How Do I Setup A Home Network

[echnidna]

I've bin stuffin around all day and still can't even find the workgroup on either PC.

At least both connect to the web.

[ozwinner]

Are you running XP?

Al :)

[echnidna]

Both pc's are on xp home,
The wizards just aint getting me connected

[celeste]

Hi echnidna

are you using your internet router for the network?

Celeste

[echnidna]

Theres an inbuilt Lan on the motherboard.
Haven't got broadband only isdn which means I must use a NT4 modem.

[Gumby]

I'd like more info on your settings.

Ip addresses, gateway address, dns server, computer name and workgroup, subnet mask etc.


And is that modem a router as well?

Have alook aty this site if you want to keep playing:

http://www.ozcableguy.com/cableicsxp.html

[Big Shed]

Ok, some of these may seem obvious, but....

Do the LEDs come on on the router for all computers?

Are you using the correct LAN cables, ie not using cross-overs with a router? Or is it a wireless network?

Have you set your hard drives to be shared?

Have you loaded the network drivers for the motherboard and the LAN devices?

Do you get any error messages, if so what are they?

Fred

[Malibu]

Gday Bob
I went through the same ordeal last year when I tried to network my desktop with my laptop... scratched my head for ages!
It turns out I needed a crossover cable for direct pc to pc networking. Once I got the right cable, away it all went!
Hope it helps :)

[echnidna]

Theres no router or hub, just a simple cable between pc's.
I'm pretty sure its a crossover.
The other pc has internet access, I don't think that would happen with a plain cable.

Can I test the cable with a multi meter & how?

[Gumby]

Theres no router or hub, just a simple cable between pc's.
I'm pretty sure its a crossover.
The other pc has internet access, I don't think that would happen with a plain cable.

Can I test the cable with a multi meter & how?

If it's a crossover cable it will be red.

[Shedhand]

I lost it. Did the goo big time. Tossed all the damn cables, cards and modems in the bin and went wireless. Cost about 230 bucks all up and was dead easy to set up. (one PC and 2 notebooks). :2tsup:

[old_picker]

right click on my computer
choose properties > computer name >
they should be the same workgroup

on each computer start > run > cmd
type ipconfig /release press enter
type ipconfig /renew press enter
type exit enter key

make sure you have at least one shared folder on each computer

turn off modem [pull out the power lead]
turn off router [pull power lead]
turn off computers
turn on modem wait for lights
turn on router
turn on computers
check network neighorhood > computers near me you shoould see both
if you hsvent got a nat router get one it will come with a good firewall
pere tp peer networking i pc direct to another is a PIA router will cost $60.00
sometimes running the network setup will do it if all else fails

[Honorary Bloke]

if you hsvent got a nat router get one it will come with a good firewall pere tp peer networking i pc direct to another is a PIA router will cost $60.00


Amen. I gave up on peer to peer pretty quick. A cheap router works just fine and is much easier. :)

[echnidna]

Are ALL crossover cables red?
My cable is black

[namtrak]

Hows your eyes?

You should be able to see the wires running into the back of the plug. Just tick off the order of the colours and if they are the same its not a crossover.

Cheers

[silentC]

Hold the two plugs together head to head and if any of the colours line up, it's a crossover cable.

[Cliff Rogers]

Erk....:oo: Ignore most of what has been said already.... :doh:
Some of it is correct but a lot of it isn't. :~

1. Get the first computer on the net with the ISDN NT4.

Do NOT dick around with anything else until that works first.

2. Then, once it is working, go to the properties of that connection & set up internet sharing. (Let me know if you need help with that step)

3. Connect the 2 computers via a network crossover cable. They are usually red or have a red connector but if you hold the 2 connectors side by side with the little clip lock away from you & look through the clear plastic shroud, you will be able to see the colours of the wires. If they are in the same order from left to right, it is NOT a crossover cable.

4. If you haven't dicked with all the network settings, the 2nd computer should be now able to see the internet automagicly. If you have dicked with the network settings, run the network set up wizard & select the option that says "This computer connects to the Internet via a residential gateway or another computer on my network"

It all should work now... but, if you have had a good old dick around with the network setting on the 1st computer, you may have to run the network set up wizard on it again too.

The only hidden gotchas that I know of are firewalls on the computer sharing the connection. The standard Windows firewall works fine, Zone Alarm has problems. I have never been able to convince Zone Alarm to share an Internet connection on a LAN (local area network ) successfully. :((
I can get it to allow the main computer out to the Internet & onto the LAN & I've been able to get it to allow the other computers on the LAN to access file & print sharing on the main computer but not the shared Internet connection.
Zone Alarm runs fine on the other computers on the LAN. :rolleyes:

Hope that helps.

PS. Sorry if I have stepped on anybody's toes. :roll:

[echnidna]

thanks all I'll have a play later coz I gotta go make sawdust right now

[MurrayD99]

I didn't think XP home-edition had networking functionality.....

[echnidna]

Both pc's connect to the internet
Ran the setup wizard on both pc's
The server won't even show an icon for mshome
The other pc does show both pc's in mshome the other pc comes up with the message in the pic when I click the server

[Cliff Rogers]

I didn't think XP home-edition had networking functionality.....
Limited, will do peer to peer & internet sharing but can't be put on a domain.

[Cliff Rogers]

Both pc's connect to the internet
Ran the setup wizard on both pc's
The server won't even show an icon for mshome
The other pc does show both pc's in mshome the other pc comes up with the message in the pic when I click the server
OK, you have connectivity so it ain't hardware.
Run the wixards again, make sure you have file & printer sharing turned on & then on each PC, go to the properties of the HDD & go to the sharing tab & share the HDD. :wink:

[echnidna]

done that - no difference

[Gumby]

That pic makes a difference. I didn;t think you could see the 2 comps when you click 'View Workgroup computers" but you can. So, the settings are OK and I'd be saying that no drive or folder is set as shared but I think you said it was.

If that's the case, it's got me beaten but it has happened at work. A reboot fixed it.

[echnidna]

tried that too - no difference

[chrisb691]

This might be helpful. http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/filesharing.htm

[Cliff Rogers]

tried that too - no difference
$80/Hr including travel time, I can be there next Turesday. :D

[celeste]

Hi all

A stupid Question maybe - are you sure the 2nd computer (with no icon) has a network card installed.?

Celeste

[Gumby]

Hi all

A stupid Question maybe - are you sure the 2nd computer (with no icon) has a network card installed.?

Celeste]

It would be a pretty good computer to be on the internet without one :D

[celeste]

Theres an inbuilt Lan on the motherboard.
Haven't got broadband only isdn which means I must use a NT4 modem.

Hi all

<TABLE class=tborder style="BORDER-TOP- 0px" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=6 width="100%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR title="Post 440793" vAlign=top><TD class=alt2>It would be a pretty good computer to be on the internet without one :D</TD></TR><TR><TD class=thead colSpan=2>10th Jan 2007 09:03 PM</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

I was on the internet without one dialup and when we moved into the new house broadband, had to buy one when I had them networked.

Celeste

[celeste]

At least both connect to the web.

sorry meant to ask is computer no.2 connected to the web via computer no.1 ?

Celeste

[echnidna]

yes
both pcs connect to the net
the server can't see the other pc but it can see but not access the server

[Big Shed]

yes
both pcs connect to the net
the server can't see the other pc but it can see but not access the server

If it can see but not access then it is something to do with either permission or sharing not being set. You need to set sharing for your HDDs, if you don't share them then you can't access them.

Right click on the drive in My Computer, select sharing and set sharing on.

Should be something like that, never did change to XP, Home or Pro, as Win2000 does everything I want it to do (and more!)

I know how you feel, life shouldn't be this hard, WinXP was supposed to all this automatically, thanks Bill!

[MurrayD99]

Limited, will do peer to peer & internet sharing but can't be put on a domain.


Ohhhh. Thanks

[Barry_White]

As bigshed says it's got to be in the sharing somewhere. I have my network set up with it hardwired throughout the house with cat 5 cable and operate with a little D-Link hub. I did this well before wireless was really available. I think sometimes wireless can be a bit of hit and miss especially in a steel framed house.

I originally had it set up using Co-Ax put that was creating all sorts of troubles and that was on Win98.

Since the change to XP it was really a piece of cake. Connected the computers turned them on and they found each other straight away but the main thing is sharing of files and folders and printers.

Just on the issue of XP home and pro. My server is running XP Home and the client is XP Pro so the issue that MurrayD99 brought up is a bit mute.

[echnidna]

Would it be worthwhile deleting the netwrok and the internet connection and totally reinstalling them?

[celeste]

Hi all

a couple of things

1. are you logged on a admin?
2. I have XP home on both PC and broadband, any way I found I had to click and drag shared folders into the file called "shared doc's"

so when I open "my network places" is shows files labelled " shared doc's chris's computer (study) / shared pictures chris etc.

Try that

Celeste

[celeste]

Hi all

Sorry one more thing when I open my network places and click on view workgroup computers I see mine and chris's. Oddly my daughter also logs on wireless and hers does not show up at all.

Celeste

[echnidna]

Well at the moment I'm peeved so its time to forget it for a while.
At least both pc's have internet access