Two computer network Please help.?

Question

I have two computers running on Windows Xp Home. They are both connect to the same router in the same house.

I want to be able to share specified folders and or areas between computers. I don't want to have all files shared only specified folders.

Also I do not know much about networks , ip addresses and so forth but I want both PCs to remain the same so there is no leakage of file history or any privacy of any kind.

So the other person cannot tell what the other person is going in any way except for shareing whats in the shared folders.

I want it so we can disable the shareing somehow and reinable it without much trouble.

I know quite a bit about computers but I need to be put into the right direction. What type of network am I looking for? Are they already on a network of some sort?

I heard above cross over cables? but then again I read I do not need them and should be ok without them.

So I want to share files with total privacy. Thanks... Any help whould be great.

You both helped out. I wish I could give you both 5 points. I went and did many things with the computers useing network wizard. I got fairly far then I gave up because it got hard. I got the files to become shareable or atleast it said it was. Did not show up on the other PC. I had the firewall disable and was useing norton. I will cheak and make sure I added the file and printer shareing and I will cheak and see if norton is blocking anything.

Thanks. I will probably give you the 10 points but I am going to test things out within 2 days. I may also set the question to vote. You both helped.

Answer 1

You asked "Are they already on a network of some sort?"
The answer is "Yes, they are."

Since you have XP Home, there is no checkbox for Simple FIle Sharing - that is only in XP Professional.

It is fairly simple, just a few steps: you need to open File Explorer and right-click on the folder(s) you want to share, one at a time. Choose "Sharing and Security" from the menu. There will be a "Sharing" tab, that has a checkbox on it for sharing the folders on the network. From there, I am sure you can handle it!

To unshare them, unclick the checkbox!

Oh, one other thing - well, maybe two: make sure that File and Printer Sharing is loaded for the Network Connection you are using, and in the Windows XP Firewall, make sure that File Sharing is listed in the "Exceptions" tab. To install "File and Printer Sharing", open Network Connections, open the Properties of the relevant connection, click the Install button and choose to Add a Service.

Answer 2

If your computers already have a network going, open Windows Explorer My Computer. Click on the tools tab>folder options>click on the View tab. Scroll almost to the bottom where it says Use simple file security and sharing and uncheck it. With that now done you should be able to right click a folder then click on the sharing tab. Apply all of the necessary property changes to the folder in the Sharing tab. After the folder is shared, it will have a hand under the folder. When that is done, you should be able to access the folder somewhere in My Network Places.

Answer 3

convinced, no matter if or not they have Linux and homestead windows OS, might want to be networked jointly. For this you want a go-over cable and community Card on your both pcs. connect the pcs with go-over cable and assign different IP like 192.168.0.a million for one and 192.158.0.2 for different and similar subnet mask 255.255.255.0 yet pc call must be different.