For some reason there have been a lot of networking questions lately.  Here are some 
"lessons learned" for rookie networkers:

1.  Establish TCP/IP connectivity between computers first.  Check by pinging.  If 
you can't ping, you won't be doing anything else until you can ping.

2.  Firewalls!!!!  Make sure any installed firewalls are set to allow file and printer 
sharing on the local network.  DO NOTHING ELSE before you read ths instructions for 
your firewall program and fully understand how to make sure they are not preventing 
desired networking.  Don't just Wuss Out and turn it off...set it up correctly!! 
 The Windows Firewall in XP SP2 is automatically turned on, but as soon as you share 
something, it understands what you are trying to do and sets itself accordingly. 
 The Internet Connection Firewall in XP Gold and XP SP1 is not automatically turned 
on; when it is on, it does not automatically set itself to allow networking---you 
have to check the right boxes.

3.  If you have XP Pro, the easiest basic home-scenario networking is attained by 
making sure Simple File Sharing is enabled.  XP Home Ed is always in Simple File 
Sharing Mode.  Only those with more sophisticated networking needs will have to change 
this.

4.  With default settings, both XP Pro (not on a domain) and Home will see and access 
other network shares without you having to lift a finger!  Just make sure that the 
default setting in Control Panel>(Appearance and Themes category)>Folder Options>View 
Tab, Advanced Settings list, first choice, "Automatically search for network folders 
and printers" is selected.  New shares will take a minute or three to show up.  Patience!!

5.  For simple file and printer sharing, there is NO NEED to mess with user account 
names, Guest accounts, NTFS permissions, workgroup names, static IP addresses, installing 
archaic protocols such as IPX/SPX or NetBEUI, PhDs in Rocket Science, Patron Saints, 
or rabbits' feet.  In fact, any of these will make matters more complicated, not 
less complicated.

6.  If you are trying to share subfolders of the My Docs folder and can't, see if 
you told XP to make the files within My Docs private.  Right click on the folder, 
choose Sharing, then in the top section called Local Sharing and Secuity, see if 
"make this folder private" is checked and greyed out.  If so, you have to go back 
to the main My Docs folder, right click and choose Sharing, where the checkbox is 
not greyed out, and uncheck it.

Tip: Run a free scan for common Windows errors ad

re: Networking/File/Printer Sharing 4 Newbies Tuesday, September 13, 2005 at 8:05 pm Posted by Steve (23810 messages posted) By the time most Networkers get here, they have things so screwed up it is hard to straighten things out. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Networking/File/Printer Sharing 4 Newbies Wednesday, September 14, 2005 at 12:47 am Posted by Gene J (1240 messages posted) Thanks Dan. I have been trying for quite a while now to get a Win98 laptop to talk to my WinXP desktop. Getting them both to work on the internet through a D-Link router was easy, but when I tried to get them to ping each other it was a no-go. Your suggestion of setting permissions in the firewall was the solution. They now share a printer. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Networking/File/Printer Sharing 4 Newbies Wednesday, September 14, 2005 at 6:45 am Posted by Dan Sarandrea, MCSE (7132 messages posted) 2-3 years ago hardly anyone was running a firewall, let alone those who were behind a router, so there was really no need to think about how a firewall can affect file and printer sharing. Today, of course, things are different---many more "civilians" :-) are using protection suites that have a firewall, and it can be frustrating to set up a network because the firewall is out-of-sight-out-of-mind and their pop-up warnings can still be confusing to the average user. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Networking/File/Printer Sharing 4 Newbies Wednesday, September 14, 2005 at 10:58 am Posted by Ms. Eagle (33640 messages posted) Good job as always, Dan, and a very good idea. I wish there were a way to "Pin" topics on these silly forums. Too many good resources get lost in the heap. They need to make some drastic changes around here, but I ain't holding my breath... Btw, I've saved these too. :-) Finding Bin Laden Easier Than Finding Those Pesky Recovery CDs? http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/1120917568 New OEM/System Builder Licensing from MS http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/1125674242 Dealing with Unwanted Spyware and Parasites [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Networking/File/Printer Sharing 4 Newbies Wednesday, September 14, 2005 at 3:39 pm Posted by Dan Sarandrea, MCSE (7132 messages posted) The networking post was not really meant to be an exhaustive list, just a response to a recent trend of questions, but I'm still glad you enjoyed it. Here's another tidbit for those looking for recovery CDs, check out www.restoredisks.com. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Networking/File/Printer Sharing 4 Newbies Sunday, September 18, 2005 at 10:10 pm Posted by Eric Giam (6 messages posted) Thanks Dan. Great content here that you are sharing. However, my problem facing right now is I tried to link both PC with one in Domain and one in Workgroup. With this intention, I am able to ping both PCs, I should not change the Domain to Workgroup since it is a company's property and messing with the admin right, then I have to try something out with the XP Pro Workgroup, what should I do in order to share files ? Regards, Eric [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Networking/File/Printer Sharing 4 Newbies Tuesday, September 20, 2005 at 9:45 am Posted by Francis (14 messages posted) This is a REAL newbie question (but I didn't get a satisfying answer on Google, besides the "history of the 'ping'). How do I ping the computer I'm trying to add to my network? On Tuesday, September 13, 2005 at 7:49 pm, Dan Sarandrea, MCSE wrote: >For some reason there have been a lot of networking questions lately. Here are some >"lessons learned" for rookie networkers: > >1. Establish TCP/IP connectivity between computers first. Check by pinging. If >you can't ping, you won't be doing anything else until you can ping. > >2. Firewalls!!!! Make sure any installed firewalls are set to allow file and printer >sharing on the local network. DO NOTHING ELSE before you read ths instructions for >your firewall program and fully understand how to make sure they are not preventing >desired networking. Don't just Wuss Out and turn it off...set it up correctly!! > The Windows Firewall in XP SP2 is automatically turned on, but as soon as you share >something, it understands what you are trying to do and sets itself accordingly. > The Internet Connection Firewall in XP Gold and XP SP1 is not automatically turned >on; when it is on, it does not automatically set itself to allow networking---you >have to check the right boxes. > >3. If you have XP Pro, the easiest basic home-scenario networking is attained by >making sure Simple File Sharing is enabled. XP Home Ed is always in Simple File >Sharing Mode. Only those with more sophisticated networking needs will have to change >this. > >4. With default settings, both XP Pro (not on a domain) and Home will see and access >other network shares without you having to lift a finger! Just make sure that the >default setting in Control Panel>(Appearance and Themes category)>Folder Options>View >Tab, Advanced Settings list, first choice, "Automatically search for network folders >and printers" is selected. New shares will take a minute or three to show up. Patience!! > >5. For simple file and printer sharing, there is NO NEED to mess with user account >names, Guest accounts, NTFS permissions, workgroup names, static IP addresses, installing >archaic protocols such as IPX/SPX or NetBEUI, PhDs in Rocket Science, Patron Saints, >or rabbits' feet. In fact, any of these will make matters more complicated, not >less complicated. > >6. If you are trying to share subfolders of the My Docs folder and can't, see if >you told XP to make the files within My Docs private. Right click on the folder, >choose Sharing, then in the top section called Local Sharing and Secuity, see if >"make this folder private" is checked and greyed out. If so, you have to go back >to the main My Docs folder, right click and choose Sharing, where the checkbox is >not greyed out, and uncheck it. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Networking/File/Printer Sharing 4 Newbies Friday, September 23, 2005 at 2:53 pm Posted by Dan Sarandrea, MCSE (7132 messages posted) The right way to do it is to ask your workplace network admin if company policy allows connection to a home network. If so, then to make it work we will have to do several things: 1. When you get home, you will start the computer and log onto the local computer using a local user acount. This is different from at work, where you log onto the Domain (not the computer) using a Domain User account. The easy but less secure way to accomplish this is to give you a local account that has administrative privilges on the local computer. 2. When you get to work, you will have to rejoin the Domain, and to do that your admin will have to either (a) add your Domain user acount to the group that is allowed to perfom the act of joining computers to the Domain, or (b) supply you with the User Account and Password for an account that is allowed to add computers to the Domain. Once the computer is back on the Domain, then you would log into the Domain normally. There are several programs available for people that have to hook up to several networks: GlobeSoft Multinetwork Manager v7 Mobile NetSwitch NetSwitcher [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Networking/File/Printer Sharing 4 Newbies Friday, September 23, 2005 at 3:09 pm Posted by Dan Sarandrea, MCSE (7132 messages posted) To ping another computer: Start>Run, type "cmd" without the quotes, click OK to open up a command prompt window. At the command prompt, type "ping xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx" without the quotes to ping by IP address. At the command prompt, type "ping COMPUTER_NAME" without the quotes to ping by computer name. In situations where you can ping a computer by IP but not by name, that is an indicator that there is something afoul with the DNS (domain naming system). Here's what a good ping will return: Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600] (C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp. C:\Documents and Settings\DSarandrea>ping 192.168.0.1 Pinging 192.168.0.1 with 32 bytes of data: Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=127 Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=127 Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=127 Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=127 Ping statistics for 192.168.0.1: Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss), Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds: Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms C:\Documents and Settings\DSarandrea> [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Networking/File/Printer Sharing 4 Newbies Sunday, September 25, 2005 at 4:15 pm Posted by Matthew D. Healy (1255 messages posted) Quite right, the ZEROTH step in connecting an employer-issued computer to a home network is talking to your network admins. In many companies, violating network security policies can be a Career-Limiting Move. Among the specific requirements at my employer is that I had to install a company-supplied hardware firewall device. A colleague's wife works for a company that has an even stricter policy: their house has two DSL lines, one paid for by her employer and only for her work, and one for which they pay for all other uses. On Friday, September 23, 2005 at 2:53 pm, Dan Sarandrea, MCSE wrote: >The right way to do it is to ask your workplace network admin if company policy allows >connection to a home network. If so, then to make it work we will have to do several >things: > >1. When you get home, you will start the computer and log onto the local computer >using a local user acount. This is different from at work, where you log onto the >Domain (not the computer) using a Domain User account. The easy but less secure >way to accomplish this is to give you a local account that has administrative privilges >on the local computer. > >2. When you get to work, you will have to rejoin the Domain, and to do that your >admin will have to either (a) add your Domain user acount to the group that is allowed >to perfom the act of joining computers to the Domain, or (b) supply you with the >User Account and Password for an account that is allowed to add computers to the >Domain. Once the computer is back on the Domain, then you would log into the Domain >normally. > >There are several programs available for people that have to hook up to several networks: > >GlobeSoft Multinetwork Manager v7 > >Mobile NetSwitch > >NetSwitcher [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Networking/File/Printer Sharing 4 Newbies Friday, October 7, 2005 at 7:46 am Posted by tpalmer (3 messages posted) I have a problem I've been trying to work out for quite a while. I have a Win98SE machine and an XP Pro machine. I was able to connect and map these machines easily prior to SP2 on the XP machine. After the update, if I reboot the XP machine while the 98SE is connected, I lose my connection. I then have to reboot the 98SE machine (sometimes several times) before I can connect again. I share a printer that is connected to the XP machine and this is a major annoyance when I am trying to print. The Firewall is off, they are in the same IP range, NETBUI is installed, permissions are set, and I have run out of ideas. HELP PLEASE!!! On Tuesday, September 13, 2005 at 7:49 pm, Dan Sarandrea, MCSE wrote: >For some reason there have been a lot of networking questions lately. Here are some >"lessons learned" for rookie networkers: > >1. Establish TCP/IP connectivity between computers first. Check by pinging. If >you can't ping, you won't be doing anything else until you can ping. > >2. Firewalls!!!! Make sure any installed firewalls are set to allow file and printer >sharing on the local network. DO NOTHING ELSE before you read ths instructions for >your firewall program and fully understand how to make sure they are not preventing >desired networking. Don't just Wuss Out and turn it off...set it up correctly!! > The Windows Firewall in XP SP2 is automatically turned on, but as soon as you share >something, it understands what you are trying to do and sets itself accordingly. > The Internet Connection Firewall in XP Gold and XP SP1 is not automatically turned >on; when it is on, it does not automatically set itself to allow networking---you >have to check the right boxes. > >3. If you have XP Pro, the easiest basic home-scenario networking is attained by >making sure Simple File Sharing is enabled. XP Home Ed is always in Simple File >Sharing Mode. Only those with more sophisticated networking needs will have to change >this. > >4. With default settings, both XP Pro (not on a domain) and Home will see and access >other network shares without you having to lift a finger! Just make sure that the >default setting in Control Panel>(Appearance and Themes category)>Folder Options>View >Tab, Advanced Settings list, first choice, "Automatically search for network folders >and printers" is selected. New shares will take a minute or three to show up. Patience!! > >5. For simple file and printer sharing, there is NO NEED to mess with user account >names, Guest accounts, NTFS permissions, workgroup names, static IP addresses, installing >archaic protocols such as IPX/SPX or NetBEUI, PhDs in Rocket Science, Patron Saints, >or rabbits' feet. In fact, any of these will make matters more complicated, not >less complicated. > >6. If you are trying to share subfolders of the My Docs folder and can't, see if >you told XP to make the files within My Docs private. Right click on the folder, >choose Sharing, then in the top section called Local Sharing and Secuity, see if >"make this folder private" is checked and greyed out. If so, you have to go back >to the main My Docs folder, right click and choose Sharing, where the checkbox is >not greyed out, and uncheck it. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Networking/File/Printer Sharing 4 Newbies Monday, October 10, 2005 at 12:31 am Posted by Eric Giam (6 messages posted) Hi Dan, Is that mean in item One(1), I have to switch the network setting from Domain to workgroup so that they can talk, then when back to office on Item Two(2), I need to rejoin with admin password ? Eric On Friday, September 23, 2005 at 2:53 pm, Dan Sarandrea, MCSE wrote: >The right way to do it is to ask your workplace network admin if company policy allows >connection to a home network. If so, then to make it work we will have to do several >things: > >1. When you get home, you will start the computer and log onto the local computer >using a local user acount. This is different from at work, where you log onto the >Domain (not the computer) using a Domain User account. The easy but less secure >way to accomplish this is to give you a local account that has administrative privilges >on the local computer. > >2. When you get to work, you will have to rejoin the Domain, and to do that your >admin will have to either (a) add your Domain user acount to the group that is allowed >to perfom the act of joining computers to the Domain, or (b) supply you with the >User Account and Password for an account that is allowed to add computers to the >Domain. Once the computer is back on the Domain, then you would log into the Domain >normally. > >There are several programs available for people that have to hook up to several networks: > >GlobeSoft Multinetwork Manager v7 > >Mobile NetSwitch > >NetSwitcher [Reply or follow-up to this message] Tip: Use one of the [Reply or follow-up to this message] links above to add a message to this thread Search this forum Start a new thread on a different subject Report abuse of the forum Return to the Windows XP Discussion Forum