Wireless/file & printer sharing question

michelefauk

Hi I hope someone can help me!
I have a PC which is running XP and is connected to the intenet via an ethernet cable to a wireless router. We have just bought a new Wireless laptop which is running Vista and connects to the internet via the wireless router. I wondered if it is possible to view files on the main PC from the laptop and if the laptop can be somehow remotely connected to the printer? I hope that makes sense! Is it going to work as one is running XP and the other Vista?
Also, there is a WLAN link light on the front of my PC (which isnt on), but I have no idea if it is wireless enabled or not, cant see anything in Network settings. Is it that this PC must be running wirelessly to connect with the laptop for file sharing?

i hope this all makes sense,

BeerBelly

- As long as they are part of the same workgroup/domain (My Right on My Computer, click on Properties and then Network Identifcation). As long as the Workgroup has the same name on PC A and PC B you should be able to use MS Sharing and see resources on each machine.

- The user account on each PC has permissions to connect to files on each otehrs machine (if you don't create a local account on each machine, it will prompt you for a username and password anyway, at which you can type the other machines details in, admin account ..etc). E.g. if you connect from PC A to PC B, you will be prompted to put in user details for PC B. You will need to share some folders or drives out to connect to them (e.g. connect to C: drive on PC B or a folder called TEST on PC A)

- As long as you can see each other on the network. Make sure you have an address on same subnet from DHCP. If you are using a wirelss router you should be fine. A quick test would be to click on start-> run, type CMD, type ping COMPUTERNAME you should see a response. Computername can also be found from the Network Identication Tab in properies of My Computer or by typing in hsostname and pressing return in the cmd window.

Really sorry if I have bamboosled you! It isn't as difficult as it may sound.

michelefauk

Many thanks, it does sound complicated but have printed off your instructions and will have a go tonight.
Wish me luck, I am definately NOT a techie!!

superscaper

Al_Mac wrote: »

The greatest feeling, pressed print on the kids computer and it printed on the printer downstairs

Do you have zone alarm? That gave me the biggest problem, you just have to give the router IP addresses access to each other

I've also found that (over zealous) anti virus software can also block network transmission as well. If there's any options for controlling trusting of IPs.