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    Home network with laptop and desktop

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by EricinGA, Jul 19, 2008.

  1. EricinGA

    EricinGA Newbie

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    I had a network setup using my desktop and laptop. A virus got my desktop and I had to have it loaded back from scratch. Since then I've not been able to setup a good network.
    My desktop runs Windows XP Home Edition with cat-5 cable to Actiontec DSL box.
    Laptop running Vista using Wifi to connect to Actiontec DSL box.

    I've run network wizard on XP and verified that file share and printer share is on with both computers. I just can't figure out where on my laptop to connect thru the router to the other computer. I had no problem the first time so I don't know what I'm forgetting here.
     
    EricinGA, Jul 19, 2008
    #1
  2. makaveli72

    makaveli72 Eat.My.Shorts

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    What is it are u trying to do?...where is the problem? with the laptop or desktop? It sounds like both...from my experience u don't need to run Network Wizard to connect to a LAN network. I think for the desktop u forgot to install the LAN card's drivers...go to ur LAN card's manufacturer's website and obtain the latest drivers...u can go to 'Device Manager' to check the name of the LAN card, which may give u a hint as to the manufacturer.

    For the notebook, it sounds like u r trying to connect to shared files on the XP machine...this wouldn't work unless u have successfully connected the desktop to the LAN network first.

    Is ur LAN card enabled? go to network connections on the XP machine and make sure it's enabled...right click on it and select enable...while there..right click on it and go to properties, confirm that the two check boxes at the bottom are selected..then scroll down to Internet Protocol, select properties and confirm that 'Obtain IP address automatically'....and 'Obtain DNS server automatically' are both selected. Click ok to exit those windows and look at ur task tray. The LAN network icon should say connected when the desktop is connected to the DSL modem.
     
    makaveli72, Jul 19, 2008
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  3. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    First thing you should do, if you haven't already, is download the Link Layer Topology Discovery (LLTD) Responder from Microsoft and install it on the XP machine.

    The LLTD Responder is necessary because _Vista uses a different way of "seeing" networks than XP does, and _Vista machines frequently cannot "see" XP machines on the same network unless the LLTD Responder has been installed on the XP machine.
     
    Shyster1, Jul 20, 2008
    #3