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General discussion

Networking problems

Nov 29, 2003 3:17PM PST

Alright...here's my dilemma...I have a Windows 2000 Pro desktop that I want to network with my Windows XP laptop. Ideally, I want to be able to share the broadband connection (which currently only the 2000Pro desktop uses), but I'll be happy if I can just get them to share files. I have an ethernet switch, and plenty of cable, my ethernet cards are installed...I'm not a complete computer novice, but I really haven't done much of anything with networking. I've heard it's difficult to get XP and 2000 to network together, so I figured I'd ask for some advice. Help?

Discussion is locked

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Re:Networking problems
Dec 1, 2003 5:08AM PST

Is the Windows XP computer XP Home or XP Professional? XP Home is not supposed to be networkable (though I have heard it has been done through expert "trickery" and hacking that I'm not familiar with). I am pretty sure that XP Professional can network with 2000 Pro with few problems; I have not done this myself, but I did get an XP Pro workstation to network with an NT 4.0 server (requires a few special steps Microsoft spelled out in a White Paper) and Microsoft claims that XP and 2000 can talk to one another.....(for example there has never been an "XP Server" software....only "2000 Server" and now "2003 Server")

Good luck....just wanted to make sure the XP computer is Professional and not Home as that may be the problem.

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Re:Networking problems
Dec 12, 2003 11:32PM PST

Make sure you create a user on Win2000 for the XP user. Enable Netbios as well ob both. As far as sharing broadband, make sure that both pc's are getting their DHCP from the same place and that your switch is not acting as only a gateway to your modem and only one pc is receiving DHCP.

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Re:Networking problems
Dec 15, 2003 10:32AM PST

sharing files is a lot harder than sharing an Internet connection. the Internet sharing should just work out of the box. sharing files means both having the same user and password on each machine when you login and also having the same network protocols with File and Printer Sharing enabled. you have to install the NetBEUI protocol on Windows XP to be able to share easily. however, you have to be behind a firewall to do this safely. if you are not behind a firewall, your computer will be hacked in probably about 5 minutes. you should be always behind a firewall on a broadband connection with all your ports stealthed. check at www.grc.com and use the Shields Up test.

Herb....

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Re:Networking problems
Dec 16, 2003 4:57AM PST

Oddly enough, the internet connection sharing has been a problem for me. The file sharing was easy before - connect one end of the ethernet cable to each computer, and though my XP computer wouldn't respond, my 2000Pro computer would recognize the laptop and allow me to transfer files. I simply wanted to make things easier by using a switch instead of crawling under the desk everytime I wanted to share files. And the internet sharing would have been nice too. But I only have one network card per computer (which I think was my problem). Thanks, though, everyone!

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Re:Re:Networking problems
Dec 19, 2003 8:39AM PST

one network card per computer is all you need. your protocols are different because Windows XP dropped support for the default protocols used for File and Printer sharing.

Herb....