Setting up a home network using windows 2000 pro and XP Pro

I have installed a D-Link Router (DI-604) I now have two computers that are connected to the internet. I have set up drive and printer sharing. I can use the internet with both of the computers at the same time. However, I can not see nor access my computers from one computer to the another.

Can someone give me very detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to configure a home network? I currently have W2KP on both computers. At some point in time I will be changing to WXP P. I am conntected to the internet by broadband.

I have ran the "Make New Connection" several times, I have renamed my workgroups to the same name on both computers. Now I am at a loss of what I need to do next.

 

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MY NETWORK AND MY COMPUTERS​

• On my Desk Top I am running a AMD XP 1800 that is operating at 1500 MHZ. I have a total 200 Gig's of hard disk space C:\= MAXTOR 80 G I have a document drive 40 Gig (WD) that is partitioned at 20 G each and a (WD) 80 G, this computer also has 512 DDR 333.

• My Laptop has an Mobel AMD 1400+, with 512 MB RAM (2 x 256), 60 Gig HD, and a VIA RHINE FAST ETHERNET Adaptor all in one card, That is built into the Mother Board of the Lap top. The Laptop was made by PC Notebook

• Last night (early this morning) I had everything working just fine. My laptop could see and communicate with my desk top and my desktop could see my laptop,

NEW PROBLEMS​

1. The network name of the DT = DeskTop, and the LapTop=Laptop.
2. The Workgroup on each computer= SHANDREW

This morning after I powered off my DT I left my laptop on. Now my laptop can see my Desktop, but my Desktop can not see my laptop. I have both of my printers connected to my desktop. I can print from my laptop through the Desk Top to the printers.

I could use a good and relaible web site that I could go to, and the name of a book that would be equivelent to Home Networking for Dummies, as well as help from some one who has set up their own home network using Win 2K.

 

SOLUTIONS THAT I HAVE TRIED​

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1. I have asked for help in this fourm​
2. I have gone to the Network and Dial-up Connections window, and re-established a network name and workgroup names​
3. I have cold booted both computers​
4. I have searched the internet for help on home networking. I have found many web sites that have detailed step-by-step instructions for W XP but none for W2K.​

 

Log to this page it has a lot of links to instructions to Windows Network Settings, and Sharing.

Link to: Windows Network - Installing & Sharing.

 

How's the network coming? It can be frustrating but let's start with the basics:

I realize much of this is working since you can connect to the interenet.

First, is your physical network working. r-click on networking neighborhood and select Properties. Then r-click on your lan card and select properties. There should be a check box to show icon in notification are when connected. Make sure this is checked and the close everything. This will put an icon in your sys tray showing you are connected to an ethernet network. It doesn't mean much else.

Now, assuming that the physical connection checks out, open a console window via Start>Run>cmd>Enter. Ping your router by typing: ping 192.168.0.1 which I believe is the default for Dlink. You should get 4 replies back since you are obviously connected to it since you can connect to the internet. If this doesn't work, go on to the next step.

Still in the console window, type: ipconfig /all This should show you the IP address of the machine you are on as well as a bunch of other information. Now, try to ping the machine you are one from the other machine. Then check the IP of the other machine and ping it back form the first machine. Again, all should be well. Now you have confirmed that IP stack is working correctly on both machines.

Now click Start>Run and type <A href="file://\"name">\\"name of other machine" Enter. This should open an explorer window to the other machine. The only thing listed might be the printers folder and scheduled tasks though. That is because you have not shared anything on the other computer. If you add \c$ to the end of the machine name it should connect to the hidden addministrative share of the root of the c drive. Any share that ends with a dollar sign is hidden. You get the idea yet.

A few other things:

You might be asked for credentials when you try to connect. You must supply credentials to the machine you are conecting to, not the machine you are using to connect. The easiest way is to have the same account on both machines. For example Username: bob Password: password. This way you shouldn't have to provide the credentials.

Here are some things to make it easier. r-click any folder on either computer and select Sharing. I usually share out the root of the c drive as c and go from their. When you connect to a remote computer all you see is the share name not the actual folder name. For instance you might have a folder called xyz but share it as 123 and when connect remotely to that computer all you will see is 123.

Once you set up some shares, you can map those shares as drive on another computer. For instance, assume you shared the root of the c drive as c on a machine named laptop. Click Start>Run and type \\laptop Enter. An explorer window should open showing all the shares on laptop including the c share. r-click on the c and select map drive. Select a drive letter and click OK, Save or whatever the button is at the bottom. Now when you open my computer you should see that drive listed as if it were a local hard drive on your computer.

You can also share printers the same way. Share them out on the first machine and then when you browse that machine via \\machinename you should see the printer. Just double click on the icon and the drivers will be installed the local machine and you can then print to the printer as if it was connected to your local computer.

Now I'm wondering how much of this you already know. Let me know if you have any other questions.

BTW, I don't think many people actually use networking neighborhood. I know I don't. Once you learn to map drives there is not much reason to.

-pat

 

Did you enable sharing for the individual drives or files you want to share on the network?

You have to set sharing for each file, directory, and drive you wish to share.
Enabling file and print sharing isn't enough.
Just right click on the drive, folder or files you want to share the click sharing and enable sharing for the network.

Hope this helps.