useing XP as a server

[Chris Linder]

Hello all
I have a computer I just built that’s using an essentials series Intel MoBo with 1G of ram running a Celeron D 3.45 , Im running Windows XP and would like to start using it as a file server for my music and videos. Im not very familiar with servers but I know there very useful. Therefore would like to run a simple one to start with , and move up. I know XP like the back of my hand , I have Vista on my laptop and almost have a grip on it. If anyone could give me some good advise that wouldn’t require me to move from XP I would strongly appreciate it.
Thanks

[ITlover]

Do you want to make a local network and allow your laptop to access files on WinXP?

For Win Vista i cannot say anything but if you want ,you can place all your important files and data on WinXP Computer and make your WinXP computer a Remote Desktop Server and allow your Laptop to access that Remote Desktop Server remotely.

I hope this helps,

[Chris Linder]

Ya Iv used remote desktop before in the past and didn’t like it because I would experience a computers IP address to change sometimes and wouldn’t let me connect anymore. I have done as you said and it works great . But now how would I connect with remote desktop to this computer externally from any computer with it going throe a router. For instance the IP to the computer is 192.168.1.104 I cant use that to connect externally can I.

[ITlover]

The Computer IP address only changes when they are configured to get TCP/IP configuration dynamically from DHCP Server. If you donot have a DHCP Server than your computers TCP/IP configuration shouldnot change but remain static.

Anyway the "name" of the computer to which you are trying to connect remotely remains the same, no matter what its IP address is, so you should not have problem accessing that computer remotely using its "computer name".

Do you mean to say that you want to connect the laptop with your Remote Desktop Server(WinXP) via router?

[Chris Linder]

Well if thats what will let me connect remotely from any ware then yes. What im trying to achieve is share my music / videos / pictures / software data , to other computers except not just at home I would like to connect to my win xp computer from any ware on the internet world wide. Is that router not going to let me do so. I have the main IP address from the router but how do I use that address to connect to a computer that’s in that network.