File Sharing
Methods for networking two computers
By Bradley Mitchell, About.com Guide
• pc to pc file transfer
• network cables
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(Continued from Page 1)
Rather than cable two computers directly, the computers may instead be joined indirectly
through a central network fixture. This method requires two network cables, one
connecting each computer to the fixture. Several types of fixtures exist for home
networking:
Implementing this method often entails additional up-front cost to purchase more cables
and network infrastructure. However, it's a general-purpose solution accommodating any
reasonable number of devices (e.g, ten or more). You will likely prefer this approach if
you intend to expand your network in the future.
Most cabled networks utilize Ethernet technology. Alternatively, USB hubs can be
employed, while powerline and phoneline home networks each offer their own unique
form of central infrastructure. The traditional Ethernet solutions are generally very
reliable and offer high performance.
In recent years, wireless solutions have enjoyed increasing popularity for home
networking. As with cabled solutions, several different wireless technologies exist to
support basic two computer networks:
• Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth
• infrared
Wi-Fi connections can reach a greater distance than the wireless alternatives listed above.
Many newer computers, especially laptops, now contain built-in Wi-Fi capability,
making it the preferred choice in most situations. Wi-Fi can be used either with or
without a network fixture. With two computers, Wi-Fi networking minus a fixture (also
called ad-hoc mode) is especially simple to set up.
If you find mention of an alternative wireless technology called HomeRF, you can safely
ignore it. HomeRF technology became obsolete several years ago and is not a practical
option for home networking.
• pc to pc file transfer
• network cables
• home network setup
• peer to peer networks
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The simplest kind of home network contains exactly two computers. You can use this
kind of network to share files, a printer or another peripheral device, and even an Internet
connection. To connect two computers for sharing these and other network resources,
consider the options described below.
The traditional method to network two computers involves making a dedicated link by
plugging one cable into the two systems. Several alternatives exist for networking two
computers in this manner:
Serial and parallel - This type of cabling, called Direct Cable Connection (DCC) when
using Microsoft Windows, offers lower performance but offers the same basic
functionality as Ethernet cables. You may prefer this option if you have such cables
readily available and network speed is not a concern. Serial and parallel cables are never
used to network more than two computers.
USB - Ordinary USB cables must not be used to connect two computers directly to each
other. Attempting to do so can electrically damage the computers! However, special USB
cables designed for direct connection exist that can be used safely. You may prefer this
option over others if your computers lack functional Ethernet network adapters.
To make dedicated connections with Ethernet, USB, serial or parallel cables requires
1. each computer have a functioning network interface with an external jack for the
cable, and
2. the network settings on each computer appropriately configured
One phone line or power cord cannot be used to directly connect two computers to each
other for networking.
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Unanswered messages
Hello,
I'm a bit of a neophyte, so bear with me. I recently set up a wireless signal in my home.
The Linksys Wireless G Broadband Router is hooked up to my desktop computer and a
cable Internet modem.
My Internet connectivity is fine ... I'm hooked up and everything is great getting online
via my wireless laptop.
What I'd like to do now, and I don't know how to accomplish, is to be able to share files
back and forth between the desktop and the laptop. My desktop is my main work
computer, so I find myself running between them with a thumb drive swapping files back
and forth.
I'd also love to be able to print from the wireless laptop ... my printer is currently hooked
up directly to my desktop.
I know these steps are possible. I just don't know how to do it. Any help would be
greatly, greatly appreciated.
Configuration: Windows XP
Internet Explorer 7.0
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• +21
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There are to many ways but you can use for example the remote destop
application that is built-in in Windows based computers to share resources
between 2 computers, and even totally control 1 remote computer:
For the remote printing, do you have to set up the printer sharing first and after
that connect to the printer in the side where you are, that is different from where
the printer is located, follow this link:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/h-
oneycutt_july2.mspx
Excuse me for any writing error, I speak Spanish.
Reply to islacuba
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Hey,
Did you have any luck connecting the laptop and pc wirelessly?
Reply to Demcell
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Reply to jj
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Use VNC viewer...that is the best thing to use...and read it before to use
Reply to yuyujerami
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Sir,
i am trying to connect my two pc through wireless router,i mean i want to share
my one pc disk to other pc hard disk. plz tell me its procedure.i am very
thankful to you
zubair
Reply to zubi
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If u want to connect through wireless open network & sharing in control panel
then open set up new connection then u will see window
in that set up wireless ad hoc then click next please fill the required
fields.................like connection name..........security type next its done..:
then if u search wireless connections u will find new one with name u given
connect to it...............then its done u can share any thing from one lap to
other,.,,..
Reply to bckr
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kennedy
Reply to kenchip12
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I have just purchased a new laptop (an ACER) which has Windows Vista
(home) installed. my main computer is connected to the internet via a
broardband connection and it also has a wireless router connected and has been
in use for another computer in the past (no longer in use) the router is 'live ' and
ready ! How do I connect my new laptop via the router wireless signal (no
physical connection-ofcourse!) thanks if you can help.
Reply to kados
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Just click the wireless function key...sometimes it's shortcut key like fnc key + f2....to
activate your laptop wirlesss,,,e mail me if you have question..ayt???
Reply to serrotleoj
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Reply to haggis
38
naqib, on Jul 17, 2009 11:21:59 am BST
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Hello dear sir i have a problam in the wireless i dont have a wireless key to connected
my leptap in the internte what should i do dear tell me
my leptap fine one access point but i dont have a access point key what should i do
thanks
Reply to naqib
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I have a new Acer laptop but it does not have a wireless function key. I've tried
everything to connect with my main computer without any luck.
Reply to corgi
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How do I use my laptop with just a router. Does it have to be connected to a desktop?
How do I use my laptop solely without a desktop. Help
Reply to Maggie
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Maggie - did anyone respond to your question? I also am trying to set up wireless
capability without a desktop so that I can use my throughout my house. When I bought a
wireless router yesterday, the guy at Best Buy assured me I do not need a desktop. He
said to do the set up while "wired" and that once set up I should be able to work
wirelessly ... it did not work. Help!
Reply to naive
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Your wep security key is on your router somewhere around the seriel number one is the
seriel number and the other is the wep key
Reply to lostmarbles
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Read the set-up connections on the wireless router. You'll have to INITIALLY connect
the laptop to the router (with the phone connector type wire with the clippie things on
the end). The computer will then recognize the router and adapt to it, and after it does (in
a few minutes), you can disconnect the telephone type wire from the laptop and the
router and go wireless. The foregoing is just the gist of how you connect without a
desktop computer. You do, of course, HAVE to have an available Internet connection,
such as through cable (aka cable modem). And you'd connect the cable to your router in
the appropriate place. Again, read the router instructions carefully, and make sure you
already have some kind of connection to the Internet (cable modem (through your cable
provider) or DSL (through a telephone company).
Reply to Jules
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If you connect internt through wirless router then it's possible to share desktop files and
laptop files. first make sure you have same workgroup on both computers. then ping each
computer. if it success then share the files or folders you want to share. that's it... sure for
my language... if question don't hestitate to email me ok bye
Reply to lal
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What is Ping?
etc
XP
Now what?
JBryllars@Gmail.com
Reply to Btyllars
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My desktop has broadband connection, and a wireless router modem and i have an laptop
in which windows vista is installed. please tell me how to connect my laptop wirelessly
to browse internet. aslo tell me about the ping.
Reply to rajiv
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The way I have done this is simply sharing the desktop hard drive to say 2 users or so.
Now when you want to see the desktop from the lap top; get the desktop IP address and
connect as a network drive as follows:
\\10.x.x.x\c$desktop
Reply to Rajeev
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Thankyou Rajeev
Pardon my ignorance - but I still don't get the basic idea of the setup
and basic commands.
Nobody starts from the beginning.
They tell all about wires
but not step by step about what I am doing.
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Any idea on how to connect a linux computer through my windows vista computer which
is already on wireless so it can have internet. i have another wireless card but as being a
windows program cant run it, and i did try crossover but i downloaded the free version
for some reason it dosnt work so i doing a temp internet fix by hooking into my windows
comp. and the router is 2 floors down so i dont want to hard wire down there.
Reply to saturn
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Hey on vista just pleg in your router and your printer into your router if it has a ethernet
plug on it and on vista it will detect and instal it automatically, the problem im having is i
have a wireless router hooked to my desktop and my hp officejet 7210 pluged into the
router. it lets me print from the vista and i even hooked my vista laptop up wireless and it
printed but when i click add printer on my xp laptop and then click network printer it
findsthe router but not the printer, what is the problem and i owuld appreciate any
responses, if anyone else needs any answers email me and i might can answer them.
please reply thanks
Reply to elwilliams
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Hello. I read your answer with great interest as I am a fellow who has spent every
waking moment of the last three months trying to find how to get Linux - any Linux
brand - too 'see' and use a wifi printer (Canon MP980) on my home wireless network. I
have left dozens of postings on user sites from Ubuntu to Sabayon and have had no
specific answers. Here's the situation; My laptop is currently using Vista HP 64bit and
thought it capabilities, I set up my wireless network (D-Link, 2.5 GHz, 'N' band) and a
wifi 3-in-1 Canon MP980 printer. It works beautifully. However I have always loathed
the cost and secrecy of Windows and wish to escape it's clutches. I have tested 7 Linux
distros and all find and connect to the wirless net work but - because of my ignorance in
Linux - I cannot get any of them to 'see' and connect to the wifi printer. I am willing to
try anything you could suggest to print wirelessly from within any Linux brand that can
do this one thing. I cannot hook my computer directly to a printerr as I am bed-ridden
(crippled) and have no room for and no plug-in for a printer near my bed. I have a
partition on my hard drive for the one Linux brand that I can get to print. Can you help
me?
Sincerely,
Jeff Bradshaw
Reply to jjcb
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If your directing you print messages to the router which knows to direct prints to the
network printer it should work fine???
Reply to Telboy
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It all depends on what operating system you are running. This goes for mostly all the OS
from 98 to XP.
To share files, you just need to create a folder anywhere on your desktop and give it a
name. Then you right click it and go to "Sharing" or "Sharing and Security". You just ask
it to share and make sure you click on the "Allow other users to make changes" so that
you can change the files on that folder from your laptop computer.
You can do the same for the printer. Go to Control Panel, Printers and right click on the
printer you are trying to share and ask it to "Share".
Then you go to the laptop and open up "My Computer" type in the desktops ip address as
such (192.168.1.101) and this will open the desktop computer if you have any folders or
files that are set to share. Make sure your firewalls are turned off for both your OS and
your antivirus. You will then see the printer on there. You just need to double click the
printer and if it asks you to download the drivers from the internet just say "yes" or "ok".
You should also be able to access the folder you set to share on your desktop and should
be able to make changes. I have set up these types of networking for many businesses
and homes so they definately work. If not just send me a personal e-mail and I will be
happy to assist you.
Sergio
Reply to afortunado
14
Hey guys,
My situation is that i have a few computers and all of them are connected via wireless,
none by LAN. (unlike the usual where at least one comp is connected via Lan)
I would like to use one laptop as core, and create a folder in this laptop to store all the
files. All other users can access this folder on that laptop and access the files.
Question how can I connect my all laptops wirelessly and share files wirelessly? I read
on many places that sharing files wireless is not very secure.
Can advise?
Henry
Reply to Henry
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Hi Fortunado
Maria
Reply to maria
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Reply to gadgetfreak
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I am trying to do the same thing. Access my Brother Printer - which is plugged into my
wireless router. I can access the printer as long as I select the USB connection (for the
same printer). But if I try to access it via the connection to the Netgear wireless router - it
won't do anything. I typically use a computer in a different room from the one to which
the router is attached. With that computer off - I can still access the internet,
I'm trying to cut down on my household power consumption, but whenever we shut off
the main computer - the USB printer connection won't work either.
I really hate networking. I just finally got the printers (USB) to work. Not sure what I did
other than reinstall every option I had in network protocols. Now I probably have too
many, but I never know which one I need.
Reply to avatrx
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Reply to tukki
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I never rec'd an answer from the group. I reinstalled some of the network protocols that I
had removed. I can only print to the USB printer on the remote computer when it is ON.
I haven' had a chance to figure out how to connect to the printer alone when the remote
computer is OFF. I know it's possible because before the computer crash (mine - not the
remote one) I was able to do it.
I can only suggest what others have said - I checked the "other network file and print
services in the add/remove windows components programs section of windows
applications even though it shows -0 mb used -and also in the printer and faxes section.
For now - make sure the remote computer is ON. make sure to select "share" printer on
both computers.
Wish I could be more help. I'm going to kidnap my son's best friend next time he comes
to visit. I'll feed him in exchange for help with the network issues. I know he can figure
it out.
Susie
Reply to avatrx
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I have two lap tops, both are operating via a wireless router. One is newer, with Vista
Ultimate, the other is XP. I am using MS Outlook. How can I have Outlook opened on
both computers and have them be in synch with each other?
Reply to Wanda
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I purchased a new laptop but i don't know how to connect internet through wireless,i'm
also having wifi for my laptop tell me about wifi also...?
Reply to satish g
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I just got a new laptop and my home computer has wireless internet but I don't know how
to connect the home computer internet to my laptop and share the wireless broadband soo
i guess my question is how did you do it? email me to tell me please!!! =D
Reply to Hollyyy
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http://www.smartcomputing.com/...
Reply to Bryllars
52
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Can you let me know how you did this. my main computer is wireless and my laptop is
wireless capable but for some reason i cannot connect to the internet. cheers adele
Reply to amw
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I don't know how to share files ether, but try wireless network setup wizard in control
panel. It connects 2 computers together, but I've seen you have to change your computer
names to share files. You have to make the names the same to share files. Did that help?
Reply to inventer2be
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Sir
i am astudent of networking engineering from iiht
my problem i can connect for four pc in wi fi network with airtel wifi modem
internet all ready connected but no file and printer sharing
please help me
Reply to hk
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I would like to have my Laptop (Vista )which is wireless to be able to print from my
printer on whiich is connected to my desktop computer ( Windows XP). Can someone
give me some advice how to do this?
Reply to Nana
24
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I think you better to read this site " http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/418/1,...
Reply to bunchit
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Thanks for the link. I'm going to try to print it out. Looks like I have to cut and paste lots
of pages. There is alot of useful info there. I did get my network going again but not sure
how. I have to set up a network at my office, so I'll use your link as a guide.
At home I don't have to encrypt or password protect my system. I live so far from anyone
- that you'd have to have a wireless connection and be lurking in the woods nearby to
gain access. If you got that close - my 4 dogs would surely scare you off!
thanks,
Susie
Reply to avatrx
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Hi all you have to do well this is a easy way sign into youe msn and send it via there
thats probably the most simpilist way and for the printer it must have a bluetooth signal
pick up. these are the basics if you have more trouble my name is
shaundunphy2005@hotmail.com contact me this way.
Reply to dudz
27
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I have a simple to install program called Network Magic 5.1 ESSENTIALS .Find it here.
(http://www.purenetworks.com/download/). with instructions
It is simply awsome! I am not any good at wireless connections . There are way to many
steps to take to do the windows thing, like changing IP adresses and all that. One mistake
and nothing works at all ,,, this program does it all for you with little effort at
understanding instructions. Try the 7 Day Trial,Follow the simple instructions closely.I
INSTALLED IT ON EACH COMPUTER AND THE PROGRAMS FIND EACH
OTHER AND CHANGE ALL THE SETTING FOR YOU. Your going to love it! I now
have total WIRELESS! access to all files on all 3 of my computers (2 desktops &
laptop),,,plus all my computers can access my printer. My printer is just a basic non-USB
All-in-One. It is well worth the money. All future upgrades are free. Free for seven
days,if you don't like it uninstall it. Hope you try it you'll love it.It was ,,Like,,
instant,,,,,,,,YES!!! YES!! it all works finally!
Reply to JayW
51
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I have a brain. I can do many things. There are some things I can do which only a certain
few in society can do. For example I could sew you an outfit, with a hat and bag to
match. BUT what I cannot do and what I have been trying to do, all night, is connect two
desktop computers to a router, not to share stuff or play games, but to have more than 2
computers working at the same time and going through the one modem/router, simply
use the one cable that enters this house. I just found out the router I bought is
refurbished, so the company will not, in simple terms, just tell me what wire to get, to
connect to where. There is a box, the router box, a black plug into the wall kind of cable,
a small yellow cable about 3 feet long and a white 30 foot cable. Now I know its not a
rubick's cube here, but wires just usurp any last vestige of sense and intelligence form
my brain and I can be reduced to tears when it comes to this kind of technology, which is
bizarre, being as I am not a crier. I don't want to know which one is the ethernet I just
wold like to put them in the right hole so it, the 2 computers with the router, work. That's
all. Please someone help me. You would not be asking me me if I double seamed, triple
stitched, basted or serged if I was sewing you an outfit, now would you. Your concern
would be that the outfit stays on you and seams don't split.
Reply to tundy
61
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Tundy,
North
Reply to North
64
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Setting up and Adhoc Network definitely works with Vista and Windows 7. I haven't
tried it with XP.
If you have managed to connect to the internet then you can use the free version of
LogMeIn, available from 'http://www.LogMeIn.com', to share files and programs
between all your PCs and laptops. If you are still stuck then follow the instructions in
LogMeIn and send me an invite by email to 'tech.jwr@gmail.com'. I can help you make
sure that all your local network settings are correct.
Reply to jwr51
31
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Rajeev I think I love you. Your advice ended hours of frustration for me. Thank you!
Reply to me
63
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I would have just advised you to go with some 3rd party remote access software, because
the MS offering can be insanely difficult (obviously) to decipher and complete. Still, I'm
glad it works for you now!
Reply to Marvin
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To hook up your lap top to your computer you need a usb cable one side will conncet to
printer the othere side connect to laptop turn on printer and laptop and it should work :)