Sharing Files on a Wireless Network

dave20688 · 07-25-2006, 04:00 PM

Hi all, I have a small problem. I recently set up a wireless network between a wired PC, and a wireless PC. I know they're connected properly on the network as both PC's can ping each other's IP address and the modem.

Also, I enabled File and printer sharing on each PC as well. However, when I visit My Network Places, only the PC I'm on when viewing it shows up on the Network. For example, when I'm on the wireless PC, I can view only the wireless PC on the network, but not the wired, and vice-versa. Also, I disabled firewalls on both computers, so that's not an issue. What can I do to access both computers on the network?

Lastly though, I tried visiting the IP of the wired PC from the wireless PC, and after some loading, it brings up an alert that I need a user name and password, even though I didn't set up a name or password, nor is any security enabled. How do I get past this?

Thanks for any help!

whardman · 07-26-2006, 08:19 AM

First thing would be to make sure both computers are on the same workgroup. Since they are able to ping each other (and I assume both are able to connect to the internet), there doesn't seem to be a connection issue.

dave20688 · 07-26-2006, 02:23 PM

Well, I ran the network setup wizard on both computers, and put them both in the Group Mshome, so I figured they were placed in the same workgroup. However, when viewing workgroup computers, only the PC I'm on shows up in the workgroup, so I suppose they're NOT in the same workgroup.

That being said, how would I go about putting them in the same workgroup if I already ran the network setup wizard on both computers and put them both in the Mshome group, yet they still don't show up?

**Sum Yung Guy** · 07-26-2006, 02:28 PM

Are they both the same opperating system? You got them on the same workgroup and you can ping each other. Disconnect your hub from the internet and try pinging each other again. Once you verified all that, make a new folder on each computer and just put a blank new.txt file in the folder and right click that folder and share it. Then see if you can see the folders from the other computers. If that dont help well, I dunno.

**johnwill** · 07-26-2006, 02:55 PM

Right click on My Computer, Properties, Computer Name. Click on the Change burron and you can change the computer name and workgroup there.

wpgwiggum · 09-20-2006, 10:03 AM

you might also try accessing the computer directly instead of going through My Network Places.

In the start menu, click run, then \\192.168.x.x of the address of the computer you are trying to access. This will open a new Explorer window (hopefully) of the computer's shared folders, then you can continute from there.

jdeleo · 09-20-2006, 10:19 AM

The key to all this file sharing and seeing other computers in the My Network Places is to ensure that in the properties of TCP/IP advanced button/WINS tab, the NetBIOS option is enabled. For ease of use besure the workgroups are the same, not case sensitive.

The Microsoft browsing process, seeing other computers, is a time sensitive one. One of your computers will become the Master Browser in 1 to 10 minutes. This is not immediate. There is alot of back ground negotiations going on and until the network settles down and everyone is registered you will not be able to see all the computers on the network.

As for asking for a user name and password. My suggestion is to create the exact sameuser ID and password on both machines. When you attempt to open a folder on another machine you pass your userid/password to that machine. If it is not in the security database it will prompt you for a valid userid/password.

Networking is FUN!

**johnwill** · 09-20-2006, 02:59 PM

The default for NETBIOS over TCP/IP is enabled, so that's normally not an issue.

07-25-2006, 04:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
dave20688 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3 OS: XP	Sharing Files on a Wireless Network Hi all, I have a small problem. I recently set up a wireless network between a wired PC, and a wireless PC. I know they're connected properly on the network as both PC's can ping each other's IP address and the modem. Also, I enabled File and printer sharing on each PC as well. However, when I visit My Network Places, only the PC I'm on when viewing it shows up on the Network. For example, when I'm on the wireless PC, I can view only the wireless PC on the network, but not the wired, and vice-versa. Also, I disabled firewalls on both computers, so that's not an issue. What can I do to access both computers on the network? Lastly though, I tried visiting the IP of the wired PC from the wireless PC, and after some loading, it brings up an alert that I need a user name and password, even though I didn't set up a name or password, nor is any security enabled. How do I get past this? Thanks for any help!

07-26-2006, 02:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,685 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Right click on My Computer, Properties, Computer Name. Click on the Change burron and you can change the computer name and workgroup there. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

09-20-2006, 02:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,685 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	The default for NETBIOS over TCP/IP is enabled, so that's normally not an issue. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

07-26-2006, 08:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
whardman Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 617 OS: Windows XP My System	First thing would be to make sure both computers are on the same workgroup. Since they are able to ping each other (and I assume both are able to connect to the internet), there doesn't seem to be a connection issue.

07-26-2006, 02:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
dave20688 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3 OS: XP	Well, I ran the network setup wizard on both computers, and put them both in the Group Mshome, so I figured they were placed in the same workgroup. However, when viewing workgroup computers, only the PC I'm on shows up in the workgroup, so I suppose they're NOT in the same workgroup. That being said, how would I go about putting them in the same workgroup if I already ran the network setup wizard on both computers and put them both in the Mshome group, yet they still don't show up?

07-26-2006, 02:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
Sum Yung Guy I helped the forums. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ramadi, Iraq Posts: 34 OS: WinXP Pro My System	Are they both the same opperating system? You got them on the same workgroup and you can ping each other. Disconnect your hub from the internet and try pinging each other again. Once you verified all that, make a new folder on each computer and just put a blank new.txt file in the folder and right click that folder and share it. Then see if you can see the folders from the other computers. If that dont help well, I dunno.

09-20-2006, 10:03 AM	#6 (permalink)
wpgwiggum Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 12 OS: Windows XP SP2	you might also try accessing the computer directly instead of going through My Network Places. In the start menu, click run, then \\192.168.x.x of the address of the computer you are trying to access. This will open a new Explorer window (hopefully) of the computer's shared folders, then you can continute from there.

09-20-2006, 10:19 AM	#7 (permalink)
jdeleo Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lehigh Valley PA Posts: 28 OS: XP	The key to all this file sharing and seeing other computers in the My Network Places is to ensure that in the properties of TCP/IP advanced button/WINS tab, the NetBIOS option is enabled. For ease of use besure the workgroups are the same, not case sensitive. The Microsoft browsing process, seeing other computers, is a time sensitive one. One of your computers will become the Master Browser in 1 to 10 minutes. This is not immediate. There is alot of back ground negotiations going on and until the network settles down and everyone is registered you will not be able to see all the computers on the network. As for asking for a user name and password. My suggestion is to create the exact sameuser ID and password on both machines. When you attempt to open a folder on another machine you pass your userid/password to that machine. If it is not in the security database it will prompt you for a valid userid/password. Networking is FUN!