How to network for file transfer?

Hey guys, I'm pretty confuzzled on this one so I was wondering if you all could help.

I'm trying to copy alot of media from my desktop to my notebook, but am unsure how to set up the network in order to do this. I have a router (though it is currently used for Wireless internet if that makes a difference) and a few cat5 cables, but I'm just stumped. I've tried the Network Setup Wizards, but I can't seem to connect the two for quick file transfers.


Any ideas?

 

Hello, I was also a simular situation as you until I found easy program, The program is called Cerberus FTP Server.

http://www.cerberusftp.com/

JC

 

wow! thanks for the quick response, I'll try it out tonite.

 

no need to use ftp to transfer files from PC to PC within a network.

make sure the laptop and the desktop on in the same workgroup(not required but makes it easier)
edit: to put them o nthe same work group, right click on my computer then go to properties. you'll see a computer name tab. from there you can set the workgroup name. set them both to the same, whichever it may be. You also might want to undo whatever the setup wixard has done. I never use that.

go into my computer and right click the "shared documents" folder. go to sharing and security. Enable sharing. Do that on both computers.

give it a few minutes, open "My network places" on one or the other. might need to right click refresh the screen but you should see the shared folders in there. you can also navigate via "my workgroup computers."

This is a very basic description but should get the idea across. You end up wanting to share the folder on the desktop that has the data you want to move to the laptop. the from the laptop you'll open that shared folder and drag whatever you want into whichever folder you want on the laptop. Also remember that when pulling across a network like click and draggin will just copy the data so you don't worry about it leaving the desktop. you'll have a copy on both.

Hope that helps a little.

edit 2: fastest transfer would be to use a crossover cable directly between the devices, LAN to LAN straight from the laptop to the desktop. second fastest would be just plugging them both into the router. 3rd is if one or both are on wireless, if its not too much data then thats still fine.

 

To my opinion, I find to be very easy to do with the ftp program and its much secure. Networking....sigh...what a pain. I still cant figure it how to do it.

JC

 

it involves right clicking on a folder and clicking share for the most part. really doesn't get much easier. if there are problems for computers seeing the folders I've actually seen it to be caused by missing windows updates. go to windows updates and do the advanced one, select to intall all of the software updates as well as critical updates.

 

If you trust your home network and its users, no reason to bother with FTP servers, clients, etc. Just create some shared folders on each PC, and you can transfer files easily through them, using the standard Windows interface.

On my network, I have all drives of all computers completely shared, and I allocated each of the hard drives a drive letter on all other computers, so I can access them easily using any file manager, without even going through the network neighborhood. Doesn't get simpler that that.

 

my programmer friend gave me these instructions. since i have tried to start up 4 laptops in the past two weeks, i finally wrote this down so i could remember it! hope this helps!

Machine #1: Original laptop (eMachines M2105)
Machine #2: New laptop (Gateway MX6421)

These instructions apply to any machine running Windows XP Home. Other assumptions: You are on a wireless network, or have both machines plugged into a router via Cat 5 cable. If both machines are already on the network, no network setup is needed.

First, make sure the files/folders you want to transfer are shared. To do so, right click on the folder you want to share and select Properties. From here, click on the Sharing tab and check the box that allows for the information to be shared.

On Machine #1, go to Start, Run, and type “cmd”. Click OK. This brings up the command prompt.

Then type “ipconfig” after the “\>”. You will get the following information:

Note the IP address.

Go to machine #2, go to Start, Run and type \\000.000.0.000 (the IP address from above) and click on OK. A window will pop up showing you the files you have access to on machine #1. From here, you can drag and drop your files from machine #1 to machine #2.

Always remember to “unshare” your files when you’re done.

 

thanks guys for all the help!

after numerous attempts, your input has achieved a success in my file transfers! thank you thank you thank you!

nothing like 40gb of video moving from one comp to another.

 

I followed the instructions stated above but still doesn't work.

I want to transfer files from my old laptop to my new one. Both laptops can access the Internet wirelessly via a Linksys router (and does that mean they are "working in the same network"?). I named the workgroup as "HOME-NETWORK" on both laptops. I did all windows updates. I clicked on My Network Places, then clicked View Workgroup Computer. A dialogue box came out " Home-network is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions. The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available." I'm already the administrator status, so I don't know what's wrong here.

Is there anything I might have missed? Appreciate any advice as I'm no good at this.

 

try a shorter workgroup name, HOMENET or something. make sure it's the same for both laptops.

other things I have seen block up sharing is the windows firewall, and also if you don't have a password set on the computer trying to access the share, I've had it block me from doing the share.

 

I FINALLY DID it. Solely turning off the firewalls on both laptops is not enough. A shorter workgroup name does do the trick.

Thank you sooooo very much. I'm a happy person again.

 

turn your firewalls back on, too. just make sure that file and print sharing is enabled in the exceptions tab.

Control Panel, Windows Firewall, Exceptions tab, then make sure that the little box beside File and Printer Sharing is checked.

 

I actually use the Trend Micro Pc-cillin firewall. But the Exception list doesn't show "File & Printer Sharing". Any idea how that can be set up?

 

well, enable the firewall again and see if it breaks the file sharing. if not, you're in luck, if it does, you'll probably need to go to the Trend Micro site and see what support they can give you.

 

I am also having some trouble w/ file transfer. I am trying to transfer files from my desktop to my laptop. I am able to connect to my laptop from my desktop under "my network places" but I cannot access the files on my desktop from my lappy?????

Is there a setting on my desktop that I need to change so that my lappy can access desktop files???

If so how....

 

Trend Micro's support was not very helpful.... they just gave me the standard answers. But I found my solution here, and my problem got resolved.

http://www.leeindy.com/firewall_pccillin-1.shtml

 

you'll need to make sure that file and printer sharing is enabled on the desktop.

start > control panel > Network Connections then right-click the appropriate connection and select properties

in the dialog box that comes up there should be a listbox of different stuff, make sure that the file and printer sharing one is checked. after that, you'll need to actually share a folder on your desktop if you haven't already. I'll assume you know how to do that since you have for your laptop.

 

Wonderful information! Im going to try this as soon as possible with my desktop and laptop.

Thanks

 

Looks like I got everything to work correctly. Gave me some problems but everything I do usually gives me problems. I have a desktop and a laptop folder now. Im assuming that you cant acess the other folders data such as the shared videos and stuff. You can make a new folder and have everything work from there. Is this right?

Thanks

 

You can access everything that you share. Windows creates some folders for sharing by default, the rest must be shared manually. For each folder, in its properties there is an option "Share this folder on the network" that you can enable or disable.

 

Im having a problem when I try to use my Network Wizard- I'll complete the wizard, check allow file and printer sharing and then click complete. Then I go back to do it again because the file sharing does not work and it shows on the wizard that file and printer sharing is turned not allowed and I have to complete the wizard and check "allow" again

Whats goin on? It seems like something keeps changing my settings automatically w/out me doing it. Any one know why or what is doing this?

 

Im having a problem when I try to use my Network Wizard- I'll complete the wizard, check allow file and printer sharing and then click complete. Then I go back to do it again because the file sharing does not work and it shows on the wizard that file and printer sharing is turned not allowed and I have to complete the wizard and check "allow" again

Whats goin on? It seems like something keeps changing my settings automatically w/out me doing it. Any one know why or what is doing this?

What can I do to fix this>????

 

I don't get it- I'm having problems networking my Dell e1505 laptop to my desktop as well. I run all of the wizards. When I try to access the laptop from the desktop, it says...

"\\E1505 is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions.

The network path was not found"

When I try to access the desktop from the laptop, all I can see are the generic shared folders (sample picutres, sample music, etc.) even though I enabeled plenty of other folders for sharing.

What gives?!

 

i had a similar problem, too. turns out one of my firewalls was preventing access. try that, if you haven't already.

 

No- that isn't it. All firewalls are off.

From my laptop, I can see things I put in my Desktop's default "My Shared Folder", but all of the other folders on the desktop that I changed to "shared folders" don't show up. From the desktop, I can't see anything on the laptop.

 

Try doin it the way it was described i nthe thread, not using the wizard.

Did you name the laptop E1505 as well or is it just the laptop model?