LAN Setup Question, Please Help

[HansGroenewold]

Hello,

I'm coming to the mountain top for help. I just got a new PC and wanted to set up a LAN with my other PC. They are connected with a Linksys VOIP router to a cable modem. I ran the Network Setup Wizard to create my own LAN. The Wizard ran fine but I still can't get access to files on the other PC.

When I go to My Network Places/ Entire Network/ Microsoft Windows Network it shows the other PC, but I don't have access. I clicked on the folders I wanted to share to enable sharing but still no luck. A buddy of mine suggested disconnecting both PC's from the cable modem since it has a firewall and also shutting down Zone Alarm on both PC's, which I also have.

I haven't tried this yet. I wanted to see if anyone here had any other suggestions. Is there a tutorial available for this anywhere? The Microsoft web site was not much help other than telling me to run the "wizard"

I have tried three times now to set this up and have the extra connections showing on my desktop under settings/network connections/local area connections. When I right click on them to get rid of them, the "delete" key is not accessable. Is there any way to rid myself of the ones that aren't connected?

I'm also worried that since this is a new PC that I'm doing some damage to the system by trying to set up this LAN. The last thing I want to do to my new PC is reinstalling XP. I wouldn't think I'm screwing anything up trying to set up a LAN, but you never know. Am I affecting the performance of my new PC and programs by being unsuccesfull in setting up a LAN?

Apparently, there is more to setting up a LAN than just running the Wizard. I'm hoping someone out there can help me set this up, it's a personal thing now. Any help would be deeply appreciated. Thank you very much.

Sincerely,
Hans Groenewold

 

[ebaycj]

if you can see the other computer, you probably just have to share the drives you want to be available on the network (in winxp, right click on the drive in explorer, hit 'sharing and security')

 

[HansGroenewold]

I've tried that but when I try to access the other PC, it tells me the server is not available. One thing, I can see the other PC from one PC only. When I double click on my LAN name on the other PC, the hourglass just stays there. I did, or at least thought I did, the setup the same way.

Sincerely,
Hans

 

[HansGroenewold]

Anybody? I'm desperate to resolve this.... Thanks.

Sincerely,
Hans

 

[Beaks]

Have you set your router to allow unltd access between computers on the LAN? Do they both have the same domain/workgroup name?

If you have shares enabled for the drive/folder you wish to share, you may have to enable a guest account.

One last thing, when I tried to access my other computer, despite shares being allowed it wouldn't let me due to a service called 'server' not being enabled. This can be found in computer management/services, check see if 'server' is set for auto or manual start.

Also check all permutations of ping between all your PC's and router, a firewall may be blocking. Use run and type cmd to get dos prompt, ping XX.XX.XX.XX (ip addresses), also check ipconfig /all, gives info of various network settings.

 

[ColKurtz]

Try disabling any software firewalls you have and see if that helps. I use ZoneAlarm, for instanace, and have to set up "trusted zones" for my PCs to access each other. Even that fails sometimes, and instead of trying to figure it out I just shutdown ZA temporarily while I copy files.

Also, instead of using Network Neighborhood go into explorer and do Tools -> Map Network Drive. Put in the share you want to connect to. Use the following format (replace "computername" and "sharename" with the proper names for your setup) without the quotes "\\computername\sharename". If it doesn't work, the error message might help figure out where the problem lies.

 

[HansGroenewold]

Thanks for the replies, I appreciate them. It would be nice if there was detailed documentation that explained how to set up a LAN. Obviously, there's more to it than just running the "wizard". For instance, where is "computer management" and the "console tree"? Thanks again.

Sincerely,
Hans