Home network capabilities?

Hi all at MG's,
I am a total novice so if these question seem stupid please bear with me. When a 2 computer network is set up does the 2nd machine have complete access to whatever is on the first? That is, if the 1st has xp and the other w98 (as far as I can tell, two different windows versions can be networked) can the w98 access any program that is in the xp machine.
I guess what I'm asking is in a network situation, do the 2 machines merge and basically turn into one with two keyboards, monitors etc that work independently of each other accessing the OS of the primary machine.
I have seen things about file sharing, internet access sharing and was wondering just how far the sharing goes.
Thanks, old dog.

 

There's no magical transformation or machine sex involved. There is no change to either machine, visible to the user.

All that happens is that the other computer appears a bit like a large hard drive called 'my network places'. The user can view copy, write and delete files on this 'hard drive' just as with the files on his own drive. Programs are not accessible in this way.

There are some restrictions on this depending upon exactly how the network is configured.

Although it is possible to install new programs on one pc using the other as the installation 'hard drive' this is not advisable and will not allow users on the other pc to access the programs.

Tell us exactly what you hoped to do and we can perhaps help further.

 

Thanks for the reply studiot,
What I was thinking was this. The main machine, xp home, has word documents and templates I have created. If this machine is being used, say on the net, could I access and work on the word files from the second comp?
If so, when they were saved, would they be saved on the second comp and have to transfered later, or would the No1 comp accept and save the changes.?

I'm pleased about that, if I had to throw a bucket of cold water over a couple of computers "goin' at it" I don,t think it would do either of them much good. old dog

 

I guess that 'young puppy' is 'hogging' the XP pc and 'Old Dog' is relegated to writing his memoirs on the old 98 ?

Look closely at the attached picture. It shows a windows explorer version of 'my computer' (hold the windows key down and press E ), expanded to whoe the network at Studio t with 4 computers running.

2 pcs are XP, 2 pcs are win2k, the last remaining 98 pc is not connected at the moment.

Three pcs have little squares to their left, Elise and Studio are expanded to show the drives.

Note here that you can also see a folder marked printers and one marked eliram_lg ( a DVD writer). You can also access the resources attached to a pc, with suitable settings.

One pc, chaffinch has no square. This is because all the resources on chaffinch are hidden from the network. This is because no 'sharing' is set on chaffinch.
this shows that setting up a network is a two stage process.
The first stage is to ge the pcs to see each other.
The second is to declare on each pc which resource you can be seen on another pc and to give that resource a name to distinguish it. Otherwise you will never know which C drive you are accessing. this process is called setting up the 'sharing'

Note also that each pc has several hard drives, or partitions on one drive. However the C drive is only showing on the viewing pc. This is to prevent inadvertant changing of important files ( including windows) from another pc.

Thus I strongly recomend creating exchange partitions and leaving the system partition invisible to other pcs.

In answer to your question you can choose to save the Word (or other) documents to any drive you can 'see' in network neighbourhood. Remember that the system will prevent two users having the power to change a document at the same time to prevent an awful muddle.

To set thing up you will need
your 98 Cd
possibly your XP CD
The Lan ports and cable as described in the last post.

Let us know when you are ready and we will proceed to the next step.

 

studiot,
Thank you for that info, there is now a glimmer of understanding. i will do a bit of research before I try it. I don't like my chances of finding the 98 disc so I will have to get another one from somewhere. The old computer I have is pretty crook anyway. may even replace it. I will get what I need and give it a go, who knows, I might not have to ask for help! (he said with tongue firmly planted in cheek)
The willingness of yourself and others on this site to share your knowledge with those of us who are "learners" is to be commended. to ALL of you, THANKS. old dog.
I was going to put something witty about pups, dogs and hogs but it is 2:30 AM and I'm too tired.

 

It is much easier to network two XP pcs.
Make sure any repalcement pc has a floppy drive. XP has a method of setting up the network on one pc and using floppy to transfer the settings to other Xp pcs easily. It's about the only thing which is easy to do on XP.

Avoid Vista.

I forgot to mention, a user on one pc can access files on the another networked pc whilst another user is using the second pc for something else.

 

Studiot,
I have decided to look for another pc and I will make it xp as you sugested. I have looked around a bit on various sites about networking M S for one, the network wizard on my xp for another, and there was no mention of protecting the system by partitioning. Even to me that makes a huge amount of sense. If anyone is going to accidently cause a problem it will be me!
When I get the stuff together I will post with the method I will use and make sure I'm on the right track before I start.
Thanks again for your advice.
old dog