Home wireless network problem

12 Nov 2006 10:33 AM

Prateek

I have two laptops, both of which connect to a wireless ADSL modem
router, to connect to the internet. I want to set up a home network
with these two laptops, basically for file transfer. I have been
struggling with various Windows options, wizards, useless
troubleshooters, and whatnot, but to no avail. To make matters worse,
there seem to be two options, "set up a home or small office network",
and "set up a wireless network for a small home or office". Nowhere
does it say that the first one will not work with a wireless connection
(and anyway, whether I connect my laptop to the router using an
ethernet cable or wirelessly, how should it matter?), and there seems
to be no explanation of the difference between the two.

I tried the first one, followed all the instructions (like creating the
network setup disk), restarted both computers, but it still doesn't
work. More specifically, I initiated the process on laptop A. Now A can
see the "K_HOME" network, but it cannot see B there, though it can see
itself there. B can see the name "K_HOME", but it "does not have
permission to access it". B can ping A; A cannot ping B.

I also tried the second one. That, without my permission, messed up my
internet connection settings, and did not work.

Another aspect is the "slipperiness" of this whole thing... once I
create the network from A, there seems to be no way to change any
setting, or delete the network, or see its "Status" or "Properties"
anywhere.

It is really frustrating that two laptops can talk to the wireless
router but cannot use it to talk to each other.

Any help will be appreciated. Thank you.
-Prateek

12 Nov 2006 12:09 PM

FrankChin

You haven't mentioned about

- Setting up folders to share, and allow others to change the files
- Firewalls are another issue (turn them off to test)

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"Prateek" wrote:

> I have two laptops, both of which connect to a wireless ADSL modem
> router, to connect to the internet. I want to set up a home network
> with these two laptops, basically for file transfer. I have been
> struggling with various Windows options, wizards, useless
> troubleshooters, and whatnot, but to no avail. To make matters worse,
> there seem to be two options, "set up a home or small office network",
> and "set up a wireless network for a small home or office". Nowhere
> does it say that the first one will not work with a wireless connection
> (and anyway, whether I connect my laptop to the router using an
> ethernet cable or wirelessly, how should it matter?), and there seems
> to be no explanation of the difference between the two.
>
> I tried the first one, followed all the instructions (like creating the
> network setup disk), restarted both computers, but it still doesn't
> work. More specifically, I initiated the process on laptop A. Now A can
> see the "K_HOME" network, but it cannot see B there, though it can see
> itself there. B can see the name "K_HOME", but it "does not have
> permission to access it". B can ping A; A cannot ping B.
>
> I also tried the second one. That, without my permission, messed up my
> internet connection settings, and did not work.
>
> Another aspect is the "slipperiness" of this whole thing... once I
> create the network from A, there seems to be no way to change any
> setting, or delete the network, or see its "Status" or "Properties"
> anywhere.
>
> It is really frustrating that two laptops can talk to the wireless
> router but cannot use it to talk to each other.
>
> Any help will be appreciated. Thank you.
> -Prateek
>
>

12 Nov 2006 4:38 PM

Prateek

FrankChin wrote:

> You haven't mentioned about
>
> - Setting up folders to share, and allow others to change the files

Oh sorry. Yes, I had turned on file sharing, and had designated one
folder on both comps to be shared.

> - Firewalls are another issue (turn them off to test)

Ok, will do that.

Thanks.

12 Nov 2006 5:04 PM

Prateek

Prateek wrote:

> FrankChin wrote:
>
>
> > - Firewalls are another issue (turn them off to test)
>
> Ok, will do that.
>

Thanks again. It was indeed a firewall issue.

13 Nov 2006 5:01 AM

David Hettel

So have you solved your problem, or simply disabled the firewall? While
disabling the firewall is ok for testing, it's not the way you want to run
your computers day in and out. If the firewall is configured correctly it
should be possible to do what you want with the firewall running.

--
David Hettel

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group for everyone
to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions addressed directly to me in
E-mail or news groups.

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"Prateek" <kpratee***@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1163351041.153299.184240@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...
>
> Prateek wrote:
>> FrankChin wrote:
>>
>>
>> > - Firewalls are another issue (turn them off to test)
>>
>> Ok, will do that.
>>
>
> Thanks again. It was indeed a firewall issue.
>