Noob Networking

[C.P. Jones]

Hi,

I had posted a few weeks ago to network a DSL connection, which was done successfully. I have a 2Wire DSL Router, and I hooked up to printers to the base PC (Win 2000 Pro) (tower, wires, and all)....a newer HP 5850 WiFi printer, and an older HP 712C. The other networked (on the internet only so far) computer is a laptop w/ XP. The laptop recognizes the new printer b/c of the Wi-Fi, but not b/c of a network.

I was hoping I could network everything together, including file-sharing. I don't mind if I can't figure out how to share both printers since at least one is recognized, but I would like to figure out how to do file-sharing.

I've been trying since early this afternoon, and I haven't gotten anywhere past hooking up the printers.

I'd appreciate any help, thanks!

[Byte 2.0]

ok, the first thing that might be giving you trouble with filesharing is if if you have firewalls running on windows, including the firewall that is native in win XP.

Second, have to get both of the computers in the same work group name.

In win xp, do this in system properties, right click my computer, go to properties and then computer name. Here you can pick a computer name for your network.

Also, pick a name for the computers, the computer names must be unique.
So same network name, different computer names.

All networks take a bit of time to setup, I am never satified with my network and I am always changing something.

[C.P. Jones]

the firewall on the XP laptop is off and both computers belong to the same workgroup (what's weird w/ this is that the 2000 PC won't let me change it anymore, but I used to be able to do so....the XP laptop allows me to change it if I want to)

I guess I should also mention that I used the network wizards on the respective machines and got no where with either.....also, the printers are both selected for sharing...and I made a shared folder on the 2000 PC...XP already has a bunch set up

when i go to My Network Places....Computers Near Me:
nothing is found

[C.P. Jones]

So I was looking through the 2Wire Router's "HomePortal Home Page" and went to the help page...if followed some directions and:

I was able at one point to log on from the laptop as "guest", i was able to see both printers and the shared folder, but was not allowed into the shared folder...i tried to set the same passwords and such and have not been able to find this folder again...i went back to the 2000PC and found that guest was still connected and i disconnected it to try it again....i was not able to reconnect

in order to connect, i clicked on "access shared files" under the "home network" of the 2000PC from the laptop....a window popped up asking for name and password, which were both correct....after disconnecting i never saw this window again

i still can't change the workgroup name, although they are both the same.....when i go to search computers near me, it says that it is searching under the name that i used to have

i changed the laptop to the old workgroup name (which is not the one that is says but seems to be searching for on the 2000PC) and it still could not be found under "computers near me"

I also have all IP addresses...the 2wire homepage also has its own "network name", idk if i have to change this...

thanks