Hi guys -

I just set-up a network to share internet access, and now I want to
move onto sharing files between the different systems.

I have one XP laptop with a Linksys wifi card, and a W2K desktop pc
hooked onto the Linksys router through an ethernet cable. However, the
computers do not be seeing one another, while I am sure file enabling
is enabled on both machines.

Can someone provide me with an easy-to-follow, fool-proof tutorial on
how to get my machines to see one another (both for the laptop and
desktop...)?

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Request for Question Clarification by answerguru-ga on 30 Dec 2002 11:02 PST

Hi adsensor-ga,

Is this the type of thing you are looking for:

Windows XP File Sharing:
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/filesharing.htm

Windows 2000 File Sharing:
http://www.ntfaq.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=21173

http://www.proxim.com/support/all/symphonyhomerf/technotes/tn2001-10-11.html

If this is the information you were looking for just let me know and I
can repost this as an answer :)

answerguru-ga

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Clarification of Question by adsensor-ga on 30 Dec 2002 11:33 PST

I'm not sure if this is what I need, answerguru-ga ...

I already have the entire HD on my XP laptop being shared ... it seems
as if the two computers don't see one another in the network at all,
might be that that needs to be solved first, I'm not sure. From both
computers, I don't see any other computers in the network - do we need
to fix that first?

Mike

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Request for Question Clarification by answerguru-ga on 30 Dec 2002 11:43 PST

You may want to contact Linksys since the reason that shared resources
are often restricted is because of default security measures set up on
the router itself. From a windows standpoint, there is little else you
can do other than what is outlined in those tutorials I referenced.

answerguru-ga

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Clarification of Question by adsensor-ga on 30 Dec 2002 12:11 PST

I'm not sure linksys would be of much help regarding this since they
are classifying this as a software-related issue, I already tried.
Could you help me regarding this? I own the standard WiFi Linksys
router: http://www.linksys.com/Products/product.asp?grid=23&prid=415

Besides, Linksys tells me this on one of their regional sites:
 
Can I share my files across the network with Linksys Router?  
 
Yes, all Linksys routers (except BEFSR11) have built-in switches to
share files across the network.

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Clarification of Question by adsensor-ga on 30 Dec 2002 12:51 PST

I just did some more following your tutorials ... the win2k desktop
box can share the XP files now ... it's just that the XP box doesn't
see the W2k box yet. I have set up a share with permissions to
everyone, assigned a network ID and both machines are in the same
workgroup ... what am i doing wrong?

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Request for Question Clarification by answerguru-ga on 30 Dec 2002 14:11 PST

Hi again,

I've searched endlessly for additional resources, but all are along
the same lines as the ones I provided earlier. When you are on the XP
box and look in the workgroup, do you see the other computer at all?
If so, does it say "access denied" when you try to open it or just
show an empty directory?

answerguru-ga

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Clarification of Question by adsensor-ga on 06 Jan 2003 06:30 PST

This is what's the issue right now: 
 
The computers see one another, and a log-in box pops up when I try
reaching the Windows2000 machine ... yet *no* username/password
combination works.
 
I have the same users on both machines, have the right permissions set
it seems (all Administrators), have set the share to allow anything
from anyone in the network ... what on earth am I doing wrong? NetBIOS
is enabled on both machines.
 
Mike

Well, it's a thought, but you could use the Windows default drive
sharing to map your Win2K box accross the network, it works like this:

Path: \\1.2.3.4\c$\

1.2.3.4 is the IP address of the computer with the information on it.
c$ is the name of the share on the computer.  By default all drives on
the computer are set up as shares (c$, d$, e$...), just change the "c"
to whatever the drive letter is that you'd like to share.  Here's how
I would do this on a system (this may not be XP-correct but should be
close):

Right-click on My Computer->Map Network Drive
Select the drive letter you'd like to give it.
In the folder box type the full path like above, \\12.34.56.78\d$\
(The d: drive on 12.34.56.78).
Press Finish.

Now my computer would have a new drive mapped to the other computer's
share.  As far as I've seen this functionality is enabled on all Win2K
boxes as-is, no tweaking needed.

"I just did some more following your tutorials ... the win2k desktop
box can share the XP files now ... it's just that the XP box doesn't
see the W2k box yet."
Welcome to the wonderful world of the NetBIOS Neighborhood.  Someties
computers in a workgroup take a while to recognize each other. 
Sometimes they never do unless you give them a kick-start.
1. turn on both of your computers.
2. make sure both computers are in the same workgroup
3. bring up a run dialouge box, and type in "\\name-of-other-computer"
(replaicing 'name-of-ther-computer' with the NetBIOS name of the other
computer) and hit enter.  This might cause your computer to seem to
'freeze up' or run slowly for a minute or two as it tries to establish
a connection.
4. if everything goes well, an explorer window should (eventually) pop
up displaying the other computer's shared folders.
5. repeat the process on the other computer.
6. be prepared to do this again if you turn one of the computers off.

Thanks for the thoughts guys ...

This is what's the issue right now:

The computers see one another, and a log-in box pops up when I try
reaching the Windows2000 machine ... yet *no* username/password
combination works.

I have the same users on both machines, have the right permissions set
it seems (all Administrators), have set the share to allow anything
from anyone in the network ... what on earth am I doing wrong? NetBIOS
is enabled on both machines.

Mike