Wireless File Sharing?

ne55ie · 18-08-2004, 09:55

Hi All,

To start off, this is my first post as a member of cable forum.

I have just networked my desktop and laptop pc's with the Linksys WRT54G and WPC54G. I got the info on wireless gear from reading through previous posts. So thanks for that.

The problem iam having, is that i cannot file share between the two pc's. i have done it before when i had them on a wired network, but i seem to be stuck now.

I have the router hard wired into my main pc and a wireless card in the laptop.

Hope someone out there can help.

Thanks.

Chris

Tricky · 18-08-2004, 10:02

Firstly - welcome to the forums....
Next - a few questions:
What Operating System are you running on both machines?
Are you using DHCP for the network addressing?
Are you getting "Cannot find <machine name>" or a similar message?
Do both machines connect to the outside world without issue?
Any "software" firewalls running?
Can you ping each machine from the other?

ne55ie · 18-08-2004, 10:23

Hi Tricky.

Both machines are running XP, but desktop is pro and laptop is home.
Yes i think iam using DHCP for network addressing.
Getting no messages about seeing each other. when i run internet and file sharing wizard, it doesnt seem to complete?
Both machines connect to the internet without any problems what so ever.
Desktop has Norton internet security but i have tried with it off.
Dont know how to ping machines, so i cant answer that one.

Thanks again for the very fast response.

Chris

Chris W · 18-08-2004, 10:30

To ping you first need to know the ip address of each machine. To do this go to

start -> run -> type cmd press [return]
at the command prompt, type ipconfifg [return]

this will then tell you the ip address, in your case it will probably be 192.168.1.xxx

to then ping this, type at the command prompt-

ping 192.168.1.xxx and press return. you will either see:

Pinging 192.168.1.1 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time<10ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=10ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time<10ms TTL=64

(which is good) or...

Pinging 192.168.1.1 with 32 bytes of data:

Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

which is bad....

MB

oh and ps

ne55ie · 18-08-2004, 10:37

Hi MB And thanks.

Yes i have just pinged the two machines and they indeed do see each other.

Cheers.

Chris

SMHarman · 18-08-2004, 10:45

Do both PCs have the same windows workgroup name and different identifying names

e.g. Workgroup ne55ie
PC Name - Desktop
Laptop Name - Laptop

This can all be found in control panel > Network and dial up (or whatever it is called on XP now) > LAN > Properties > File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks

ne55ie · 18-08-2004, 11:00

Yes, they have the same work group name and the pc names are desktop and laptop.

Do i have to run the wizard? i tried it on the laptop connecting to the internet through another computer, but it is saying that the network cable is unplugged. thats where its getting me, because it is over a wireless connection! is there a cetain wizard to enable file share over a wireless connection, or am i barking up the wrong oak?????

Cheers again for all your quick replys

Chris.

Flubflow · 18-08-2004, 11:22

Have you set up the drives in each PC to be shared? i.e. right click on a drive letter in Explorer, select "Properties" and then look at the "Sharing" Tab.

SMHarman · 18-08-2004, 11:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by ne55ie

Yes, they have the same work group name and the pc names are desktop and laptop.

Do i have to run the wizard? i tried it on the laptop connecting to the internet through another computer, but it is saying that the network cable is unplugged. thats where its getting me, because it is over a wireless connection! is there a cetain wizard to enable file share over a wireless connection, or am i barking up the wrong oak?????

Cheers again for all your quick replys

Chris.

Does your laptop have wired and wireless networking, the cable unplugged, is that an error on the wired or wireless connection.
If you can surf the net and ping then this is an error to ignore.
My laptop has Wired, Wireless and Bluetooth, on startup it complains that cables are unplugged on the wired and bluetooth!, and on the wireless until it negotiates the conection.

Have you tried searching for the other computer in windoze explorer. The search button at the top, then on the side instead of files or folders select computers, tell one to search for the other. Sometimes windows takes a while to discover other machines on the network.

ne55ie · 18-08-2004, 11:44

Yes just done a search now, but nothing found.

When i plugged in the router to modem and then pc, plugged in the wireless card into laptop, internet works fine. What is the next stage i have to do to be able to file share? i have set up file sharing on both pc's. that seems to be ok. the only problem i have, is that they dont see each other. Am i missing a step???

Thanks again.

Chris.

nate · 18-08-2004, 11:54

Windows will not allow file and printer sharing to be used wirelessly unless you have WEP encryption turned on.

Turn it, set a key on the server (router), then set WEP on the client computer with the same key, this will allow you to see each others shared files and folders.

SMHarman · 18-08-2004, 11:55

Have you restarted both of them? Double check the network name to ensure there is not a space at the end on one of them, or a upper/lower case mismatch.

As you can ping, there is no firewall stopping communication.

Can you wire the laptop into the router and see if it can see the desktop.

Flubflow · 18-08-2004, 11:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by ne55ie

Yes just done a search now, but nothing found.

When i plugged in the router to modem and then pc, plugged in the wireless card into laptop, internet works fine. What is the next stage i have to do to be able to file share? i have set up file sharing on both pc's. that seems to be ok. the only problem i have, is that they dont see each other. Am i missing a step???

Thanks again.

Chris.

Check in control panel, network settings. In the properties for the "TCP/IP >> (your network adapter)" look in the bindings tab and see if the client for file/printer sharing and client for microsoft networks is enabled.
Also, as I said before, check to see if your drives (properties) on the required machines are set to be shared as appropriate.

Edit: If you have a firewall then the IP's of each PC much be allowed through in the trusted (local) zone. For diagnostics you might be better to disable the firewall until you can be sure you have the basic problem fixed first without adding to your problems.

ne55ie · 18-08-2004, 12:00

Hi Nate,

That rings a bell. how do i enable the WEP??

Thanks

Chris.

SMHarman · 18-08-2004, 12:06

WEP is not something to be worried about until you have this sharing problem fixed.

When you are file and printer sharing, read this
http://www.cableforum.co.uk/kb/78/ho...reless-network

Can you get both laptop and desktop connected to the WRT54G by CAT5 for now? Does the laptop have an ethernet connection?