Printer/networking problems XPpro one & XPhome other

Hi guys! This is my first time posting so please bear with me...
I have read all postings similar to my problem here and did not get a solution, so here it goes:
I have 2 computers(Laptop and desktop).They both share a D-link router connection desktop corded-(XPpro), laptop-wireless (XPhome). I have SP2 on both computers and the firewalls active are the SP2 firewalls. The Laptop has Norton antivirus, and the desktop has McAfee.

I have done EVERYTHING short of re-formating the computers...to the best of my knowledge anyway, and I can't seem to get them to share files and print wirelessly from the laptop to the printer which is attached to the desktop. The computers are also not seeing each other at all!!

I ran the setup wizard over and over on both computers, ran the wireless setup over, changed the names of the computers, joined the "workgroup" on both computers, added the laptop as an IP client(guest user), shared the printer on the desktop and added it to the laptop and a whole bunch of trial and errors. Re-booted the computers after "changes" etc! I have no clue what I'm doing wrong. I even managed to see the laptop on the "workgroup" on the desktop once, but got access denied message. I am a NOVICE- (2.5) on a level of 1-5 ... so I think I should understand anything you ask me to do.
Please help! Thanks in advance!

 

Try disabling the firewall on the desktop machine. If you can connect to the printer from the laptop then there are settings in your firewall that are preventing you from sharing your files and printer. I am not familiar with Mcafee but hopefully this points you in the right direction.

 

Thanks Frelled. I'll give it a try. Do you have any suggestions though as to what I can use to safeguard myself(computer) after I disable the firewall?

 

If you have SP2 installed then you have windows firewall running. I was just suggesting to temporarily turn off the Mcafee firewall and try sharing the printer. If it works then you can turn the Mcafee firewall back on and look at your Mcafee Firewall settings. I apologize if I was unclear.

 

hi again!
Well I seem to in som sort of a rut here. I tampered with stuff so much trying to get this set. After I configured both the internet, anti virus and firewall, still nothing!

Please could you give me a set by ste on what to do, or a link?
I have tried to add a network printer to the laptop, and It says it cannot find printer specified. I think what I need to do is Set up my network all over again and see if I can get them to talk first/see each other, then try and share the printer.

SO, please could you help me with that please? Setting up the network from scratch? Remember I have XPpro on desktop and xpHome on Laptop. I really appreciate your taking the time to help.
Thanks!

 

How do I get them both on the same network? They both share my D-link internet connection...ARRGGHHHHH!!!!

 

try this http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=318030. good luck

 

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

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

Link to: Windows Network - Installing & Sharing.

 

Thanks Guys!! You have been a great help! I've got file sharing mastered now, but still cannot test it. STILL haiving problems with the networking. I was getting error messages that my IP addresses were conflicting while trying to enable the ICS, but I have changed the routers IP address now, so I no longer get that message. But I still get the message that I'm not permitted to access the workgroup. Is it possible that I "trashed" my TCP/IP stack by running the network setup wizard so many times? One of the articles mentioned that I may have done that...
ANOTHER THING: I can ping the host computer(desktop) from the wireless computer but can not ping the wireless from the host(desktop), and can't seem to ping the wireless laptop from its-self...any ideas please?
Thanks for your help!

 

One quick note I forgot to add:
I still get the message that I'm not permitted to access the other computer when I click it's icon in the workgroup (on the desktop). And when I try to access the workgroup from the wireless, I get the message that I'm not permitted to access the network/workgroup and can't see any computers. Even after disabling antivirus and firewalls.
Thanks!

 

Welcome to SP2, it's the pits. I've been fighting that "Access Denied" thing for a month and still havn't figured it out except maybe go back to SP1.