Help Home network?

Question

I have a desktop and a laptop. I also have DSL with the modem and wireless router. I want to establish a network to share files between both and printer. Is it possible? I have tried the wireless network setup in control panel but it mentions a access point instead of the router. But I havent been able to succed. Please Help what do I need to do?

Answer 1

Sure. Here access point & router are same device. I assume you are running Windows. Use network setup wizard and choose "turn on file and printer sharing." Use same workgroup name for both computers, MSHOME is default.

If you have a firewall, eg, ZoneAlarm, make your LAN (192.168.2.xxx, whatever) "trusted." Using folder properties (right click) share the files. Then you should be able to find them under "Network Neighborhood."

Assuming your printer is local to one of the computers, have that computer share it under printer properties. Then your other computer should be able to add it as remote printer, by searching under workgroup, MSHOME, whatever.

Answer 2

If you've got both desktop and laptop working Internet through that "home router" (that is my prefered way to say Access Point/switch/bridge/NAT all integrated home gateway box that you have; as opposed to the corporate networking box called "router") if that's up, you in fact has a home network already up, but all you need to do is to share them up.

The Belkin/D-Link/whoever's manual certainly won't have this tiny bit of extra information since this is unrelated to sharing an Internet connection. But all that is left is right click on the icons either HD space or printer to bring up menu and Share... Windows will take care of the rest.

Answer 3

Have you set-up your wireless router properly?

Depending on the model you will likely have to set up the SSID (The name of your wireless network) and WEP security as well.

If this is a combo DSL gateway/Wireless router box, you should be able to access these features by typing in the router's IP address into any internet browser...

Quickest way to find this address is (In Windows) going to start --> run, then in the "open" window type "CMD" (without quotes).
at the command prompt type in "ipconfig" (Again no quotes) and the number labeled "Internet Gateway" should be the router's Default IP. type it into a browser, and follow your router's manual.

Answer 4

There is a lot of information available on the net regarding this and you should search for the documentation specific to your router. A wireless router in essence is a router + access point.
A good place to start to learn more about these are here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_access_point
http://compnetworking.about.com/cs/wirelessproducts/a/howtobuildwlan.htm