How do I connect 2 computers using LAN cable ?

Question

I have two computers both having windows XP professional. I connect them using a LAN cable. I can see shared folders of laptop on desktop but can’t see shared folders of desktop on laptop. While attempting to do so, laptop asks for a password where the user name (already filled) is the name of my desktop. I have never set any passwords on both of my computers. I have tried creating new user accounts and setting new passwords but none of the password is accepted. I have checked my cable and it is crossover.

Answer 1

What is happening, is when you try to access the files on a remote computer, the remote computer needs to authenticate you to make sure you are supposed to have access to it. If it can't verify access, it prompts you with a security dialog.

The easiest way to handle it is to create user accounts on BOTH the PC and the laptop with the exact same user name and password. (Yes, you have to use a password. No password will not work) Then, use the same login username and password to log onto both PC's. As long as that user name and password has admin rights on both PC's, it will no longer prompt you for authentication.

Example: Create a user on the desktop with username "Bill" and password "password". Give it admin rights. Do the same thing on the laptop. Log onto both as "Bill" and "password" and you will see you can access both PC's from both.

The only other way to do it would be to set the security on the share and give the user "everyone" full access. But, I would not recommend this because it will give everyone access to your files.

Answer 2

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Networking/WinNT_Networking/Q_22032757.html