I have been trying to set up a home network so that I can share files and a printer over 2 computers, but am going round in circles with this! I managed this a few years back with 2 computers on xp and a wired connection but am struggling now"

Both PC's connect to the internet using the same wireless router same wireless router (neither have a wired connection to to the router).

Computer 1 - Desktop PC running Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit and has printer connected via a wired connection.

Computer 2 - is a laptop in another room and is running win xP.

As far as I understand XP computers cannot be added to a windows 7 "homegroup" (I seem to have this even although there has never been another PC connected)/ I have tried running the Workgroup set up wizard on the Xp machine- this puts a netsetup file on a memory stick but I just get an error when I try to run this file on the W7 machine (cannot complete configuration)

any help appreciated

Hi, Homegroup is a Windows 7 thing, but there is no reason why the two shouldn't be able to talk to each other without using the Homegroup option.

If both are connecting and working on the same router, then they are both on the same network and can potentially talk to each other.

The first test is to find out what IP address each computer has, and see if they can speak to each other on the network.

On the Windows 7 computer, click start and type CMD, then press enter.

A command prompt window will appear (black window), in this, type IPCONFIG and press enter

Copy and paste everything shown back here for us to see.

You'll notice that one of the details shown is IP Address, it will be something like 192.168.1.123, make a note of it.

Now on the XP machine, click start, click run and type CMD, press ok

again, in the command prompt type IPCONFIG, copy and paste the results here.

While you're on the XP machine, still in the command prompt (black window), type PING "the ip address of the windows 7 pc" (without quotes) and press enter. E.g. PING 192.168.1.123

You will either see "Request timed out" 4 times, or, "Reply from...."

You are sending a "ping" out from the XP machine to the windows 7 machine to see if it can see it on the network. If you get "Reply from..." then this is good news, we now know the PC's can talk to each other and have something to work with.

Once we have confirmed both PC's are on the same network, we can go on to folder/printer sharing...

Find the first step is to ensure that you have matching username/password combinations on both machines.

This guide might help: http://www.howtogeek.com/?post_type=post&p=15247

Windows 7 will probably have it's firewall engaged as fault. Make sure that "file and printer sharing" is ticked in the "allowed programs and features" settings.

Within Windows 7, locate the folder you want to share, right-click, highlight "share with", then "specific people". In the dialogue box, select "everyone" from the drop-down box, click "share." You should get a dialogue box telling you it's been shared.

Caveat: don't try sharing stuff from your desktop or any other system folder. Best create a folder in the root of the drive and share from there.

Hi, Homegroup is a Windows 7 thing, but there is no reason why the two shouldn't be able to talk to each other without using the Homegroup option.

If both are connecting and working on the same router, then they are both on the same network and can potentially talk to each other.

The first test is to find out what IP address each computer has, and see if they can speak to each other on the network.

On the Windows 7 computer, click start and type CMD, then press enter.

A command prompt window will appear (black window), in this, type IPCONFIG and press enter

Copy and paste everything shown back here for us to see.

You'll notice that one of the details shown is IP Address, it will be something like 192.168.1.123, make a note of it.

Now on the XP machine, click start, click run and type CMD, press ok

again, in the command prompt type IPCONFIG, copy and paste the results here.

While you're on the XP machine, still in the command prompt (black window), type PING "the ip address of the windows 7 pc" (without quotes) and press enter. E.g. PING 192.168.1.123

You will either see "Request timed out" 4 times, or, "Reply from...."

You are sending a "ping" out from the XP machine to the windows 7 machine to see if it can see it on the network. If you get "Reply from..." then this is good news, we now know the PC's can talk to each other and have something to work with.

Once we have confirmed both PC's are on the same network, we can go on to folder/printer sharing...

CMD IPconfig results from Win 7 Machine

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]

Copyright © 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\Robin>ipconfig

Windows IP Configuration

Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::5858:1a64:41be:c4b9%14

IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.64

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : home

Tunnel adapter isatap.home:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 9:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 12:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2001:0:5ef5:79fd:1cf8:15e3:a956:9ef8

Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::1cf8:15e3:a956:9ef8%12

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : ::

Tunnel adapter isatap.{185897AA-407A-4B65-ADD0-D65856BBB012}:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

C:\Users\Robin>

IPConfig results from XP machine

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]

© Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\User>ipconfig

Windows IP Configuration

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.72

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254

C:\Documents and Settings\User>

Ping test returns from the Xp machine to the W7 machine gives the the Request Timed out message.

BUT

Ping test from W7 to Xp is sucessfull

Edited 17 July, 201213 yr by slider

Windows 7 will probably have it's firewall engaged as fault. Make sure that "file and printer sharing" is ticked in the "allowed programs and features" settings.

This is enabled

I have been trying to set up a home network so that I can share files and a printer over 2 computers, but am going round in circles with this! I managed this a few years back with 2 computers on xp and a wired connection but am struggling now"

Both PC's connect to the internet using the same wireless router same wireless router (neither have a wired connection to to the router).

Computer 1 - Desktop PC running Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit and has printer connected via a wired connection.

Computer 2 - is a laptop in another room and is running win xP.

As far as I understand XP computers cannot be added to a windows 7 "homegroup" (I seem to have this even although there has never been another PC connected)/ I have tried running the Workgroup set up wizard on the Xp machine- this puts a netsetup file on a memory stick but I just get an error when I try to run this file on the W7 machine (cannot complete configuration)

any help appreciated

Hi Slider

I know it is possible, But I have not been able to do as you want, but why not use "Team viewer"

but as far as printing goes, you need to install the drivers on both (all) machines if you have not already done this.

Radiotwo

Ping test returns from the Xp machine to the W7 machine gives the the Request Timed out message.

BUT

Ping test from W7 to Xp is sucessfull

OK that's good. The reason XP can't ping W7 is probably as someone else mentioned, W7 has the firewall turned on. XP doesnt. The important thing here is that we can see they are on the same subnet and can see each other.

So what are you trying to achieve, do you want to share a folder on the Windows 7 machine that XP can access, vice versa....or a shared folder on both?

OK that's good. The reason XP can't ping W7 is probably as someone else mentioned, W7 has the firewall turned on. XP doesnt. The important thing here is that we can see they are on the same subnet and can see each other.

So what are you trying to achieve, do you want to share a folder on the Windows 7 machine that XP can access, vice versa....or a shared folder on both?

I want to share folders on each machine with the other and also be able to print from the xp computer using the printer attached to the w7 pc.

I had a look at the w7 firewall settings and as far as can see file and printer sharing is enabled, but I may well have missed something.

Many thanks for the help so far

If File and Print sharing is enabled in the firewall you are probably good to go. PING (IMCP / echo) may well still be blocked, but that doesn't really matter for file&print sharing.

OK so on the XP machine click start, RUN and type: \\192.168.1.64

Press OK

What happens, do you see a new window with your Windows 7 shares visible?

On the Windows 7 machine, click start and type: \\192.168.1.72

Press enter

What happens, do you see a new window with the XP shares visible?

OK so on the XP machine click start, RUN and type: \\192.168.1.64

Press OK

What happens, do you see a new window with your Windows 7 shares visible? No get error message - Network path not found

On the Windows 7 machine, click start and type: \\192.168.1.72

Press enter

What happens, do you see a new window with the XP shares visible? Yes

Now we're getting somewhere - if I turn off the firewall in Kaspersky Internet security on the W7 pc I can "see" the machine using the \\195.168.1.72 command as suggested above.

Window Firewall is still turned on so I guess this is safe?

OK, latest situation...

From the W7 pc I can now "see" the XP machine in Computer/Networks and access and manipulate files to my hearts content. Success 1

From the XP machine I can open a local document and print it over the homegroup using the printer attached to the W7 pc. Success 2

From the xp machine I can see the XP machine in Network Places and access the "Users/Public" documents folder.

I can also see an icon in network places for "documents on Office PC" but when I try to access this I get an error saying "I might not have permissions to use this network resource" - I have set the relevant folder on the office PC (the win 7 machine) to Share.

getting there.....

2 out of 3 ain't bad.

RE the firewall. If you're using Kaspersky, I'd take some time to find out how you can keep it turned on and enable file and print sharing through it. There should be an option. But at least you've narrowed it down to the Kaspersky firewall blocking you and have something to go on.

Out of interest, is the XP PC the XP Home version, or Pro? Home is unable to save network passwords which can be a pain.

It sounds like the permissions on your Documents folder (W7) are not set to allow the XP user access. You can right click on the Documents folder on W7 and check the security tab, and the sharing tab. Start by granting permission to the Everyone user, and see if you can access it.

If you can access it with "Everyone" having full rights, then we know it's a permissions problem.

Perhaps on your small network opening up the "Everyone" group is suitable anyway, it's up to you.

Excellent!!!

Super helpful Briskodians as ever!

Got Kaspersky firewall rules sorted then the permissions issue - all now working as required, many thanks

Great stuff, glad I could be of some assistance.