[Henerz]

Hi,

I've had this problem nagging away for quite some time now, and Ive searched long and hard on the web for a solution, but I can't find any liturature on it, so any help or pointers would be very much appreciated.

The Problem: There are two PCs in out house (Plus a Laptop but thats not relevent to this) PC1 runs Windows 2000, and is wired directly to our wireless ADSL router, and via USB to the Printer. PC2 runs Windows XP SP2 and is on the web, via a wireless adapter to the router.

Now, what we want is to be able to print directly from PC2 over the wireless network (obviously PC1 will have to be on, right?) and to be able to send files back and fourth between the computers.

Ive run the "network setup wizard" which I understand is quite crucial to this process on PC2. All was well. I made the network setup wizard floppy disk on PC2, but PC1 wont accept it, as the network setup wizard floppy disk (it tells me) is for every OS under the sun accept Windows 2000.

Upon attempting to map a network drive, on the browse option PC1 will only pick up the files on its own hard drive, and not those on PC2, and when mapping a drive on PC2, i simply get nothing after trying to expand the workgroup.

I would be most grateful for any help with his problem, or pointers towards appropriate liturature.

Thanks in advance

[TerryNet]

Welcome, Henerz. Here's some material for your reading pleasure. Apparently you've already done this at least on the XP machine, but pay particular attention to firewalls.

The following will set up a Microsoft Workgroup for File and Printer Sharing assuming the PCs are already networked via router, ad-hoc wireless or Ethernet (directly or using switch or hub).

In Network and Dial-up Connections (Win 2k Pro) or Network Connections (XP) right click on your connection and select ‘Properties.’ If not already there, install or add a check mark for “Client for Microsoft Networks, “File and Printer sharing …” and “Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).”

Right click on My Computer and on the Computer Name tab make sure you have a unique computer name and the workgroup name that you want to use for all computers. Change if necessary.

Restart the PC.

You must uninstall or properly configure any 3rd party firewalls on each machine.

If using the XP SP2 firewall: Control Panel – Windows Firewall – on the General tab it should be “On” and on the Exceptions tab “File and Printer Sharing” should be selected.

The Shared Documents folder is automatically shared. Any other folders or printers you want to share, just right click on them and sharing ... . When sharing a printer, accept the offer to load other drivers if your other PCs have different Operating System(s).

When you first go into My Network Places there will be nothing there. The first time you click on 'View Workgroup computers' will probably result in great disappointment. It takes awhile (20 minutes or so) before all the computers in the workgroup get up-to-date and accurate lists of the other computers. Often you can speed up this process via Search for other computers.

When computers show up in My Network Places, double click on one to see its shares. If that includes a printer, you can right click on the printer to connect to it.

[Henerz]

Some Progress

Well, only a little. After having disabled Norton internet Security and ticked the File and Printer Sharing (both on the 2K Machine) I can now see the 2K machine from the XP in my Network Places.

Unfortunatly, once I browse into the 2K machine, i only see the Scheduled tasks, and not the folders I have marked to share.

As for the printer, how do I map this? I've tried Start>Printers and Faxes>Add a Printer>Network Printer>Browse for a Printer. But I see no printers (or computers) when I expand the Workgroup. If I input the printer name, it tells me to ensure its typed correctly - it is.

Thanks ever so much for your help, but a little more and I'll be eternally greatfull.

Cheers

[Henerz]

Oh, forgot a bit.

Ive also tried mapping the printer through Word. File>Print>Find Printer, but I get the following error:



I assume this is some service that isn't running on the Admin Tools>Services screen, but after having had a good poke around and activating a few things, nothing seems to have done the trick.

Cheers

[TerryNet]

Let me see if I understand this. On the XP you go into My Network Places and after 'view workgroup computers' you see the 2k. Double click on the 2k icon and all you get is the Scheduled Tasks folder?

What happens on the 2k when you try to see the XP's shares?

[Henerz]

Let me see if I understand this. On the XP you go into My Network Places and after 'view workgroup computers' you see the 2k. Double click on the 2k icon and all you get is the Scheduled Tasks folder?

Yes, exactly. Is it normal to see the scheduled tasks folder? Of course, I should be seeing the printer and files in there?

On the 2K Machine, it only sees itself. There is no Icon for the XP machine. Upon browsing the 2K machine (on itself) I see all the shared files and printer.

However, sometimes the XP machine dosent even manage to see anything: The following message is seen:



Surely it is avalible because this computer is on it!

The plot thickens....I'd be very greatfull to anyone who could shed some light.

Cheers

[TerryNet]

I suspect Norton Internet Security. Even disabled it sometimes blocks a lot of file sharing. Sometimes uninstalls don't even solve everything because not all uninstalls go cleanly. Nonetheless I suggest that the next step is to uninstall Norton.