2 computers want to be friends. Please help a N00B?

Question

I am in a small company. We have two computers and apparently all the software and hardware for them to be networked is there. I have been trying for ages to do it. We really can not afford to pay a computer dude to come in and do it so could you please offer help or suggestions about how I configure it.

I am PC1, so I went into word and tried saving something in shared folders but it does not show up in the shared folders for PC2.

Thanks

Answer 1

You need some help on this. Pony up some cash and find someone who can come in and teach you what they are doing. Look for a IT guy who does stuff on the side.  

Answer 2

Shared folders on each machine are not linked to each other.  You have to set each folder to be shared on the network so they can be seen from the other machine.  The machines also have to be in the same Workgroup.

Before giving any details I have to give you this warning:  Share ONLY directories that really have to be shared.  Remember that sharing a directory shares everything inside it, including other directories.  Never share the root (\) of a drive because that opens up the entire drive to potential hackers.

Now the details.  First, you have to share the directory.  I don't remember if the built-in SharedDocs directory on XP machines is automatically shared on the network or not.  On the machine the shared directory resides on:

In Windows XP:

1.In Windows Explorer (My Computer) on the desktop machine, right-click on the drive and select Sharing and Security.

2.Click the Sharing tab.

3.Click the warning link to proceed to the sharing tab.

4.Click the Share This Folder On The Network checkbox.

5.Click OK.

In Windows Vista:

1.In Windows Explorer (Computer) on the desktop machine, right-click on the drive and select Share.

2.Click Advanced Sharing.

3.Acknowledge the UAC warning.

4.Check Share This Folder.

5.Click OK.

Now it's available to be read from other machines on your network.  On XP machines:

1.Click on My Computer.

2.Click the Folders button to display folders in the left-hand pane.

3.Click My Network Places.

4.Click Entire Network.

5.Click Microsoft Windows Network.

6.Click your network.

7.Click the machine you just shared the directory on.

On Vista machines:

1.Click on Computer.

2.Click on Folders.

3.Click on Network.

4.Click the machine you shared the directory on.

Note:  It may not show up here immediately, in fact, this has been the most frustrating part of sharing files or printers for me.  Sometimes, restarting the machine with the directory seems to help this along.

If you expand the other machine's entry, you should now be able to see the directory in the list.  You can click directly on it to open it, or you can go up to Tools->Map network Drive and set up a link to the directory that comes up whenever you log in.

If the above steps don't work, you may have a firewall issue where a firewall rule is preventing Windows Printer and File Sharing.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Have you made sure that the 2 computers are part of the same workgroup?