how to set up my old computer as a fileserver. its on a wireless network?

Question

Basically, im getting a new computer, and i have read that a good use for the old one is use it as a fileserver. So i wiped it, and just reinstalled xp again. It is connected directly to the router, and the other computer and my new one (when i get it) are connected wirelessly through a netgear router. The problem is, i cant seem to map the drives on either computer. So the only drive on the old one is called E: and the newer one has C and D. I have named them in the same workgroup. Also, when i go to my network connections, no workgroups appear, or when i click map network drive and type "\\192.xxx.x.x\E:" to access the drive on the file server, it returns an error saying it could not be found. File sharing is enabled for this device. Could you give me some detailed help please?
Thanks
Rory

Basically, im getting a new computer, and i have read that a good use for the old one is use it as a fileserver. So i wiped it, and just reinstalled xp again. It is connected directly to the router, and the other computer and my new one (when i get it) are connected wirelessly through a netgear router. The problem is, i cant seem to map the drives on either computer. So the only drive on the old one is called E: and the newer one has C and D. I have named them in the same workgroup. Also, when i go to my network connections, no workgroups appear, or when i click map network drive and type "\\192.xxx.x.x\E:" to access the drive on the file server, it returns an error saying it could not be found. File sharing is enabled for this device. I have tried doing map network drives from both computers, and one hdd on each was shared, (ie drive c on compputer b was sared when i was trying to map network drive on computer a, and other wayCould you give me some detailed help please?
Thanks
Rory

I have tried sharing the drives
I tried sharing drive E on compputer A and doing map network drive on computer b
Then i tried sharing drive D on computer B, and doing map network drive on A
Drived E and D are both hard drives. I shared the root of the drives.
Computer A has windows firewall
Computer B has Bitdefender 10 plus firewall.

I renamed both with the same workgroup

Computer A is the older one and was called server
computer b is newer and called livingroom
I not only tried using the namesof the computers when entering the destination for map network drive, i also tried entering their IP addresses.

I just tried pinging from each computer to the other computers.
Computer A can ping itself and the router, but pings to computer b time out
Computer B can ping itself and the router, but pings to computer A time out.

Also, on computer A, in workgroup, it finds itself, but not computer B.
And the same for computer B

I just reshared the root od the second HDD on B, (drive D:\) and thurned off my bitdefender firewall, and it worked, computer B was able to access computer a via workgroups, and i also mapped the drive on computer a (drive E) however when i turned the firewall back on, it says work group fileserver is not accessible. Do you know what ports i need to open on my firewall?

Answer 1

The easiest was would be just to share the drive or drives on that computer so that they can be accessed from other computers in you network, other than that you wold need to install a server OS and set it up as a file server with appropriate permissions for whomever you would like to access it.

Answer 2

Have you shared any folders on the old machine? Right click a folder or the Drive C on the old machine and click sharing. (And actually the OLD machine drive will still be C (has to have one to load windows). Unless you map a shared folder as E
You can share the entire C drive but that is not the safe thing. You also have to tell it when sharing the folder or drive to allow others to have access.

Answer 3

in case you reside in some international places which technologies is embraced, it is not something new. assorted junior extreme toddlers can probable do extra suitable than you. in case you're no longer residing in such international places, then that is nice. yet as instantaneous kit have become much less stressful to establish, i do no longer think of there is something to wow approximately. merely following the handbook on my own should not be too difficult in getting your community set up. The networking field is an excellent field to be in, detect extra and build extra adventure.