using my wifi with my laptop and desktop

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miss_louie

57 posts

Master Geek

#15819 9-Sep-2007 20:34

hi me again!

i have a new laptop. with wireless internet and whatnot. I want my laptop to be able to talk to my printer so I can just send stuff to be printed from my laptop. Also I want to know if I can talk to my desktop computer and get my files, pics, songs etc off there and onto here.
Also, my laptop is on Vista so I really need to speak to someone who knows about Vista. Ive talked to a few people but still nothing :(
Any help would be really appreciated guys.
Cheers!

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

Uber Geek

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#86004 9-Sep-2007 21:01

You will need a wireless access point, and a wireless usb or pci adapter for your desktop. (About $160 total). Once installed, you share your desktop printer over the network, and your laptop can print wirelessly. Folder hsaring pretty straightforward too.

Do you have a wifi router? A wifi card in your pc?

miss_louie

57 posts

Master Geek

#86009 9-Sep-2007 21:15

yes i have a wifi router. i thought that would do the trick? but it cant find my desktop pc so far....

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

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#86013 9-Sep-2007 21:41

Have you enabled sharing on your desktop?

Try creating a new folder on your desktop, then right click it, and share it.

miss_louie

57 posts

Master Geek

#86037 10-Sep-2007 08:03

yeah. like when i go to my network on my laptop it can find my laptop, and the router, but it cant find the pc or the printer.

vrtual

28 posts

Geek

#86089 10-Sep-2007 14:32

Is your desktop running Vista too? Open up the Network and Sharing Center and check that Network Discovery and File sharing are both turned ON.

See if you can see the router and laptop from the desktop (i.e. back the other way). Also make sure that you don't see "limited or no connectivity" on your network status in the taskbar. If you do, then you haven't really connected to your router properly. Chances are you haven't got DHCP turned on correctly on your access point. But that's another story.

- j

miss_louie

57 posts

Master Geek

#86092 10-Sep-2007 14:49

vrtual: Is your desktop running Vista too? Open up the Network and Sharing Center and check that Network Discovery and File sharing are both turned ON.

See if you can see the router and laptop from the desktop (i.e. back the other way). Also make sure that you don't see "limited or no connectivity" on your network status in the taskbar. If you do, then you haven't really connected to your router properly. Chances are you haven't got DHCP turned on correctly on your access point. But that's another story.

- j

hey dude
no my desktop is XP. laptop is Vista. I think thats where im getting a problem. My desktop cant find the laptop....
its driving me insane.

network discovery and file sharing is turned on on the laptop.

zimbokiwi

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#86101 10-Sep-2007 15:12

Couple of things:

You have probably done this already - but make sure that they are all in the same workgroup :)

You will need to use advanced settings for sharing on the Vista Laptop - as by default - it will only share with people who have a username and password.
I have just configured my Vista laptop to share files on its hard drive with another laptop - and by using the advanced Sharing option I was able to get around my previous problems.

I am guessing the desktop is not running Vista - if it is then Vrtual is entirely correct about the process for setting it up.

You can also click "Show me all the files and folders I am sharing" in Network and Sharing Centre - and this should display your printer if you have it turned on and configured correctly
Hope this helps

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vrtual

28 posts

Geek

#86103 10-Sep-2007 15:21

Just to establish the basics, because I'm not clear yet...

if I was actually there I'd firstly check the network connections were in place:

You have an internet connection? - either an ADSL modem (which could generate a local IP address for you via DHCP) or a cable modem (which typically doesn't).

You now have a wireless router (separate from your internet connection?) which may also be generating a local IP address for you too which would be bad. You should only have one of these devices with "DHCP" turned on.

Assuming your network is working OK, you should be able to 'ping' both the router and the laptop from your desktop (and vice versa).

Check you have sensible IP addresses by making friends with your command shell. Press Windows-R and type cmd.
Then type:

ipconfig /all

Check the ip address for your wireless network adapter and whatever network adapter you're using on the desktop. They should share the same basic address (typically 192.168.1.x or 10.1.1.x or similar). if they have 169.something then you haven't got a connection.

Try to 'ping' the other computer e.g.

ping 192.168.1.2

or whatever address it says it is. If that's not getting through you either have firewall issues or more likely, an invalid network configuration.

You shouldn't really have any trouble seeing vista from XP or vice-versa if your network is configured correctly.

- j

miss_louie

57 posts

Master Geek

#86840 16-Sep-2007 13:25

this is way too confusing for me man. i did the cmd thing and all this crazy writing came up and i just got scared. anyone know of a good service in the Tauranga area where people will come to ur house and fix this kind of thing for u?

vrtual

28 posts

Geek

#86844 16-Sep-2007 15:08

Unfortunately it's needfully complicated. At least so far in the 21st century

You can bang "wireless home networking tutorial" into google (without the quotes) and have a look around for some instructional pages. But if you're not particularly technical youself, you are far better off getting a professional in to not only get you up and running, but ensure your network is secure.

So many people just use the default settings on their wireless network and wonder why they got hacked, or they're sharing their internet connection with the neighbours or the guy parked in his car across the street.

I don't know anyone personally in Tauranga, but call around for someone who will do a callout for a reasonable fee. You'll be glad to get it set up properly.

Cheers - John

miss_louie

57 posts

Master Geek

#86848 16-Sep-2007 15:24

yeah. i dont want to get hacked. i might just see if i can con someone into doing it for me or something, cos to be honest i dont really have the skills for this kinda thing.... thanks for ur reply x

pamana

1 post

Wannabe Geek

#87469 20-Sep-2007 23:31

This maybe a silly question, but lets assume your Laptop has a built Wireless, some of the newer laptops, if not all, have a switch to turn them on. Is yours on?

Mine is located on the side of my laptop.

zimbokiwi

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#88136 26-Sep-2007 09:57

Is a bit of a silly question but no biggie as it is your first post - Welcome!!

The reason - if you have a read in an earlier thread - Miss Louie can see the router and her laptop - just not the printer.....she would not be able to see her router if it were swithed off...

Now back to the mission - Miss Louie - I think that is probably a good idea to get a friend in - and then while they are round there - write down what they do and type it back in here to finish off this thread.. :) givin a little back to the peeps...

Hope you have managed to get it sorted