Network Help

I have 2 Windows XP Pro Computers connected to a BT1800HG Router. I was wondering how I can get my 2 XP Pro machines to share files whilst both are still connected to the router?

Thanks in advance

See if this makes sense.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304040

OMG

I didn't know that existed. It's scary! And I've been involved technically in micros since 1982 before PCs existed.

The way you word that you have shared files before you had the router. If you have, how were they connected, as all we need to do is take you through the differences.

If you haven't, then it could take us a while, but we can get there. A router is specifically designed to "route" stuff within a LAN, (Local Area Network which you want), and between that LAN and another LAN or a WAN (Wide Area Network like the Internet). When we use a router just to connect to the internet we are only using part of that. (Assuming a modem/router which you probably mean. If you mean a pure router, then to get to the WAN it routes to the modem). So don't worry.

The full procedure for setting up a home LAN is a bit tedious in XP - it used to be dead easy in earlier WIndows versions, which is why, if you already know how, it will be simpler to explain how with the router .

I used to connect the 2 computers via a wifi connection with one computer with the internet connection using ICS. I used the configuration Wizard to setup a Network Place and then added shared files to that connection.

It was a long time ago, so I think that was the way I completed the task before. I just have no idea on how to do it with a router as the to computers are conected to the router rather than each other, if that makes sense.

Is your router also a modem, i.e. is it connected to the phone line?

edited to add:

According to web it is a wireless ADSL router.

As long as the router is assigning your PCs IP addresses you should be able to see each computer in the Network Neighbourhood menu (some words similar anyhow).

Edited by deleted (Sat 21-Jul-07 10:27:10)

It should be basically the same as you did before, except where you told the wizard on one machine to let other machines use its connection, and you told the other one to connect through another machine on the network, instead the wizard should detect another internet connection on the network (your router) and ask if you want to connect through that. Answer is yes

(This is why I asked about before, to save explaining all about file sharing etc if you already knew it/had got it in place ).

I think you can do it just by running the wizard again on each, and it will keep your other settings re shared files etc. Otherwise you may need to delete the existing connection so you can use the wizard, but I don't think so.

(I'm assuming you have read John's post of 10:23 this morning).

Edited by RobertoS (Sat 21-Jul-07 15:32:00)

I'm not sure if my router is assigning my computers ip addresses. I think its Windows which is doing that as I have the "Allow Windows To Manage This Computers Connection" on both machines. I'm not sure if this has anything to do with what you said and I know very little about networking especially with a router. My router does have a built in modem.

Just to clarify, you are asking how to get the 2 computers to share files. From that I, at least, am assuming they cannot see each other at all. Or can they?

Secondly, can either or both connect to the internet through the router, and if one, which?

Sorry to ask so much, but it is easy to make wrong assumptions from a distance, and go down the wrong track .

Both computers are connected directly to the router. Both computers cannot see each other.

Hope that helps and thanks for your help.

I think you have two choices.

1. let your router assign IP addresses automatically to your PC.

2. assign the router an IP address on the same subnet as your PCs

Do you know what the IP addresses of your PCs are?

Can you access the internet from the PCs using that router?

Do you know what the IP addresses of your PCs are?

If I go into my router then I can obtain the IP address of each computer so yes. It seems that my router allocates an IP address for all of my devices within a specefic IP Range.

In that case make a note of the IP addresses.

With both machines switched on and connected to your router try to ping them from the other.

To do that I think you can do a Start -> Run. Enter cmd in the box and hit return.

In the box that appears enter ping 192.168.0.3 or whatever the address of the other computer is.

Does that work?

edited to add:

Can you ping the routers IP address as well?

Edited by deleted (Sat 21-Jul-07 21:39:19)

hI Shane, If you open a command prompt then type ipconfig it will give you the ip address,
the subnet mask and gateway ip.for the pc.
pcs should all be on the same subnet.

Right click on computer,then properties,then computer name, make sure the workgroup name is exactly the same for both pcs.

share the folders you want to share.
If you type 172.16.0.1/management into your browser it allows additional options.

hope this helps

I can ping all devices including my router. So, yes is the answer to your question John2007

That does work but I can only access shared files and folders by going into the router. I would prefer not to do it this way as my router is password protected and my family are not all that clued up when it comes to going into the router.

Good, you being able to ping confirms that all your kit is connected together properly.

Do you have a firewall running on your PCs? You may need to tell it to trust the other PCs.

Are both your PCs in the same domain? My Computer -> right click gives access to the work group but I don't remember how.

I've managed to add them via using the ftp command rather than browsing my network when adding a network place. So I'll look into what youve replied now.

Well, it seems I can access files from the DMZplus computer but not the files on the other computer where NAT is enabled. The thing is that only one computer can be in DMZ. I have no idea if the firewall of the router can effect this or could something else be blocking it.

So there is something blocking it, can NAT block file sharing?

Do you actually need DMZ at all? I thought this was mainly used if you were running your own server? If you are not hosting a web-site in your home you may not need DMZ.

The only reason I use DMZ is to make it easier on myself. I get tired of continued programs not running due to port problems and the time it takes to configure games is a pain when you cannot find what ports are needed.

For example tigerwoods 2007 took me forever due to EA not advising on what ports are used. This was a long time ago and I suppose I no longer require DMZ but then the problem we have no would be with both computers.

Fair enough. I don't play internet games so have never encountered those problems. My machines are all on standard NAT.

If it is a NAT/DMZ compatibility thing it's beyond me.

I used to have to set my ports for each game and I agree, it was a pain.

You meed to go into ADD REMOVE PROGRAMS
Select WINDOWS COMPONENTS
Select NETWORKING SERVICES
Click on the DETAILS button
Select uPnP interface (turn it on)
This helps your computer to automatically open ports for your games.

Also..
Are both computers using the same domain name for the network? The default for winxp is MSHOME, run the network setup on each again and make sure they are on the same name.

Other than that you can ask somone for remote assistance via msn messenger and if they know what they are doing they can check it out and fix it for you.
I would look into it for you if you want.. just page/mail me and we can set up a time for me to see what is going on.

Shouldn't the NAT be taking place on the router now, not on one of the PCs?