Need help wirelessly networking my 2 computers

I have 2 laptop computers that have wireless cards and also a router.

Laptop 1 was purchased 2 yrs ago and has Windows XP; my printer is attached
via USB cable

Laptop 2 recently purchased and has Windows Vista.

When using laptop 1, and when I go to Network Places, I can see both
computers, and when I click on computer 2, I can access all the my document
files on that computer. This is what I would expect, but I do not have to
put in a "user name and password". I did not put in a passwork on computer
2.

When using laptop 2, it is my desire to print documents from the printer
attached to computer 1. When I go to Network Places, and click on computer
1, I am asked for a "user name and password". I am pretty sure I know the
password I established 2 yrs ago, but I don't know what to put in for :"user
name". As a result, I am unable to get to computer 1. THAT IS MY PROBLEM!

Any suggestions what I can do? Thanks in advance for any help.

On Sat, 3 May 2008 18:22:29 -0400, "Les"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I am pretty sure I know the
>password I established 2 yrs ago, but I don't know what to put in for :"user
>name". As a result, I am unable to get to computer 1. THAT IS MY PROBLEM!

When you reboot Laptop 1, don't you see a UserName in the login
screen? If there's only 1 account on that machine, and it's
passworded, I've never seen an XP machine that didn't show the account
name at login.
John Jones, Detroit

When my computer 1 reboots, it does not show a username. I am the only user
and I did not set one up when I got the machine.

"John Jones" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Sat, 3 May 2008 18:22:29 -0400, "Les"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>I am pretty sure I know the
>>password I established 2 yrs ago, but I don't know what to put in for
>>:"user
>>name". As a result, I am unable to get to computer 1. THAT IS MY
>>PROBLEM!
>
> When you reboot Laptop 1, don't you see a UserName in the login
> screen? If there's only 1 account on that machine, and it's
> passworded, I've never seen an XP machine that didn't show the account
> name at login.
> John Jones, Detroit

You can set up the XP machine to go straight to the Desktop without needing
to "Log On".

Seems like you could click on Start, Log Off and Switch User. That should
be one way to determine the User Name.
Other way Start, Control Panel, User Accounts.

Now have you enabled Sharing on the XP machine? Just checking but your hard
drive might have some password needed there too.
Usually I have more trouble trying to get into the Vista Machines. 8^o

still learning here
oneoutofmanydaves

"Les" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:G-(E-Mail Removed)...
> When my computer 1 reboots, it does not show a username. I am the only
> user and I did not set one up when I got the machine.
>
> "John Jones" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> On Sat, 3 May 2008 18:22:29 -0400, "Les"
>> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>>>I am pretty sure I know the
>>>password I established 2 yrs ago, but I don't know what to put in for
>>>:"user
>>>name". As a result, I am unable to get to computer 1. THAT IS MY
>>>PROBLEM!
>>
>> When you reboot Laptop 1, don't you see a UserName in the login
>> screen? If there's only 1 account on that machine, and it's
>> passworded, I've never seen an XP machine that didn't show the account
>> name at login.
>> John Jones, Detroit
>
>

Les wrote...
>
>When my computer 1 reboots, it does not show a username. I am the only user
>and I did not set one up when I got the machine.

Open a command prompt (Start | Run | cmd).
Type the following in the cmd prompt.
set

and you should see
....
USERNAME=...
....

Les wrote:
> When my computer 1 reboots, it does not show a username. I am the only user
> and I did not set one up when I got the machine.

Set both machines up "properly" with usernames and passwords.
Create the same usernames and passwords on both machines.
This is *essential* to get Windows to share stuff properly.

Also, not having a uid and password is a MAMMOTH security hole. Anyone
connecting to your PC via your internet connection has complete access
to ravish it.

dave AKA vwdoc1 wrote:
>
> Now have you enabled Sharing on the XP machine?

And on that note, do NOT use simple filesharing and simple security.
Enable the proper stuff. Really - the "simple" version is much harder to
get working properly, and does not allow you to properly protect your
machine.

If you have XP Home, expect this to be virtually impossible, and realise
that properly sharing resources on an XP Home PC is an utter nightmare.

On Sun, 4 May 2008 08:36:40 -0400, "Les"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>When my computer 1 reboots, it does not show a username. I am the only user
>and I did not set one up when I got the machine.

Then you probably have only the default Administrator account which is
setup by Windows when installed.
John Jones, Detroit

OK how do you Enable the proper stuff?
thanks

"Mark McIntyre" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:MVoTj.27095$(E-Mail Removed)...
> dave AKA vwdoc1 wrote:
>>
>> Now have you enabled Sharing on the XP machine?
>
> And on that note, do NOT use simple filesharing and simple security.
> Enable the proper stuff. Really - the "simple" version is much harder to
> get working properly, and does not allow you to properly protect your
> machine.
>
> If you have XP Home, expect this to be virtually impossible, and realise
> that properly sharing resources on an XP Home PC is an utter nightmare.

dave AKA vwdoc1 wrote:
>
> (of enabling proper file and printer sharing & security)
>
> OK how do you Enable the proper stuff?

I'm afraid I forget as I no longer use XP except when using my office
VPN, and that version is locked down. Sorry. I recollect S'd TFW
however, and hit a site called practicallynetworked or tom's hardware or
somesuch which explained it all. Its even possible there's a relevant KB
article on MSDN.

--
Mark McIntyre

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