Troubleshooting a lan using win xp and a linksys router.

[Kookstick]

I was wondering if there is more to setting up a network than connecting the hardware and running the wizard in win xp. I have made sure the systems are using mshome workgroup, named both and run the wizard and I wanted to share the entire C drive to each not having a designated server. I right clicked on the c drive and selected sharing then selected share this folder on a network. It has the little share hand under the drive c now but I still can't see it. I then shared a single folder on computer B and computer A could see it but I tried the same on computer A and computer B could not see it. These 2 systems are identical(sony vaio P4) so it should work. What am I doing wrong? I know there is a place in tools to map a network drive, could this be it? Not sure how to properly do this. Any suggestions on how to get this up and working? Thx BTW I have a single user on each system with no password

[BipolarBill]

Originally posted by Kookstick
BTW I have a single user on each system with no password

They must be the same user or the users must be added to the opposite PC.

Be sure that the Windows firewall isn't activated. Check the properties for the LAN connection and then the properties of TCP/IP for that connection on each PC. In Advanced, disable the firewall.

[AllGamer]

Are you cable to Directly access that Share using the UNC Path?

say like

\\Computer1\Share1

or default like

\\HostPC\C$

does it work that way?

[Kookstick]

ALLGAMER, I tried \\mikes\c$ and no it didn't find the path. I did share a file other than the whole c drive and it found it and labeled it z drive though. This is only going 1 way, trying to see the other computer I can see his printer but no files. Maybe he has the firewall on his, I will call him with some suggestions to try. Like bipolar bill was saying about the users, can I just add each other without using passwords? Is it best to just have the same user on both or setup the 2 users on both and give them admin rights? thx

[AllGamer]

so far it sounds good then

Share a directory with Files
and then see if you can access it from every computer

do the same on those other computers

and see if others computers can access them too