I don't get it.

Good morning / evening to you all!
I've got somewhat of a problem...

I have a desktop (no-name!), a dell laptop inspiron 630m and a laptop dv6000z. I also have a sympatico bell modem/router. Because of some problems I had a few weeks ago (my mom kept disconnecting), I bought a D-Link 108 rangebooster. Since then, I've had no problems at all.

The real issue lays in file/printer sharing. I am unable to share anything!!!
I used to have another really old desktop, and I was able to get the file sharing onto that one. However, with the 2 new laptops, I cannot see my main desktop in the network places, even after running the Network wizard thinger.

My printer is set to share. Both computers are under the network MSHOME, yet I cannot get either of them to reconize each other, even with direct router connection.

What the hell?

Would it be caused by the fact that my desktop will not update it's windows anymore? It keeps saying that my windows isn't genuine. My mom can't remember if she reinstalled windows on it with another CD, and my boyfriend and I cannot find the Windows XP sticker on the computer. He also says that the place my mom purchased it from, PC fix, deals in illegal copies. To me, that makes no sense. They should have been caught by now if they're doing that, right?? That store has existed for a while now.

Anything would help at this point! (Cheapest solutions!)

Meanwhile, I'm gonna find out what brand my desktop is.

Thank you all very much.

 

well. I did SOMETHING. I removed my 2nd router, changed the network name, and voila.. everything works now.

It seems that the Windows Xp firewall wasn't the problem.
/sigh.

thanks a lot though. zx10guy!!!