Network set up - please help me...

[sausagecat]

Hi all

I have been trying to set up a wireless network at home for a few days and still don't know what's wrong. My dream would be to have a network so that I can share files both ways and print from the printer that is connected to the desktop PC.

I have a desktop Vista PC, which is connected to the sky Netgear router (black). I also recently got a Vista Toshiba laptop.

I have only today installed Netgear Rangemax WPN311 PCI adapter to the desktop.

Both machines have wireless access to the internet, but they are not talking to each other.

What I noticed is that in network and sharing center, the desktop shows that it is connected to LAN and Wireless Network Connection 2! In the same menu on my laptop, it merely shows Wireless Network Connection (without 2) and no LAN.

All the sharing setting have been enabled on both machines and have gone through the Norton's trust set up, mentioned on other threads. The laptop is currently has Norton, whereas desktop is with Kaspersky. The trust control also showed two networks, and both are now set to be trusted.

I would be very very grateful for any help with setting up the network and put me out of this misery.

[Isitme]

Have you made sure that both machines have the same Workgroup name. It may help if you give them a new name, say 'Pussynet'.

the desktop shows that it is connected to LAN and Wireless Network Connection 2! In the same menu on my laptop, it merely shows Wireless Network Connection (without 2) and no LAN.

I think this may be relevant, on your desktop if you open the Network and Sharing Centre and click 'Customise' opposite Network(Private). This will open a pane called Set Network Location, at the bottom of this click 'Merge or delete network Locations' click this and another pane will open. This will show your 2 networks, one I think would be created with the ethernet and one with the wireless. Highlight these and click Merge at the bottom. Close out and see if your PCs can see one and other.

[FelixTCat]

Hi sausagecat,

The other thing you have to do is to share at least one folder on each PC otherwise there is nothing for the other PCs to see on the network.

Choose a folder and right-click on it; go to Sharing and allow sharing (presumably to let other users alter files on the PC). Hit Apply and Windows chunters for a while, then says OK; close the sharing window and you should soon see eack PC in the others' Network Places.

Regards,

Felix

[sausagecat]

Thanks for your quick response, isitme & felixtcat (my cat's name!).

I've done all you have suggested, but...

- In 'Merge or delete network Locations', strangely I can only see one network listed so I can't merge

- tried to set the sharing for a folder, but it only lists accounts that are based on that machine

BUT

I don't know what I've done but I can now see laptop from my desktop PC! When I try to go into it though, I can only see public folders in my laptop from the desktop. There is also a folder called 'users' appear, but inside it is somehow the same public folder.

From my laptop, I can't see the desktop at all.

Thanks

[FelixTCat]

Sorry, I'm not too much up on Vista, but if there is a Network Setup Wizard (or something similar), run that on each PC. It sets up File and Printer Sharing and also helps with the firewall.

You're nearly there, I think.

Regards,

Felix

[Isitme]

The Public folders are automatically shared when you turn on File Sharing in the Network Centre. Have you enabled this on the Desktop?

The idea is that anything you want to share is put into the Public folder, this is the most secure way to share. You can share other folders or indeed drives by right clicking them and selecting share.

[sausagecat]

I have run 'set up a connection or network' on both but the message 'it already exists' comes up. I then have to either stay connected to the existing one or give it a new name to create a new network.

Should I be creating a new network? I'm very confused - it seems because it's already connected to the internet it doesn't understand that I also want it to talk to the other machine!

[sausagecat]

Isitme

I had no idea that you had to put them into the public folder! I assumed I could get into the other machine and look at everything inside it!

Now I can see the laptop from the desktop, but I still can't see anything from the laptop...