File sharing between laptop and desktop

Help! I've followed all steps to "set up a network connection" using Windows
XP and have established files on both computers that are available for
sharing. However, when I open my Network Connections neither computer seems
to "see" the other. When I click show other computers in workgroup it tells
me I don't have administrator permissions. I am the one that set it up and
only have the two computers on the network - how do I change this so that I
have permission and how do I get them to recognize each other? I am using a
D-Link DI-524 router. The laptop is connected wirelessly and the desktop is
wired via ethernet. Both computers can connect to the internet - I really
just want the ability to share files and a printer between the two.

Thanks!

zmb1023 wrote:

> Help! I've followed all steps to "set up a network connection" using
> Windows XP and have established files on both computers that are
> available for
> sharing. However, when I open my Network Connections neither computer
> seems
> to "see" the other. When I click show other computers in workgroup it
> tells
> me I don't have administrator permissions. I am the one that set it
> up and only have the two computers on the network - how do I change
> this so that I
> have permission and how do I get them to recognize each other? I am
> using a
> D-Link DI-524 router. The laptop is connected wirelessly and the
> desktop is
> wired via ethernet. Both computers can connect to the internet - I
> really just want the ability to share files and a printer between the
> two.
>
> Thanks!

I don't know what "followed all steps" entailed, nor did you tell us
whether you have XP Home/Pro/combo of the two, so see this:

This is most commonly caused by a misconfigured firewall. Run the
Network Setup Wizard on both computers, making sure to enable File &
Printer Sharing, and reboot. The only "gotcha" is that this will turn
on the XPSP2 Windows Firewall. If you aren't running a third-party
firewall or have an antivirus with "Internet Worm Protection" (like
Norton 2005/06) which acts as a firewall, then you're fine. If you have
third-party firewall software, configure it to allow the Local Area
Network traffic as trusted. I usually do this with my firewalls with an
IP range. Ex. would be 192.168.1.0-192.168.1.254. Obviously you would
substitute your correct subnet.

If either machine has XP Pro on it (or both do), make sure the Simple
Sharing setting is the same (Folder Options>View). If one machine is
Pro and the other Home, an easy thing to do with only two machines is
to create identical user accounts and passwords (don't use null
passwords) on both machines. You still need to check out the firewall
settings.

Then create shares as desired. XP Home does not permit sharing of users'
home directories (My Documents) or Program Files, but you can share
folders inside those directories. A better choice is to simply use the
Shared Documents folder.

If that doesn't work for you, here is an excellent network
troubleshooter by MVP Hans-Georg Michna. Take the time to go through it
and it will usually pinpoint the problem area(s) -
http://winhlp.com/wxnet.htm

Malke
--
MS-MVP Windows User/Shell
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic"

I managed to set up my network by turning off the firewalls on both machines
first. The two machines immediately "found" each other, I then turned the
firewalls back on, and all is now OK.

Peter C

"zmb1023" wrote:

> Help! I've followed all steps to "set up a network connection" using Windows
> XP and have established files on both computers that are available for
> sharing. However, when I open my Network Connections neither computer seems
> to "see" the other. When I click show other computers in workgroup it tells
> me I don't have administrator permissions. I am the one that set it up and
> only have the two computers on the network - how do I change this so that I
> have permission and how do I get them to recognize each other? I am using a
> D-Link DI-524 router. The laptop is connected wirelessly and the desktop is
> wired via ethernet. Both computers can connect to the internet - I really
> just want the ability to share files and a printer between the two.
>
> Thanks!