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My worst corner of computing is networking. I just don't get it, the jargon confuses me and no amount of searching seems to find solutions that improve the situation.

All I want is for my 4 computers to share files and internet access, nothing more. I'll spell out all the details I can and maybe somebody would be willing to make a plan to get it all going.

PC1: My main system in my home office. Dual Core 2.0, 3GB RAM, lots of HDDs, dual monitors. Currently hard-wired to a wireless router, then a DSL connection. This should basically be the 'master location' or server to the others, I suppose.

PC2: Identical to PC1, but is temporarily wirelessly connecting to the router for Inet access due to distance (other end of house).

PC3: P4 3.0, 2GB RAM. hard-wired to the same router for Inet access.

PC4: Laptop Centrino 1.8, 1GB RAM, wirelessly using same router for Inet.

All I want is for all four the systems to see each other so I can move files easily from one to the next. I'm certain if I start running wizards that my Inet connection(s) will somehow be lost while the sharing will never work (Murphy's Law).

What steps would most simply and cleanly get these systems to see each other? No security issues exist here, so full/open sharing of all resources by all the systems is preferred. Only threats via Internet need to guarded against.

Anybody care to help a network-setup-hater out?

Firstly what operating system are they all running?

Second step is they must all have same named workgroup.

Setup printer and file sharing wizard.

Ok there is a bit more to it than that but firtly need there operating systems.

DOH!!!! I knew I'd leave out something hugely important (and OS was the first thing I swore to include)!

OK, PCs 1 and 3 have Vista Home Premium while 2 and 4 have XP-MCE '05 SP3.

Noooooo not the Vista and MCE lol.

Now all the computers must have the same named workgroup.Vistas aUto is WORKGROUP and XP is MSHOME.Change all to WORKGROUP.

Windows Vista Help: Networking

The two XPs are powered off at the moment. Looking at the Vista pages, it sure sounds like everything should be automatic between the two Vista machines, yet neither sees the other. I've clicked link after link, bounced all around the many new windows that keep sending me in circles, and nothing gives any indication of what it wants. It all may as well be in Russian for all I get from it.

Both systems connect to the router just fine, and access the Inet fine.

With one Vista and one XP system on, they 'see' each other but can do nothing useful.

XP sees Vista, asks for user & password. I give it the ones I use when booting to Vista, and that lets me see the public folder and nothing else. I look at sharing options but half are grayed out, yada, yada, same ol s**t.

Vista sees XP, asks for a user and password, but the XP system has no passwords in use. Trying to put just the XP user name does no good. Using my Vista user and PW does no good. Just spinning my wheels.

What an unbelievable process this is. Someone should pay dearly.

Vista:Click start/network/network and sharing center/password and protection sharing/turn off password.


http://www.pchelpforum.com/windows-t...ows-vista.html

Turn network discovery on.Setup Vista first.

Install on XP :http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

Is your router encrypted?