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Eeyoreslament
Member
07-20-2003
| Monday, June 27, 2005 - 9:51 am
OK, I've followed all of the instructions that Windows XP gives, and I am still lost, and don't even know where to start looking to troubleshoot. My desktop runs XP Pro, my lappy runs XP Home. I have changed my workgroup names in both computers to the same thing. I know the computer names for both, yet somehow, here on my lappy, I cannot find the desktop on my common-named workgroup. Do I need to INVITE my lappy to share stuff on the desktop? How do I get my two computers to communicate, past the point of having them on the workgroup with the same name?
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Draheid
Moderator
09-09-2001
| Monday, June 27, 2005 - 10:02 am
Eeyoreslament: The first thing that comes to mind is your firewall on both computers. If you have not setup your local network as a trusted zone in both systems, they will not be able to 'look' at each other over the network. Depending on what firewall you are using, you should be able to setup a trusted zone by adding the IP range used by your router to connect the two computer over the network. Also check both computers to be sure the Microsoft File & Printer Sharing service is installed and enabled over the network connections and the settings are the same on both computers. After checking/changing these settings, you should then restart both computers to see if they are visible in the network neighborhood. Hope this helps.
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Eeyoreslament
Member
07-20-2003
| Monday, June 27, 2005 - 10:38 pm
OK, I can see my laptop from my desktop. I have no clue why I can see it, or what I did to make the connection. I got to it by clicking "Add a network place" in the window that is for my workgroup. Don't ask me how I opened the window for my workgroup. If I have my workgroup with a certain title, can anyone anywhere in the world who guesses that title be able to get onto my network and access my computer? (...) Now I can see my desktop from my laptop. Seems like all is working OK now. I'm accessing files back and forth via the "add network place" method, and then choosing to view the place once it is added. Does anyone have any hints for this remote sharing between computers? My main thing is that I'd like to be able to access my desktop files from school, without having to duplicate ALLLLLL the stuff onto the laptop drive. I was reading somewhere within the recesses of MS Help that when you are using the Remote Desktop thing, it "freezes" the computer that you are accessing? Is that true? For example, I'm thinking of copying over my music files to my laptop, but there are about 3000 files; does that mean I can't use my desktop while that is going on? Soooo......knowing my uses for the desktop sharing....are there any security concerns I should have? By enabling this feature, am I opening myself up to all kinds of attacks? Or is this a safe private connection between only my laptop and my desktop? Thanks in advance for all of your help. 
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Eeyoreslament
Member
07-20-2003
| Monday, June 27, 2005 - 11:20 pm
Oh another question: Can I use programs that are on one computer, but not on the other? Or do they have to both have the same programs installed?
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Eeyoreslament
Member
07-20-2003
| Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 11:57 am
Another question: I see that I can network my printer as well. So I'm trying to set my home printer as my default printer on my laptop. I am going through the wizard that comes up, and it says it needs to install a driver for that printer (which is fine). But then it says it can't find the driver for it. Is that because the laptop is searching locally for the driver, as opposed to on my desktop (where the printer is installed)? Drivers are foreign to me, and I have NO CLUE where to look for the printer driver, and how to get it onto my laptop, to get it connecting to my home printer via the workgroup/network. How should I do this?
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Draheid
Moderator
09-09-2001
| Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 1:02 pm
Eeyorslament: First your question about remote access - being something of a security nut, I would never attempt any kind of remote control (desktop) without setting both machines up with a VPN (Virtual Private Network) connection between them or at least using some software that is specifically designed for security and versatile remote control. I would not personally use the Microsoft Remote Desktop alone. Keep in mind, this is just my opinion. Using programs on different computers - no, other than by remote control and running the program on the computer where it is installed, you cannot run the same program on another computer without installing it on there first. Printer Driver: Most printers you share over a network retrieve the drivers from the host computer where the printer is physically connected. If you are connecting the printer directly to the network, then you would need to use the software that was included with the printer to obtain the drivers or download the latest version from the manufacturer's website onto your laptop and install it there. I'm sure this isn't much help, but I didn't want you to feel like you were being overlooked by not responding at all.
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Eeyoreslament
Member
07-20-2003
| Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 1:40 pm
Dra, thank you so much! I knew you'd at least have an opinion! My friend was talking about how he uses a separate remote desktop program. I will check out those options. I pretty much just want to access my desktop files from school. Seriously though, you are a ton of help, and I appreciate any little piece of info you can give me. Thank you muchly!!
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