Preserved Topic: Home network question

I've been searching the net like crazy for an answer to my problem but I can't find a decent one.

Basically what I am trying to do is set up a network between two computers so that my roommate and I can bum off of each other's music and files. We already have a router set up to share our DSL connection, its a Linksys.

I'm trying to figure out how to connect two computers (Dell Dimensions running Win XP) to we'll have access to certain folders on each other's systems.

Anyone know of any good resources for doing this, I've never done anything like this before so it would need to explain it in beginner's terms.

What's your problem? How to connect two computers or how to share folders?

Both actually.

How to connect them and then how to share the folders.

Like I said, we are already sharing a web connection through the router so is there a way for me to connect right to his with no more hardware?

if you are sharing a web connection then maybe you could use ftp

if you are trying to set up a microsoft network then i guess you need to be in the same ethernet subnet with your friend. how close does he live (in meters!)?

After you get them physically connected, doing it with WinXP is easy as pie (mmmm, pie...er). Goto Network Connections -> Set up a home or small office network -> follow instructions.

Then after you've got that set up, right click on the folder(s) you want to share and goto Sharing and Security and enable it. Booyah.

[This message has been edited by synax (edited 07-07-2002).]

Since I'm not too keen on WXP and my networking administration skills only apply to W2000 Servers, I'll provide a link to a few sites that will help you with sharing files between computers.

Mapping Network Drives in Windows XP
http://www.amherst.edu/it/help/internet/network/xp-home.html

HOW TO: Connect and Disconnect a Network Drive in Windows XP (Q308582)
http://support.microsoft.com/search/preview.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q308582

yes like synax said.
xp features these shared folders (dont know what the correct english name is).
all you have to do is probably run through that home network assistant on both machines.

Hey, krets, maybe I missed something here, but I have my computers connected via a Linksys router also. All I had to do was make sure both computers belonged to the same workgroup, then share the folders.

I'm running Win2K, so things may be in different places, but I believe if you right-click on My Computer and click the Network Identification tab, you can assign your workgroup. (It has to be the same on both computers.) Then, go into Windows Explorer and right-click on the folders/drives you want to share and select Sharing. Next, click New Share and assign a share name.

To access each other's computer, go to Windows Explorer > My Network Places > Workgroup > Shared Folders/Drives.

Oh, and you have to have File and Printer Sharing installed. (If it's not, do so and reboot before trying to share folders.)

I may be confused, but as long as the router supports DHCP, you can do this. I say I may be confused because what I have just described covers the extent of my networking knowledge.

If you get lost, ask me where you're stuck.

Edit: Did you know that transposing the right letters in "assign" makes "assing"?



[This message has been edited by Wes (edited 07-08-2002).]

Thanks guys, worked like a charm.