How do I set up a proper network?
hello,
This is probably the most painful, difficult thing I have ever had to do in my whole life. :crazy:
After much messing about, I managed to get some sort of a network between my PC and laptop back in January I think, and recently, whilst trying to add a Vista PC, I got it to stop working, which I think is a pretty good achievement! :)
Anyway, does anybody know exactly to set up a network? Definitions like network, workgroup etc etc?
I am using two XP machines, one connected to a router via cable, and a laptop connected via wireless tech to the router. The router is connected to the phone line. I've done the 'search for network, connect, and voila' method, but all that enables me to do is connect to the internet.
I'd rather forget the fact I have a Vista system now, it makes things simpler, and I won't get it back from Scan until mid-next week anyway.
I'd be very appreciative if somebody could help out.
Thanks!
Re: How do I set up a proper network?
*shudder*
I tried networking under XP... I found it awful as well, and gave up in the end.
Not tried under Vista yet... have looked at the menus and if it's as easy as it makes out, i'll be well happy.
So: Sorry, can't help. Yet.
Re: How do I set up a proper network?
Make sure your router is setup to act as a DHCP server (which it should be, unless you've fiddled with it).
Run Start->Settings->Network Connections->Network Setup Wizard on each machine in your LAN. and tell it to get the addresses automatically.
Re: How do I set up a proper network?
hello,
I've tried all the wizards, no luck. I can get internet connections on all the PC's, just not an actual network, what ever that is. :)
Re: How do I set up a proper network?
Do you have software forewalls running on the PCs? If so, you need to make them allow network traffic..zonealarm is a particular pig for blocking this.
Re: How do I set up a proper network?
I don't know anymore. :(
It used to work before, I'm not sure why it doesn't. Any ideas on how to enable 'traffic' in Norton 360?
Thankyou so much!
Re: How do I set up a proper network?
Not sure about norton, but in zonealarm, you just set up a trusted ip range for your router eg 192.168.1.1 - 192.168.255.255.
You could try disconnecting from the internet and disabling norton for a while to see if it is that.
shudder..norton.
Re: How do I set up a proper network?
Have you enabled file sharing on these machines? If you can use the internet but not see the other network workstations then perhaps you just need to enable file sharing and setup some shares?
Can you see the other PC's in my network places? Are all the machines attached to the same workgroup? To check right click on 'my computer' on your desktop, click 'properties' and 'computer name' tab. Ensure the workgroup matches on each machine.
Also ensure you are using 'Simple File Sharing' if your new to all this. This can be turned on by opening 'My Computer' and selecting Tools > Folder Options. Click on the view tab and check the 'Use Simple file Sharing' Checkbox (at the bottom). I can't recall if this is on or off by default.
You can disable your firewall briefly to see if this is 'hiding' your machine from the network.
I have also found in the past if your networking between different operating systems (i.e. Vista - Win XP and a older version 95, 98) this is a royal pain in the backside.
Hope some of this helps.
Re: How do I set up a proper network?
hello,
Thankyou so much. I tried disabling Norton, that's not the problem. Does anyone know of a step by step guide I can use to start a network from scratch?
Re: How do I set up a proper network?
Re: How do I set up a proper network?
i remembered that if you have XP, they should be able to create setup disks for networks. You can then slot these setup disk onto other computers so that they network...
Re: How do I set up a proper network?
hello,
Thanks. :)
I've tried everything however, and it's still the same.
I did manage to get the systems to see each other on the network places thing (only for a while), but from my PC (connected via RJ45), I could see the laptop on network places, albeit it was under a heading 'internet.' Have I done it correctly?
In addition, whilst I was trying to get this done (when my vista pc was here) I ended up loading network settings onto the computers many times via setup disks (USB disk), with two different network names. Will all this have made a mess on the hard drive?
Re: How do I set up a proper network?
Ok, lets try to help you :)
Your setup is:
1x Windows XP
1x Windows Vista
1x Wireless Cable-Router
The Windows XP is connected via RJ45, and the Windows Vista via Wireless.
Cable-Router is then connected to your ISP for Internet access.
Is this correct?
First of all I would check about any kind of firewalls. You said you have Norton 360 installed.
Try to disable it for some time. Also check if the Windows Firewall might be active, and disable this aswell. (Control Panel - Windows Firewall).
If everything is disabled, check the IP Configuration of each machine.
Best is from command line (cmd).
With "ipconfig /all" you should see all relevant details like Hostname, IP address, Subnet, DNS, Gateway.
Both Systems should be in the same IP Range/Subnet.
First try to ping each other. This should normaly work if both Systems are on the same network.
It might also be that there is an option on the Router, which disables access LAN <-> WLAN
If the ping was successful, Share a folder on each of the machine and give NETWORK access to it.
The fastet way to access a remote share is by using Start - Run and then "\\HOSTNAME".
Then you should see the remote share in a new window. If you see it but can't access it (getting a Access denied or something) the you have to tweak the permissions a little bit.
I always had problems with shares on *** products.
That should give you some tips on how to solve your problem.
Re: How do I set up a proper network?
hello,
Thankyou so much. :D
I'm sorry, I should have been more specific. I have an ADSL Modem Wireless Router, which plugs into the wall for internet access. Then, my XP PC connects via RJ45 to the router. Secondly, my laptop (also XP) connects via wireless. I don't want to bring the vista machine into it yet, as it's a complete pain. :D
I've tried what you said, but only see my PC in the cmd box. How do I ping?
First of all, I want to try and set up the whole thing again. I'll use the XP wizards, probably easier.
What do I click on, the set up network wizard, or set up wireless network wizard, as one system is connected wirelessly, and the other is connected by RJ45?
EDIT: Ok, now nothing appears in My Network places :(
Re: How do I set up a proper network?
Make sure that it is configured to get IP via DHCP from your Router.
Then do the ipconfig stuff in cmd
You ping with "ping IP" :mrgreen
Lets say, PC1 has 192.168.1.10, PC2 192.168.1.20
From PC1: ping 192.168.1.20
From PC2: ping 192.168.1.10
Easy as that :)
Re: How do I set up a proper network?
hello,
Dude, thankyou so much.
It is however, not working. It tries 4 times, and comes up with 100% loss. On both systems. Just to make sure, how do I check the IP address? Looking at the DHCP client list on the router, the two systems have slightly different IP's, but when I try 'whatismyip.com' on both systems, it comes up with a completelly different long number, but it's the same on both systems. :(
BTW, could you take a look at my prev post on using wireless and RJ45 at the same time?
Thanks again! :D