[zebra2321]

I use ICS to create a home LAN through my 2 pcs. The one with the internet runs XP Home, and the one that connects through the other uses 2000. My initial use was just to get 2 working internets, which is accomplished all the time. However, I need to access some files on one computer with the other, but the files arent visible. Only very few times have I been able to see the shared files. The computers arent even showing up on the 'Home' network I set up, but I can still used shared internet.

In other news, I would also like to use my "leech" computer to print things, but am unsure of how to set this up.

Internet providing computer = 1
Internet connection sharing "leech" computer = 2
EDIT: Currently I can see computer 2's contents on the WORKGROUP on computer 1. On computer 2, I also only see computer 2 in the WORKGROUP network.

And, on computer 1 it takes a very long time for the networking pages to load (ie Entire Network to Windows Network to Home/Workgroup to computer). Up to maybe a minute per page change even.

Thanks

 

[zebra2321]

Now I can access neither computer from either computer, ie., no accesses at all, anywhere.

 

[johnwill]

All machines are must be in the same subnet, i.e. 192.168.0.x where x is any number. The subnet mask should be 255.255.255.0 for most small networks.

Turn off any firewalls for debugging. If the firewall is the problem, you'll have to configure it to allow access to "trusted zone" addresses. Note that some firewalls must be completely uninstalled to stop them from affecting your networking.

PING each computer by IP address, and if successful, PING by name. You can obtain the IP address of a computer by opening a command prompt (DOS window) and typing IPCONFIG. This should work for any Windows version.

All computers should be in the same workgroup for computer browsing to function properly. File & Print Sharing has to be enabled on any computer you wish to share files or printers from. You also need to actually share the resource in question from My Computer, right click on the drive/printer/folder, and select sharing.

If you encounter difficulties accessing computers that are visible in Network Neighborhood, make sure the computer being accessed has an account with the same name/password as the system connecting to it uses to login.

While the default NetBIOS setting is correct for normal network configurations, it's possible for it to be altered, and it costs nothing to make sure it's correct. NETBIOS over TCP/IP must be enabled for normal network browsing.