[mathias1979]

I consider myself to have average knowledge of computers...but I'm absolutely clueless when it comes to networking and related issues. I have a home desktop operating on Windows XP...and a work laptop operating on Windows XP Professional...already have a wireless router set up so I'm able to be online at home on my laptop, but I want to setup the network so I can share files and printers.

I've gone ahead and used the Network Manager to "set up a home network" on my desktop, naming my network (HOME) and my desktop. First question I have, is when I get to the end of that, I can either create a network disk to use on my other computers (problem here is it only gives the option for a floppy disk, and my laptop has nothing to read floppy disks) or use my Windows XP CD (I assume this came with my home computer) and insert that into my laptop. But why can't I just use the "set up a home network" option on my laptop the same way I did for my desktop? I did try this, entered the same network name. After that, nothing seems to have changed. My brother-in-law said on my laptop I should be able to go to start, run, then type //DesktopIP / and I should be able to access it, but I simply get an error that says I do not have permission to access that network. Funny thing is...I was playing around on my desktop a bit, at some point trying to get into the HOME network I created, and I got the same error, despite having setup the network on that computer.

So now I'm completely lost, and the MS Help documents aren't helping me understand much...the pretty much just say to use the network manager to setup the network. Are there any easy to read idiots guide to help me out?

Matt

 

[SupportChic]

I would imagine that the work laptop is set up to connect to the domain at work. I doubt that your admin would have given you enough rights on that laptop to connect to a home network. Just my opinion. You should be able to browse the internet or if you have a VPN connection, the intranet from work.

 

[mathias1979]

Hm...that may be true, I had thought about that myself...but thought there'd be a way to gain access to multiple networks depending on my location. I'll have to ask the tech guys. In any case, have I gone about things correctly thus far? Do I need to actually run the network manager using an windows xp CD on my laptop?

 

[JohnWill]

I'd ask the IT dept at work.