I can get internet but I can't share files.

Well, I recently got a laptop. I have had a wireless router for about a year
now so when I got the laptop I set up the connection. Everything works fine
with the internet, but I'm a bit confused on what I have to do to get file
and printer sharing. It's an inconvience having to put files on my USB drive
and move over to my desktop just to print.
So could anyone tell me which network setup option I have to go to, to set
up file and printer sharing for a wireless network? I have tried a few
different ones but I don't know if they're meant for wireless and when it
seems like I find the right one, it never works.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

The fact that you have a wireless connection is irrelevant. You need to
set up your local area network.

Run the Network Setup Wizard on both computers, making sure to enable
File & Printer Sharing, and reboot. The only "gotcha" is that this will
turn on the XPSP2 Windows Firewall. If you aren't running a third-party
firewall or have an antivirus with "Internet Worm Protection" (like
Norton 2005/06) which acts as a firewall, then you're fine. If you have
third-party firewall software, configure it to allow the Local Area
Network traffic as trusted. I usually do this with my firewalls with an
IP range. Ex. would be 192.168.1.0-192.168.1.254. Obviously you would
substitute your correct subnet.

If one or more of the computers is XP Pro:

a. If you need Pro's ability to set fine-grained permissions, turn off
Simple File Sharing (Folder Options>View tab) and create identical user
accounts/passwords on all computers.

b. If you don't care about using Pro's advanced features, leave the
Simple File Sharing enabled.

Simple File Sharing means that Guest (network) is enabled. This means
that anyone without a user account on the target system can use its
resources. This is a security hole but only you can decide if it
matters in your situation.

Then create shares as desired. XP Home does not permit sharing of users'
home directories (My Documents) or Program Files, but you can share
folders inside those directories. A better choice is to simply use the
Shared Documents folder.

Malke

 

If you've already tried several ways of setting up file and print sharing
then maybe you have the same problem I had. I use zonelabs firewall and it
doesn't allow file sharing etc in high security mode. Sometimes it doesn't
even allow it in medium security and then I have to turn the firewall off to
share files.

I'm assuming you've checked file and print sharing is installed and ticked
in the network Network settings setup. But just in case you haven't. Try
this (I should point out that I'm totally new to networking so this will be
very basic!)

ControlPanel->Network Connections
Right click on your network card->properties
you should now have a list of services and protocols listed
in there you should have File and printer sharing installed.
Make sure there's a tick against the box as well. If it's not installed I
think you can just click install. It will ask if you want a client or a
protocol or a service. I'm not sure which one file and printer sharing comes
under. Service maybe. I can't try it on mine to see as xp doesn't list
services that are already installed in the install menu. But anyway, if you
haven't got file sharing installed then thats your problem. If you have then
maybe try sharing with your firewall disabled. Also have you actually set
any folders on either of your computers to be shared. If not then nothing
will show in your Network Places. To set a folder for sharing simply goto my
computer. Select your hard disk. Pick a folder to share and right click on
it. Select Sharing and security. Windows may warn you about sharing folders.
If you select something like "I understand the dangers and want to share
this folder anyway (I can't recall the exact words) then then dialog will
open out a bit more and there should be a "share this folder" box. Check the
box Click apply then you have a shared folder. You should now be able to see
the folder you've choosen to share in My Network places on both machines.
Press refresh a few times sometimes helps.

If you've already tried all this I apologise for waqsting your time. Your
post didn't give many details. Oh yes one last thing. Make sure both your
pc's are set for the same workgroup name and both computers have different
Computer names

martin (complete newbie)

 

Hi

May be this can Help. http://www.ezlan.net/sharing.html

Jack (MVP-Networking).

 

Thank you! I have Zone Alarm installes so I found that that was blocking my
attempts to share files. Aftre shutting down Zone Alarm, everything works
fine.

I found in where I can insert trusted IPs, but I don't know how I find the
IPs of my computers. So how do I do this? *Sorry, kind of a stupid question
I'm sure.

Thanks again.

 

I figured it out. Thank you everyone for the help. It's all working now.