ok...help guys...i have two computers.....a belkin wireless router and both computers hooked up. I"m trying to run a network with them so i can share files, printers....ect. ran the xp network set up on both, both computers have the same network name, yet i can't see either computer on the other one. How do i make this work?


ps...have i mentioned i hate computers...

 

Are you running a firewall at the moment? Did you try using the setup wizard?

 

no firewall, (at least i don't think so) and i've run the set up wizard like three times....

 

Add IPX/SPX in your "Local Area Connection Properties" on both computers. Its a network protocol

 

how,,,,i'm computer illiterate.....thanks

 

Click Start, click Control Panel, and then Open Network Connections.
Right-click the LAN Connection and then click Properties.
On the General tab, click Install.
Click Protocol, and then click Add.
Click NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol and click OK.
Two NWLink items are added to the connection's Properties
Restart your computer even if not requested and The IPX/SPX protocol should now be installed and working.



__________________
TrunkSlammer

 

did you do it yet?

 

You also need to check that you have a file that is shared , so the other computer can see it .
Are on Cable ?
If so then you should have a firewall , and you greatly increase the security risk to your computers if you have flies / drives shared .

It ain't a trivial thing to do .
I must say i never had to use a IPX/SPX/NetBIOS protocol to share . I just use the TCP/IP protocol.
NetBIOS is about the easiest way into a computer for a hacker , so you really are playing with fire.

Do you really have to network them? To share the odd file!
For printing id use a print server , it's a pretty cheap bit of hardware , and very easy to setup . This means you can print from any computer regardless ,without having to have the *main* computer turned on. Its a much safer solution, and for more elegant . Then a USB thumb drive will sort out the file sharing ,They can be got in various sizes ( in storage terms) , are really quick to use .
Then undo any file shares , get rid or any protocols (including the hacker friendly NetBIOS ) leaving only the TCP/IP one , that's all you need .

When you make a folder/drive a shared folder/drive , you greatly simplify the work for a hacker . Unless your an experienced sysadmin .

So if you *hate* computers it's highly unlikely that your gonna be on top of the game in terms of keeping the network secure , it's a full time job !
Good luck :-)

 

Disregard ANY advice regarding IPX/SPX. I'm a systems administrator and a network engineer. You do NOT need an obsolete Novell Networks protocol installed to make two XP boxes talk to each other.

Make sure both boxes have TCP/IP installed on them. If you can use both to browse the internet, it's already installed.

Open up a command prompt, and type 'ipconfig /all' find the line that says IP Address. It should start with 172.16 or 192.168. Each box will have its own unique IP address. Try to ping the other address from one box.

If they can 'talk' to each other on the network, then it's a matter of setting up windows file sharing. Each also has to have the client for microsoft networking installed (it should already be installed), be part of the same workgroup, and have a different name. If they both have the same name, rename one. They have to be different.

Also, disregard the firewall stuff, as these are (well, they should be) on the same network. A firewall can only affect traffic going between networks.

NetBIOS is already enabled by default - doing this stuff doesn't make it worse. And keeping up to date on patches, etc. is far from a full time job for two computers. These days, they update themselves, for cryin' out loud. Don't make it seem harder than it is.

 

Interesting ... a firewall will also prevent unauthorised traffic goin out from your computer , never mind internetwork traffic ...and once you create shared files/drives a firewall is pretty much essential....

Are you saying he don't need a firewall ? cos that's mad ...

Yeah , i was being polite , IPX / SPX is outdated and not needed , and to suggest it is , is pretty insane ...

" NetBIOS is enabled by default" sure is , so you sayin leave it there ? That's even madder!
I said remove all protocols except TCP/IP , that incluced NetBIOS , your suggesting that it's there already so what about it , not a great idea , it's a big security risk . Only a nut would run that .

Windows updates itself , does it indeed !
Months after an exploit is found MS get around to patchin it . In the meantime ? Well im all ears ......

"it's just a matter of setting up Wndows File sharing" , is that all there is to it ? , pretty simple , huh ...
To do that in a secure manner , is not simple ......

I would presume he is using XP home .
If you know anything , then you know XP home is , in terms of security , worthless .
Opening up another file share is just makin it even easier for a hacker .

Patchin one computer is the same as patchin a 1000 computer's , it has to be done , regular .
You think a dude that *hate's* computers is gonna do that , that's where the full time job come's in.

Do you think that someone that * hates* computers know's what "ping" is ?
Do you think that someone that *hates* computers knows what "cmd prompt" is ?
Do you think that someone that *hates* computers knows how to set up a secure file share ?



Read the question , again , this is not about being smart , it's about givin the correct answer to the person that asked it .

So your a network engineer, also known as a cable monkey, give the dude proper advice .

Learn a bit about computer security , about what the average user wants and try again ......

Sorry if i sound harsh , but im never impressed with someone demonstrating their knowledge , in a manner which tries to obviously belittle *normal* people ...

The dude is a Regular home computer user , who *hates* computers , references to Ping , cmd prompt , etc., does little to educate him , give's you a false elevation of your own self importance , and to suggest that file sharing is a trival affair is to treat the man with contempt ...

Are you trying to hack him?

( one of these day's i'll get banned form this forum , but if it's for speakin the truth , that's OK by me :-)

Ordinary people ask ordinary qusetions, give them a proper answer !

Most of the above will have gone above the head of the average dude , which proves my point .

Sorry if i offend anyone.

 

kitz....... once again you amaze me ......and disappoint me at the same time....... instead of knocking some one ,who was helping...why didn't you just offer your advice...and be helpful.....but then again ...maybe you really don't care who you offend......

 

I'll jump in here to...
we can argue about oil, nd gas vs diesel, etc...
but I wan't sure we'd get into arguing trying to help about an XP issue !!!!

let's chill and thinnk the old adage...
if u can't say anything good, don't say anything at all....

 

Ryan50hrl
Can you tell neither of the two deals much with end users

I deal with both types day after day...I know some really smart people who cant tie their own shoe, and others who cant be in a room with more then five people, so they stay in a 15x20 room doing what they do best.

Here is a link with info on setting up a network using Windows XP

Windows XP Network Protocol
It may ask for a password, just click cancel.

If you had added IPX/SPX, it would have helped. You would have seen both computer's in your workgroup. After that bit of success, you would be more open to trying other things, like some DOS commands.

Thats why I asked " Did you do it yet?"

Im done with you people!!!

 

OK , i am very sorry if i did ( and clearly i did ) offend anyone .
Honest it was not my intention to do that , so sorry if i did :-(

As regards the "if i care" comment , well yes i do .
I do care if i think someone is about to set them selves up as a nice target for a hacker .

Anyhow that's no excuse for ignorance , which i may! have displayed.

Honest , sorry :-(

Just trying to do the right thing !

 

You call me a cable monkey, ask me if I'm trying to "hack" another user, tell me I should "learn about computer security", publicly display your ignorance about networking, security, and the computing world in general, and all you can say for yourself is that you're just trying to do the right thing?

That's pretty weak.

If *you* don't think it's helpful, then fine. I didn't ask for your opinion. If the original poster wants more detail, clarification, etc., then he's more than welcome to post a follow up and ask questions.

BTW - I support lots of end-users. Most of them are engineers, which are a little different breed than your average user.