Hello.
I have a problem that has probably been addressed here, but I just can't find anything that actually works, so I figure that it's just something simple that I have missed.
I need to change out an old hard drive on a Compaq Presario, W2K Pro (SP4) desktop.
I connect to the internet through dialup at this time, so the wireless router, WRT54G2 V2 Linksys, is not connected to any modem.
I purchased the router a couple of days ago, along with a Toshiba laptop.
The Toshiba has 2GB memory and an AMD Turion 64 processor.
It is running Vista with the SP1 added.
I had the geeks at the store where I purchased these put WPA2 encryption on the router.
So, I have a laptop connected wirelessly to the router, and I have a desktop connected by cable to the router.
I can use either to access the router, by typing its IP address into the IE7 (Vista) and IE6 (W2K Pro) address bars.
So, both are connecting to the router, and the connection is shown onscreen, in the taskbars.
Here is where I am having difficulties:
The two machines cannot see each other.
A search for "Computers Near Me" reveals local machine only.
I'm really only interested in the laptop seeing and accessing some of the desktop's saved web pages...with lo-o-o-o-ng filenames...too many to access, re-save with short names, and burn on CD, as well as some family photos, etc.
I've read a lot and tried a few methods, but there is always a dead end.
First, everyone seems to write about 2K and XP being a lot the same, but they end up using only XP references, like "Network Neighborhood" as opposed to "My Network Places", and veering off to XP procedures, looking at things from an XP perspective.
I need step-by-step, dedicated, W2K Pro (SP4) directions and references.
Then there is the W2K MS, page that says to set permissions before sharing a folder.
Simple.
Create a folder and click on its properties, click on the "Security" tab, and set permissions and passwords.
One problem: there is no "Security" tab in the folder properties dialog/splash.
There are two tabs: General and Sharing.
I have to map a network drive, also, and I can't remember precisely how to do it.
Four years ago, at a store where I was running the Parts Department, I kept a network of 8 computers, with DSL Internet access, running (variously) 98, ME, 2K, Thiz Linux, and XP up and running and online with few problems, and none that I couldn't handle.
I can't believe how much I have forgotten over the past four years!
I would really appreciate any help on this problem.
Like I said, I think that I just need to calm down and, step-by-step, put the filesharing and network drive mapping together into a workable Networking environment.
BTW, both computers are in the "WORKGROUP" workgroup.
(No DNS mentioned in "ipconfig".)
PS: I'll really need to address Vista's "ipconfig", goofy-looking IP addresses, in another post.
They look like registry entries, don't they?
Thanks,
Jerry.