows firewall does not automatically permit file sharing to have access via the network interface by default.

closed

if tired means slow, post hijackthis and commit charge

printer losing it, have you tried turning the printer off and on instead of reinstalling?

donny-gal

Hi closed

No not slow, I have done this already with the thread's help, it actually runs reasonably well, just dated. I hae just been trying to watch TV /iplayer while abroad via expatshield, and the graphics were not up to it. The printer has been turned on and off, and the laptop/desktop, but still while it "sees" the printer it says its offline when it is on.

Not really fwor but I want the hd screen, ability to play blue-ray, and the sound system in it. Trying to future proof too, as I do tend to look after things and keep them. Yes I agree I am spoiling myself


How can I change my network from public to private?
DG

fwor

donny-gal wrote: »

I hae just been trying to watch TV /iplayer while abroad via expatshield, and the graphics were not up to it.

If you are getting stuttering/breakup or long delays, that will be a lack of bandwidth, not a problem with the graphics chipset. A new laptop won't fix that!

donny-gal wrote: »

How can I change my network from public to private?
DG

Is your home network currently public? I hope not. I was suggesting you leave the network exactly as it is, but change some settings on each PC to permit file sharing over it. How you do that depends on which version of Windows you have on each.

For example in Win 7 they are now called homegroups rather than workgroups. Here's a guide which shows what to do:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/File-sharing-essentials

donny-gal

Thanks fwor - have just managed to change it - I'm using Vista.

I do realise that the BB signal speed can impact the picture. DG

closed

A 4 year old machine should be capable of iplayer, in hd, given a good enough connection

if you are using the printer wirelessly, then power saving on the printer often gives that symptom

donny-gal

I will try again now back in the UK, to double check the lappy out. Its a Dell Inspiron 1501 AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-56 1800 Mhz 2 Core(s)
2gb RAM.

The printer problem happens, even if just switched on. DG

Toxteth_OGrady

Try setting the LAN IP address of your printer manually if you are using DHCP. May help.

donny-gal

Sorry Toxteth could you give me more info, you have lost me with that. DG