creating a home network

I'm trying to network my new G1 (using XP) to my old Dell desktop so I can share files etc. My desktop is connected via a network cable to my netgear adsl wireless router. My G1 is connected to the same router via wireless.

I figure I just need to follow the XP network setup wizard on both computers. On my G1 though it says my Realtek RTL8168/8111 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet NIC is disconnected. Can I ignore this (is this for using a cable to connect)? I've tried but can't seem to get the G1 to do anything useful. The desktop seems to go through the setup fine.

Any simple tips are very welcome.

 

Enable file sharing on your desktop wired connection. You can find it in the control panel, networking, view network connecitons, and then right click the wired connection your using. Right click, go to properties and look at the tabs. Should be easy to find from there.

You MIGHT have to disable XP's firewall as well. I can't remember exactly though so maybe someone else can come in and tell you for sure.

Enable the file/print sharing and if you still can't connect drop your firewall and see if that is stopping it. If not just bring your firewall back up.

 

Here's how I would tackle this, on your desktop and laptop follow these intructions so that it ensures everything is the same for the network to work.

Desktop:
1) Right Click My Computer and click Properties
2) Click on the Computer Name Tab and click Change
3) Look at your desktop name and then look at the WorkGroup: (this is important)
4) Copy the workgroup name on a piece of paper, mine is MSHOME, yours could be WORKGROUP, you can pretty much call it anything.

Now go to your Laptop:
1) Follow the same 4 steps as you did on your desktop, my computer, properties, computer name, "change".
2) In the Workgroup box, Type the same name as your desktop had, if that was MSHOME, then type MSHOME.
3) Click OK, then click Apply, then Click OK.

Network:
Now you will be able to transfer files wirelessly to your desktop and your desktop to your laptop. Of course you can connect your Ethernet cable and transfer that way, which will be much faster.

So follow Renocide post regarding how to share.

If you still have questions of run into problems let us know.

 

I always used to get brain damage every time I tried to network anything - never worked or would take frustarting hours to make work

Then I picked up Network Magic ( www.networkmagic.com)

It does exactly what it says - magically and painlesslessly sets up your betwork - I just redid a home network today with a Vista Media Server, and 3 Sony Vaio notebooks, one with XP SP2, one with old XP Pro and one with XP Home - I downloaded and ran the software on each (there is a free trial) and presto - everything worked - I just copied 10gb of music from my notebook to my media server

It has all kinds of other nice bells and whistles as well. I've found its usually good to have low expectations these days (I bought Partion Commander 10 Pro for example thinking because it had a big old "Windows Vista" on the front of the box it would work with Vista - which it does not - can you say fraud .... ) but this is one program that exceeded all expectations