Hi, I have attempted to set-up a LAN connection between x2 laptops. I have created a home workgroup (HOMENET) and tried to connect the laptops but I cannot seem to open any shared folders or even map a shared drive. There is also not network connection listed in my network connections, even though I have a internet connection from my client laptop via the host.

Can someone help me trouble shoot this problem

OS: Windows XP

Thanks

Antony

Mod Edit: Moved to more appropriate forum

Hi, it's been awhile since I networked my computers, I only have one now. But I remember I had to do a search for other computers on the network and my firewall caused a lot of problems. What I ended up doing was turning off my cable modem and then my firewalls. No problem seeing each other then. Just remember to turn your firewall back on. There must be a better way, but that's all I can recall.

When first setting up a network - don't get all fancy with the security settings. Set it up to connect first, then add the security next.

Have you run the Network Setup Wizard and the Network Connection Wizard on both computers? On one of those it'll offer to make a disk to take the settings to the other computer - use it rather than setting it up manually.

Sometimes it helps to "mirror" the accounts in a workgroup (has to do with Guest account permissions - more than that I don't know). This means that there'll be an identical account with the identical password on each of the systems.

Thanks allot guys!!! but I have tried both of your suggestions but has not helped. When I look under 'My Network Connections' I can see the name of the workgroup but not the individual Terminals, therefore I think the workgroup is not correct, also the connections seem to be based on internet connections rather than a LAN connection. When connected I can ping the client PC but just cannot map a drive or open a shared folder, Any suggestions?

Antony

I know this is basic but did you enable sharing?

Hello,

If you go to my network places and click view network connections, a window will pop up and display your adapters.

find the one you are using and right click it and go to properties.

A new window will appear, scroll down the box titled this connection uses the following items, look for one called internet protocoll (tcp/ip) then click properties. click use following ip adress.

Type something like 123.123.123.4 It can be anything.

Then go to the next box called subnet mask. click on it and it should fill up itself.

Do the same for laptop number 2 only this time change the last number on the ip to something different.
Beware that doing this will not let you get on the internet(unless you are using a gateway) to go back to the net, just put everything back the way it was

hope this helps