Net working two identical computers.

[DebNee]

Hello Please can anyone help, I have two Dell Dimensions, 4700 series, I would like to be able to access the first and the second computer from each other as they both have different programs installed.

Can you tell me how or what I need to do or buy to be able to do this with out wires? My internet provider won't let me upload, anything like a FTP web page, I think he has me locked out from doing this.

Deb

[oracle128]

Can you tell me how or what I need to do or buy to be able to do this with out wires?You need to have a Wireless Network Card (http://www.newegg.com/ProductSort/SubCategory.asp?SubCategory=31) for both PCs, if they don't have one already (the Dimension 4700 doesn't come with one in its default configuration). Then you will be able to create an 'Ad-hoc network', that is, a direct wireless network connection between the two PCs. This will enable them to share files and communicate as if they had their own Local Area Network. Make sure you have Windows XP Service Pack 2 installed, as it provides greater support for wireless networking.
I would like to be able to access the first and the second computer from each other as they both have different programs installed.Keep in mind this isn't possible using basic network features. You could transfer files between the two PCs, but you can't run programs. What you can do is install a VNC (Virtual Network Computing) application, such as UltraVNC (http://ultravnc.sourceforge.net/) (free), which will allow you to access one computer's desktop via another PC over a network (or the internet), as if you were sitting right there.
My internet provider won't let me upload, anything like a FTP web page, I think he has me locked out from doing this.This is a completely seperate issue from your original question; this deals with you Internet Service Provider, not setting up a home network. Your internet connection cannot possibly be blocked from uploading content, as this is necessary in order to browse the web. If you can't use FTP, you may have a wrong configuration, a firewall (such as Windows Firewall) blocking the FTP port (usually port 21), or possibly your ISP blocks any port not used for browsing the web (in which case you will need to contact them and demand they allow you such access).

[DebNee]

Thank you for your help[ Is a USB Dell Wire 1450 Dual Band (802.11 a/b/g)
the same as a wireless network card?} I have bought two, and was wondering if they are able to interlink between a 802.11 g router?

I am, really new at trying to network and I will be greatful for any help you can give, and instructions as the exact step I will need to take.

Can I create a wireless without going through a broad band internet connection and without others being able to see or read any of my files.

[oracle128]

Is a USB Dell Wire 1450 Dual Band (802.11 a/b/g)
the same as a wireless network card?} I have bought two, and was wondering if they are able to interlink between a 802.11 g router?Yes. They all fall under the category of 'Wireless Network Adapters'. IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g are all types of wireless networking standards, so they will be compatible with an 802.11g router. Note that creating an ad-hoc network is a direct connection between two wireless PCs, and doesn't require a wireless router, but if you do have a wireless router it will probably make setup and maintenance a lot easier.
Can I create a wireless without going through a broad band internet connectionYes, Local Area Networks (LANs) do not require any kind of external network access (such as the internet) in order to operate, your LAN will work with or without the internet; however, apart from sharing files and playing network games, LANs are usually used to share a broadband internet connection amongst all the computers in the LAN.
and without others being able to see or read any of my files.Having a computer on a LAN does not automatically open your computer up; you need to specify each folder you want to share over the network. Directions here (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304040#XSLTH4195121124120121120120). And following that article, you can define whether the other network computers can only read files, or read & write files. Sharing files only shares them on the LAN; internet users cannot see your files, unless you use an FTP (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ftp) server or a P2P (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P2p) application. That said, if your wireless network is not password-protected and encrypted (features which come with most routers), Wardrivers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wardriving) may have access to your personal files, or worse, the means of changing or deleting them.
I am, really new at trying to network and I will be greatful for any help you can give, and instructions as the exact step I will need to take.If using a router, the instructions will come with it; they are often quite simple, but will vary slightly depending on if you want to share your internet connection amongst any computers in your LAN. Generally, the connection steps will be:
-Plug in router power.
-Plug a computer into router to set it up (wired, for now; use a Cat5 network patch cable, the router might come with one).
-Set router options via a web-based interface, usually by typing the router's default LAN IP address (eg. 192.168.1.1) into a web browser (including internet connection settings, if sharing an internet connection; and setting up the wireless options). The router's manual should give info on this. Also, ensure to set up MAC Address (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAC_address) restrictions and WPA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi_Protected_Access).
-Save router settings, close browser. Try connecting wirelessly with the second PC, with the first one still connected with the cable, so you can easily change settings if the wireless configuration didn't work. Use the Network Setup Wizard to get connected, to make things simple, unless the router manual says otherwise.
-Once the second PC is confirmed connected to the network (you can confirm this by attempting to share files), you can unplug the first PC and connect wirelessly using the same method, then again confirm the two can see each other over the network.

Yes it's a fair amount of info to take in, but the key here is security. Securing your wireless network (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wardriving#Wireless_network_security) now will ensure you are protected from malicious invaders or unauthorized access to your network.

[oracle128]

If I have the same program as in Quicken installed on both, can I use the quicken program and share the files and then will it be on the other computer as if I only had one, or will I have to use the computer I entered the information to continue with the check book feature?I'm not familiar with Quicken; if it saves checkbook information to a file, and you know where that file is, you could synchronise that file between two PCs (with, for example, this utility (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/prophoto/synctoy.mspx)). Also, if Quicken has a synchronise feature built in, you could probably do that (assuming each PC has a legal copy of Quicken).

[DebNee]

Thank you for all of your help, I was able to connect the Belkin G wireless router to the first computer, and one Dell 1450 Network adapter, the siginal is working, as I am able to connect to the internet and type to you at this time.

I have the other usb network adapter connected to the original first computer, however I am not able to set up a network between A and B.

I have tried to go the peer to peer, which seems to lose my internet connection. on B Computer.

The XP wizard does not seem to want to let me connect. Do you think deleting and starting over would be a good idea. I could reconfigure everything on the B computer to being brand new. As I have only been trying to attempt getting a network connection between the two for for about 3 weeks.

[oracle128]

I have the other usb network adapter connected to the original first computer, however I am not able to set up a network between A and B.Do both PCs connect to the network, and can both use the internet? If so, how are you confirming the 'network' between A and B? If you go to My Network Places, do you see any folders that have been shared? If not, click View Workgroup Computers on the left bar - can you see both computers listed there?

Also, when you ran the Network Setup Wizard, did you give both computers the same Workgroup name?

[DebNee]

Yes both can use the internet. No there are not any folders that have been shared.on the B computer, The A computer has a shared folder.

When I go to my network places on a and b both there is not any recoginition of either computer.

I ran net work set up wizard and did give both computers the same workgroup name.

[DebNee]

Yes both pc I would like to connect to the network. I would like to be able to transfer data and work on either computer to use my checkbook program. Also I would like to be able to scan and print from the printer that is originally connected to the A computer.

[oracle128]

Make sure there are no firewalls (on either of the computers, or the router) preventing the PCs from seeing each other. The Network Setup Wizard should have given you the option to configure the Windows XP firewall for file sharing, but you may have other firewalls running. You can also use this tutorial (http://www.homenethelp.com/web/howto/net.asp) to help you setup File and Printer Sharing.

[DebNee]

There are firewalls, in XP when I try to get the two to network I use the USB Flash drive, and when I am all finished, I get to the last page of wireless network set up and I receive the error message:

Error - Microsoft Windows WX- 1111111(this computer, Depending on the wireless software running on this computer, the Wireless Network Setup Wizard might not work. For details see article 871122 in the Microsoft Knowledge Base on Microsoft.com)

Is it safe to turn off firewalls when these computers are both connected to the internet? Windows gives me the message when I try to set it up with out going through the automatic USB flash drive mode, that this is not safe and the internet would all others to access my computers.

I know this is frustrating for you too, but I really appreciate all the help you have given thus far.

[oracle128]

Error - Microsoft Windows WX- 1111111(this computer, Depending on the wireless software running on this computer, the Wireless Network Setup Wizard might not work. For details see article 871122 in the Microsoft Knowledge Base on Microsoft.com)This might be occuring because the Dell wireless devices have installed a Dell wireless management utility, which would likely have an icon visible in the tray (next to the clock). Opening it up, there should be an option to disable it or "Let Windows manage my wireless connection". Choose that; 3rd party wireless connection managers sometimes have more features than Windows, but are a pain to set up, so let Windows do it.
Is it safe to turn off firewalls when these computers are both connected to the internet? Windows gives me the message when I try to set it up with out going through the automatic USB flash drive mode, that this is not safe and the internet would all others to access my computers.It's not really safe to run without a firewall for any length of time, though the chances of someone invading your computer, in the minutes it would take to see if that is the problem, is slim to none. Of course the longer you are online without one, the more opportunity there is for intrusion (though still only minimal). The risk multiplies when you start browsing or downloading, then multiplies again if you're using Internet Explorer as your web browser. That said, running more than one firewall is definitely a bad idea; if the Windows firewall is up, it is safe to disable any others (especially Norton/Symantec, since they often cause all sorts of problems). If you still don't feel safe, simply unplug your connection to the internet and disable ALL firewalls, while you sort this problem out (and plug it back in, with one firewall turned back on, if you need to get more help online).

[DebNee]

Thank you, I do use Internet Explorer. Also the Norton is using a firewall. I was just afraid of the connections remaining un firewalled. When I got the message. Other can view the pc's I was hesitant to go any further. I finally was able to have the first (A) pc recognized the dell usb adapter network, I clicked on Zero config something and it then recognized the wireless net works. Up until then it would not see it. I think I am getting closer. There is so many options and I was not sure which one to use other than trial and error.

[DebNee]

Why is running more than one firewall a bad idea?

What web browser is there other than INTernet Explorer?

What about the ad-hoc settings, should t his be checked in my network, and does this mean no internet access?

[oracle128]

Why is running more than one firewall a bad idea?Because they will conflict and cause problems. You only need one.
What web browser is there other than INTernet Explorer?Firefox (http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/)
Opera (http://www.opera.com/)
Netscape (http://browser.netscape.com/)
Flock (http://www.flock.com/)
+ many more.
What about the ad-hoc settings, should t his be checked in my network, and does this mean no internet access?Ad hoc, in this case, means a wireless network directly from one computer to another (peer to peer). Since you have a router (many devices connect to one access point, the router), you are not using an Ad hoc connection, and anything regarding an Ad hoc connection can and should be disabled. You need only let the network setup wizard detect the router and connect to it, on each computer.

[DebNee]

Thank you for all your help it is amazing that my questions have been viewed 119 times in just a week, I hope these newbie questions of mine with the networking problems I did not understand will help others too!

I will try tomorrow to set up the two with all the ideas and suggestions you have given me thus far.

Thank you Mr. Oracle.

[DebNee]

Happy New Year To All

[DebNee]

PLEASE I am still having difficulty, with the wireless set up. I have been able to get the A computer to recognize the B compueter in a wireless set up when I go to My Network places and the both a and b computers show up in work group. However, I can not get the b computer to recognize the workgroup, it gives me an error that I need to contact my admistrator for access, is the administrator me, or my IP provider?

[oracle128]

is the administrator me, or my IP provider?That would be you.
However, I can not get the b computer to recognize the workgroup, it gives me an error that I need to contact my admistrator for accessDoes it say what exactly the error is? Did you follow the same method for comp B as you did with comp A (network wizard, disable firewalls)?

[DebNee]

Oracle, this is a happy day, I have been successful, my computers now know each other and I am able to use either computer shared files, and the printers that are attached, the Belkin54g finally came through for sharing files and printers. with the two usb, network adapters, and figuring out the problems were with the daarrnnnn Firewalls, and running Norton on one and McAffee on the other, I had to tell the firewalls to allow the other computer access in the options on Mcaffee., and Norton I had to go to personal firewall and click on configure and allow the access. Thank you again for all of your support.

Deb