Home network

Sky · Post by **Sky** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 9:28 pm

I am trying to setup a home network between my desktop and our laptop. We use a modem that is also a router. It is hardlined to my desktop and wirelessly connected to the laptop. Any advice?

Oh yeah, all I am really looking to do is share the printer with my laptop, or make the print function available for my laptop.

Shlomart Ben Yisrael · Tue Jan 24, 2006 10:05 pm

Is this Windows XP Home?

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 11:51 pm

What part are you having trouble with?

Sky · Post by **Sky** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 3:12 pm

Sorry, I should have been more specific. It is XP Home and I am having trouble getting each computer to recogonize what folders I have shared. Additionally, the laptop can't find my printer through the network.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 6:40 pm

You're seeing the other computers in the workgroup, just not the shares?

ElTaco · Post by **ElTaco** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:18 pm

First of all, you should ensure that your wireless network is at least semi-secure. You'll at the minimum want to enable WEP with a password. Ideally through, you'll want WPA, which is a lot more secure.

Once your wireless network is up to snuff, and your Laptop can get on it and get to the internet, the next step is to ensure that both the laptop and PC are using the same settings. One easy way to solve this is to have the SMTP protocol enabled on your Router/Modem and then to have both the PC and your laptop use it to get the network information. The next step is to ensure that both the PC and the laptop are in the same workgroup. The easiest way to check this is to right click on the 'My Computer' icon on your desktop and choose Properties. Take a look at the 'Computer Name' tab and make sure that both computers are in the same workgroup.

Then go to My Network Places and see if you can find the other computer. Also if you know the other computer's name you can just type it into the address bar '\\pcname' without the quotes.

Once you find the other computer, you will need to log into it (unless guest is an enabled account) and then you'll be able to add the printer, find the computer on the network and see the printer under it...if the printer is shared.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:24 pm

ElTaco wrote:One easy way to solve this is to have the SMTP protocol enabled on your Router/Modem and then to have both the PC and your laptop use it to get the network information.

Not bagging on your advice, since it's excellent. Just figured I'd point out your typo, which is I'm sure all it was, since you seem to know a thing or two about a thing or two. Just didn't want to hear about dude pulling his hair out looking for where to enable SMTP, rather than DHCP.

I know what you meant, though.

Sky · Post by **Sky** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 8:01 pm

Thanks gents, one last question. Beyond the security issues you noted, do I need to do anything else? I have the firewall on my modem activated.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 9:09 pm

Nothing that Taco didn't cover comes to mind. Set the router to DHCP enable, make sure all of the machines on your network are in the same workgroup, and make sure that your TCP/IP properties are set to "obtain IP adress automatically" on all of the computers, and you should be set...on paper. You'll probably have to go to the printer properties and enable printer sharing.

Around the homestead, we've always used NETBEUI for the home network, but I'm sure that puts us in the Dark Ages according to some.

Sky · Post by **Sky** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 4:06 pm

ElTaco wrote:First of all, you should ensure that your wireless network is at least semi-secure. You'll at the minimum want to enable WEP with a password. Ideally through, you'll want WPA, which is a lot more secure.

Once your wireless network is up to snuff, and your Laptop can get on it and get to the internet, the next step is to ensure that both the laptop and PC are using the same settings. One easy way to solve this is to have the SMTP protocol enabled on your Router/Modem and then to have both the PC and your laptop use it to get the network information. The next step is to ensure that both the PC and the laptop are in the same workgroup. The easiest way to check this is to right click on the 'My Computer' icon on your desktop and choose Properties. Take a look at the 'Computer Name' tab and make sure that both computers are in the same workgroup.

Then go to My Network Places and see if you can find the other computer. Also if you know the other computer's name you can just type it into the address bar '\\pcname' without the quotes.

Once you find the other computer, you will need to log into it (unless guest is an enabled account) and then you'll be able to add the printer, find the computer on the network and see the printer under it...if the printer is shared.

Thanks for the info man, on the WPA issue, what is required to upgrade to that level of security? I did WEP no problem but don't know how to start the WPA issue.

PSUFAN · Post by **PSUFAN** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 5:02 pm

rack ElTaco's Triumphant Return.

ElTaco · Post by **ElTaco** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 9:51 pm

Dinsdale wrote:
ElTaco wrote:One easy way to solve this is to have the SMTP protocol enabled on your Router/Modem and then to have both the PC and your laptop use it to get the network information.
Not bagging on your advice, since it's excellent. Just figured I'd point out your typo, which is I'm sure all it was, since you seem to know a thing or two about a thing or two. Just didn't want to hear about dude pulling his hair out looking for where to enable SMTP, rather than DHCP.

I know what you meant, though.

I'd like to say something like this was a test, but I just fucked up. I even thought twice about it. oh well. Thanks for the correction.

ElTaco · Post by **ElTaco** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 9:56 pm

PSUFAN wrote:rack ElTaco's Triumphant Return.

Thanks!

As far as WPA goes, log onto your router/modem/switch/AP/etc... and under wireless security see if WPA is a choice. If its not then its not an issue because your Wireless AP doesn't support it. If you do find it, your next step is to turn it on (or in other words switch from WEP to WPA) and set your Key. Then go to your wireless PC/Laptop and see if it sees the network. if it doesn't, you may have to go and find the latest drivers for it. Download it to your PC and transfer it to your laptop. Anyway, once you update and make sure your laptop is up to date, most wireless cards will support WPA.

However, if you have WEP enabled, you are probably good to go. Just make sure DiT is not your neighbor.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 10:04 pm

ElTaco wrote:I'd like to say something like this was a test, but I just fucked up. I even thought twice about it. oh well. Thanks for the correction.

Oh, I'm the biggest nitpicking asshole here, but that might be a bit much because someone rattled off SMPT or ICMP instead of DHCP. All a bunch of abbreviations that end with "P" and rarely get used in everyday conversation.