How to share files between computers?

Hi,
Can anyone help please - would like to share files and printer on home
network:

Computer A (desktop) Windows XP - wired connection to Belkin N modem router
Computer B (Laptop) Vista - wireless connection to modem router via Belkin
USB adapter

Router seems fine - all lights on. Can connect to internet from either
computer no problem. Norton Security 2008 recognises both computers and
router on its network map. Vista network map also has icons for laptop,
internet, router and desktop, but I can't access the desktop via this icon
(perhaps I'm not meant to?) Desktop doesnt seem to recognise laptop at all.
Have tried lots of possibilities but to no avail, but I don't really know
what to expect. I would ideally like to be able to drag and drop files
between the two computers and to use printer linked to desktop. Is this
possible with this setup?

Brenda

"bnhc" <bnhcroberts@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:R5KdnZwCt6TdhrjanZ2dnUVZ8qaqnZ2d@bt.com...[color=blue]
> Hi,
> Can anyone help please - would like to share files and printer on home
> network:
>
> Computer A (desktop) Windows XP - wired connection to Belkin N modem
> router
> Computer B (Laptop) Vista - wireless connection to modem router via
> Belkin USB adapter
>
> Router seems fine - all lights on. Can connect to internet from either
> computer no problem. Norton Security 2008 recognises both computers and
> router on its network map. Vista network map also has icons for laptop,
> internet, router and desktop, but I can't access the desktop via this icon
> (perhaps I'm not meant to?) Desktop doesnt seem to recognise laptop at
> all. Have tried lots of possibilities but to no avail, but I don't really
> know what to expect. I would ideally like to be able to drag and drop
> files between the two computers and to use printer linked to desktop. Is
> this possible with this setup?
>
> Brenda[/color]

I'm pretty sure you need to open your firewalls on both machines, and set up
file sharing through the windows wizard. Here is a link that offers some
suggestions. Good luck :
[url]http://ask.metafilter.com/55244/How-to-share-files-between-two-computers-connected-by-a-router[/url]

On Oct 28, 6:28 pm, "bnhc" <bnhcrobe...@btinternet.com> wrote:[color=blue]
> Hi,
> Can anyone help please - would like to share files and printer on home
> network:
>
> Computer A (desktop) Windows XP - wired connection to Belkin N modem router
> Computer B (Laptop) Vista - wireless connection to modem router via Belkin
> USB adapter
>
> Router seems fine - all lights on. Can connect to internet from either
> computer no problem. Norton Security 2008 recognises both computers and
> router on its network map. Vista network map also has icons for laptop,
> internet, router and desktop, but I can't access the desktop via this icon
> (perhaps I'm not meant to?) Desktop doesnt seem to recognise laptop at all.
> Have tried lots of possibilities but to no avail, but I don't really know
> what to expect. I would ideally like to be able to drag and drop files
> between the two computers and to use printer linked to desktop. Is this
> possible with this setup?
>
> Brenda[/color]

[url]http://forums.techguy.org/windows-vista/593722-sharing-files-vista-xp.html[/url]
[url]http://www.itweek.jaded.co.za/110/filesharing-between-xp-and-vista[/url]


[url]http://www.itweek.jaded.co.za/110/filesharing-between-xp-and-vista[/url]

Thanks for suggestions - very helpful.

I finally got it going - not quite sure how and its very tempremental. I
think it's the Norton Firewall that was causing the problem. However the
link between the computers only works if the internet is connected in the
ADSL socket. Is this meant to happen? I thought that the computers shared
files thru the router but in the xp computer "my network places" the
"network location" of my laptop says "internet" rather than "local network".
Is this right?


"bnhc" <bnhcroberts@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:R5KdnZwCt6TdhrjanZ2dnUVZ8qaqnZ2d@bt.com...[color=blue]
> Hi,
> Can anyone help please - would like to share files and printer on home
> network:
>
> Computer A (desktop) Windows XP - wired connection to Belkin N modem
> router
> Computer B (Laptop) Vista - wireless connection to modem router via
> Belkin USB adapter
>
> Router seems fine - all lights on. Can connect to internet from either
> computer no problem. Norton Security 2008 recognises both computers and
> router on its network map. Vista network map also has icons for laptop,
> internet, router and desktop, but I can't access the desktop via this icon
> (perhaps I'm not meant to?) Desktop doesnt seem to recognise laptop at
> all. Have tried lots of possibilities but to no avail, but I don't really
> know what to expect. I would ideally like to be able to drag and drop
> files between the two computers and to use printer linked to desktop. Is
> this possible with this setup?
>
> Brenda[/color]