Two (possibly very simple) questions ? Internet, File-sharing

'Problem' has been 100% perfectly fixed. The only thing I did, for the solution of both of these Questions, was I set the Laptop's Static IP settings exactly the same as the Main Desktop... except I changed one digit in the Laptop's IP Adress. Everything else is the same. Internet and File-sharing is absolute perfect now !! - I guess I was correct by saying "I feel like I am doing something wrong and silly, making something very simple into something very complicated..."

Hopefully your comments would help another person who has a similar 'problem'...

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1. Internet - I thought this would be the easiest thing “setting up” on this Dell 1420, but I am quite wrong – the Internet does not work. I have tried various things such as resetting modem, router, etc... and it still is void. I have a feeling that I am forgetting or missing a very basic “rule” when connecting Ethernet (I tried a Cat6 cable, maybe Cat5e will work?) to the Laptop... I am completely clueless what to do... since this is my first Laptop and “second computer”. I do not know what is wrong... the Internet to the Main PC is perfect. Is there a step-by-step guide to set up the Internet on the Laptop? Do I have to assign the Laptop a Static IP, like the Main PC ? If so, how would I do that with 2 computers on the Network ? I did not expect it to be this difficult... I thought the Internet would work by simply connecting the Ethernet cable... am I wrong ?

2. File-sharing between Computers - I want to transfer/share files and folders from the Main PC to the Laptop... files such as Videos, Photos, and Music. I looked around on some websites of how to do this... I spent about an hour doing such things like “permissions” and “sharing directories”, but I am still 100% clueless about this... I do not think I made any progress... I did create a Shared Folder on the Laptop, and I tried to access it through the Main PC’s Explorer address bar... did not work... ah..! Once again, I am clueless to both of these questions... is there a step-by-step guide to set-up the “transfer and share files” on the network... ?

My setup is a Cable Modem, and a Linksys Wired Router. The Main PC has a Static IP. The Main PC is XP Home SP2 and the Laptop is Vista Home Premium.

Hopefully someone understands what I am writing... any help would be extremely appreciated... again – I am completely thoughtless when it comes to networking multiple computers – either Internet connection or the “File Transfer/Share”.

I feel like I am doing something wrong and silly, making something very simple into something very complicated...

 

did you run the windows network set-up wizard and join the workgroup that you have set-up...that's the only thing that stands out in your post...simple wizard to use...make sure and tick the box to allow file sharing...also...check your firewall to make sure it's configured to allow sharing...

 

OK.....

I'm happy to help you through this, but so I don't have to type so much, I need to know whether your router is configured to use DHCP or not. Either way it doesn't matter, but please check it, and let me know. There are 2 simple ways to check. The first is to access your router homepage.
This can be done by entering the address of your router homepage (From your successfully connected Desktop !) in the explorer bar, e.g. 192.168.1.1 - If you don't know the default address, it may be on the underside of your router, or if not, in the supplied documentation.

Default username and password on a Netgear router are usually ADMIN and PASSWORD, but since yours is a linksys it may well be different. If you're not sure, they may be detailed on the underside of the router, or in the manual.

From here, you'll be able to check. If you have problems, then go to My Computer > Network > View Network Connections, right click on LOCAL AREA CONNECTION, and click properties. Then click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).

If "Obtain an IP Address Automatically" and "Obtain DNS Server address Automatically" is selected, then you are using DHCP. If they're not selected, then you should have an IP address, Subnet Mask, and default Gateway displayed, and also a primary and secondary DNS. If this is the case, then note down all of these details.

Let me know either way, and then we'll continue ...........

 

I don't mean to sound condescending or anything, and you've probably already checked this, but make sure the Ethernet cable is connected securely to your laptop and router. On most laptops if the cable is secured properly the ethernet port which the cable is connected to will light up with some dim LEDs.

 

And make sure you're not using a crossover cable !

 

The 'problem' has been fixed... look at the edit on the 1st post !

 

OK... Then you're not using DHCP. This was the next step ! (and why we were noting down the settings on the Desktop)

For future reference, if you enable DHCP, then your router will automatically assign an IP address to any device you plug into it which supports DHCP. Most PC's and Games consoles do out of the box. But anyway, if you don't enable DHCP, then you 'll just have to do this same thing whenever you connect a new device.