Help with a bit of networking~

I'm finally getting around to setting up file/printer shares on my home network, but.... I've never been very good at networking.

My computers/OS consist of:
-- My laptop with Vista Home Premium
-- Mom's desktop computer with Windows XP Home; has two printers attached and wired directly to the router
-- My desktop with Windows XP Pro; has one printer

And the workgroup name is set to MSHOME on all computers.

I've gotten it partially set up -- My laptop and desktop get along just fine, though I haven't gotten my laptop to connect with the printer (I have an idea what's going on there, though).
However, neither the laptop nor my desktop will show up on Mom's computer, and vice versa. I'm not so concerned with hooking up to her printers, though; I don't think they're Vista-compatible anyway.

Any ideas?



Also, my desktop is at the opposite end of the house from the router (which can't really be relocated, because of wiring) and gets pretty spotty reception from it... and as soon as I turn on my PS3 (also connected to the network, and sits between the router and my computer) I lose connection to the network entirely on the desktop.
Would a repeater help solve that? And if so, any suggestions on a brand or anything like that?

I can't believe it! I spent so much time writing all the info and it didn't even post them!!!!! Darn it!!!

I will write it down again tomorrow now. I am quite tired and going to hit bed

Sorry but I will def respond tomorrow

Regards

Don'tcha hate that? DX
No problem, no problem. My computers aren't going anywhere. :3

Morning,

Hahaha! Definitely hate it.

Ok firstly lets see what has been done already.

1: You have correctly setup Workgroups on all machines I.e. MSHOME (it has to be the same name).
2: Now you need to make sure you have enabled File/Printer Sharing on all machines.
3: Once the File/Printer sharing is enabled, then you have to go to Control Panel--->Windows Firewall---->Exceptions--->Check the Check-box which states File/Printer Sharing Files. This will allow firewall to open the ports.
4: You need to make some folders on your machine/Laptop to be shared (right click on the folder --->Properties--->Sharing tab--->Check the box Share this folder (its upto you to allow people to change files within that folder, if you do then check the check box which states "Allow others to change the files". Click Ok.
5: Now open My Network on each machine to see if folders are shown.

For your weak connection issue, I think there are two ways.
1: Buy an N+ draft router and USB Key and use that router instead of your standard b/g router. This will allow it being strong signal as well as high speeds between the router and the machine.
2: You are correct about the repeater, you can buy a strong signal repeaters to place them in the between to make the signal stronger.
One of them I saw on google products from Linksys (a CISCO company) - (URL: Linksys Wireless-G Range Expander WRE54G Repeater - External).

Could you tell me what sort of budget you have for a repeater? We can then look at different products are those prices.

Please let me know if any of the above worked for you .

Regards

I went back and checked everything listed off, and I've got the same results as before.
Except one issue: my mom's desktop (XP Home) comes up with an error when I try to share a folder (any folder, really). Going thru the right click - Sharing and Security link, I'll check the Share this folder box and hit OK, then I get an error message that says:
I think it was doing that before and I just.... forgot about it, or something...



I considered a N+ router the last time I got a new one (not real long ago), and my issue is... the card in my laptop is wireless-G. And having a little USB thing sticking out to convert it to N+ would just be a pain. :p So if I went to N+, I'd feel obliged to get the card in my laptop switched out, along with the one in my desktop. And that's definitely not in the budget right now! XD (Besides, I'm really not doing a lot of transfers through the network, just a file here and there and sending to the printers.)
Hence, the reason I was looking into repeaters.
I don't have a set budget right now... I probably won't even be able to get one until after Christmas unless I find one on sale for an awesome price or whatever. Just something that works and isn't a few million dollars.
Right now, I'm more or less just getting information. Would I need to get a repeater that's the same company as my router?

Hello, for your mum's machine I'd suggest to run the lanmanserver service. Here is how to start the service.

Some times after running Windows updates or reinstalling the OS we may face issues with sharing folders in our computer over a network. We may get an error message An error occurred while trying to share . The Server service is not started . The reason for failure in sharing folder is due to the stopped state of lanmanserver service on your computer.



How to start lanmanserver service to fix sharing issue



To fix the error "An error occurred while trying to share . The Server service is not started " we need to start the lanmanserver on your computer. The steps to start lanmanserver service are..

1. Click on start and go to command prompt

2. On command prompt type "net start lanmanserver" and press enter.



After starting the lanmanserver you will not face any issues in sharing your folder over a Local Network.
Source[ Internet Technology Blog ]

This should resolve the issue.

For the repeater, you can buy any company repeater and it should work.

Regards

Oh and for your printer to enable them onto the network,

1: Open Printers folder, right click on the printer (attached locally to machine/laptop).
2: Click Properties
3: Share

1: Now go to your laptop/machine which ever is not connected to the printer.
2: Open Printers folder
3: Add Printer
4: Add Network Printer
5: Search for the printer in the list
6: It should show up on the list
7: Click on it and install

That's all it needs doing .

Regards

I've got the printer on my desktop hooked to my laptop, no prob.

However... I tried starting that lanmanserver, and am getting the error "The service name is invalid". (The explanation it gives is "You tried to start a service that is not configured on this system.")
I tried searching the problem, and the only solution I've come across is to check the event viewer for errors, and I didn't find anything.

Hello,

Could you please try the following:

1: Start ---> Run
2: Type CMD on Run box
3: Type sc queryex lanmanserver on the command prompt

You should get something like this:
======================================
C:\Users\Owner>sc queryex lanmanserver
SERVICE_NAME: lanmanserver
TYPE : 20 WIN32_SHARE_PROCESS
STATE : 4 RUNNING
(STOPPABLE, PAUSABLE, ACCEPTS_SHUTDOWN)
WIN32_EXIT_CODE : 0 (0x0)
SERVICE_EXIT_CODE : 0 (0x0)
CHECKPOINT : 0x0
WAIT_HINT : 0x0
PID : 1296
FLAGS :
C:\Users\Owner>
================================================== ======

If this fails, try to re-enable the file printer sharing from the Network settings. Here is how to do it

1: (Right click 'My Network Connections' on the desktop and choose properties, or start it from the Control Panel
2: Once the Properties window is open, uncheck the File and Printer Sharing
3: Click ok and close the window
4: Now re-open the properties window again and re-check the File and Printer Sharing.

Run sc queryex lanmanserver again and see if it runs.

Regards