so both computers have to be switched on, but apart from that, how do I find the Home PC from my laptop?
Can I assume that you are a complete novice at setting up networks? On that basis, I suggest that you first read:
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/setup...x
forums.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=68...1
In simple terms, your two computers need to be connected, given names, the network needs to be named, and the shared resources identified (files/folders/printers). Then they can find each other via "My Network Places" from the START menu.
For specific Orange-Livebox issues try their forum
forums.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/forum_topics.asp?FID=22
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Thanks once again, but is there some kind of "black-art" required here? I have made all the steps as shown, but it does not seem to be working. I don't want to sound pedantic, but I am used to using computers on a daily basis for programming machine control systems, (using the old-fashioned RS232/485 ports), I just am not au-fait with this "networking" thing!
How do I actually "see" the other computer when it is all set-up correctly? I am expecting that there will be a "common" place in Windows Explorer, or am I being too simplistic?
Perhaps I should just pay some spotty oik to do it for me (someone help me please).
Edited by Webmaster on 21/03/2008 at 21:32
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I'd be happy to talk you through a few things but we'd have to exchange at the very minimum Skype details (or even phone numbers) via the mods.
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How do I actually "see" the other computer when it is all set-up correctly? I am expecting that there will be a "common" place in Windows Explorer,
If you have done all the steps as you say, then in Windows Explorer right click on "my network places" and "search for computers" should list your networked computers. Or click my-network-places>microsoft-windows-network>your-named-network>lists-y
our-computers>lists-your-shared-folders-files
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p.s. I take it your two computers are not blocking each other via firewalls, are they?
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Quick rundown on a typical 'home network' setup;
You have a modem, which connects to your Internet provider, and a router, which conects to your network.
These can be one or two devices - the orange livebox combines it into one, but some people have a cable modem and a separate router. Popular models are D-link and Linksys, for example.
The router can be either wired, or wireless (or both).
Your PC has a network card. This too can be wired or wireless. It makes little difference as far as setting up a network goes, although if you have a 'wired' card you have to make sure it's connected to the router.
You actually have two separate parts to the network. The connection between your modem and your router is the 'external' part - it is usually configured automatically by your service provider, and you normally don't need to do anything with it. If you do, tey will tell you what needs doing.
The connections between the router and your PC(s) is the 'internal' network (it is not part of or visible on the internet), and although that too is normally pretty much 'plug and play', you might need to sort some of it out yourself.
The tricky bit is getting your PCs to talk to the router and each other. So . . .
Each PC has to have something called an IP address. This is kind of like the PCs 'phone number'. It is a unique number.
Each IP address on your internal network must be unique, but must be part of a sequence. 99% of the time this is done by the router - it uses something called DHCP to assign these numbers to any PC connected to it. If you're not getting at least all the PCs to connect to the internet, that is the first thing you should look at.
Assuming your PCs do both connect to the net, you're most of the way there. This tells you that they both have good IP addresses, which will also help allow them to talk to each other.
To create a small network with Windows, do the following - bear in mind this might be trashing any previous setup, so if it's not your network, make sure you're not messing someone elses up!;
1. On the desktop, right click on 'my computer', click 'properties', goto the 'computername' tab, and click the 'change' button'.
Click the 'workgroup' option, and add a descriptive name. (davesnetwork or something. If you're called Dave, obv.)
Click OK, etc. You may need to restart. Do this on all the PCs you want to connect.
2. If for example you then want to 'share' your 'my documents' folders between the PCs, you'd goto the Windows desktop, right click 'my documents', click 'properties', find the tab at the top that says 'sharing', go to that, click on 'share this folder', put something descriptive in the 'sharename' box. There is a button that says 'permissions', but by default it allows everyone on your network full control. Normally that's be OK, but you can mess about with it and give peope say permission to read, but not write (this means they can't do stuff like delete as well).
Click OK, and do the same on the other PC(s).
If all has worked, you should now be able to go to explorer, click on 'my network places', and you'll see your new work group in there (you might need to expand the 'entire network' option). You'll see all the computers there, including the one you're using. Selecting them should show you the folders you have shared (in the example, you'd see the 'my documents' folders on each machine. Depending on the permissions you assigned, you should be able to use the files on the other machine as if they are on yours.
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