Networking ME with XP computers

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Blaine - 09 May 2005 04:20 GMT

I'm trying to setup a home network with a computer running ME and a laptop
running XP Home. I'm not familiar with networking in the slightest, but did
manage to get Internet Connection Sharing working (but that's all that is
working, no file sharing or printer sharing). The ME computer is the one
that is connected to the internet through an Orinoco PC Card (wireless lan
setup). This computer is connected to a D-Link Wireless Router (DI-624) with
an Ethernet cable. The Laptop is running XP home and has a D-Link Air Plus
Wireless card (DWL-G650). The Laptop is able to connect to the internet just
fine, but I do not know how to share files or a printer (won't show up on the
network). Also, can't play multiplayer games between the two. Like I said,
I know less than nothing about networking, so please be patient with me.
Thanks.

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Steve Winograd [MVP] - 09 May 2005 10:08 GMT

>I'm trying to setup a home network with a computer running ME and a laptop
>running XP Home. I'm not familiar with networking in the slightest, but did
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>I know less than nothing about networking, so please be patient with me.
>Thanks.

Please reply to this message in the news group (not by E-mail) with
more information to help other people understand the problem.

1. What type of Internet connection do you have -- dial-up, DSL, cable
modem, or something else?

2. What is connected to each port (WAN and LAN) of the D-Link Wireless
Router?

3. Have you installed Internet Connection Sharing on the ME computer?
I've written a web site with details:

ICS Installation [WinMe]
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/ics/icsmeinstall.htm

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Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional - Windows Networking
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Steve Winograd's Networking FAQ
http://www.bcmaven.com/networking/faq.htm

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Blaine - 11 May 2005 00:58 GMT

1. What type of Internet connection do you have -- dial-up, DSL, cable
modem, or something else?

2. What is connected to each port (WAN and LAN) of the D-Link Wireless Router?

3. Have you installed Internet Connection Sharing on the ME computer?

Answers:

1. They call it a wireless connection. There is a radio antennae on the
roof that connects to a base station which gets me the internet. Turbocell
is what they call it, I think. They installed an Orinoco PC Card, which is
what the cable to the antennae is attached to. PS- Our ISP hooked up the
router and ICS, but said to his knowledge you could not network an ME
computer with XP.)

2.There is an Ethernet cable from the ME PC's Ethernet connection to the WAN
on the back of the Wireless Router. The router has 4 LAN ports, but nothing
is connected to any of them.

3. Yes. ICS is installed and working. I am unable though, to share files,
printers, or play games between the laptop (XP) and the desktop (ME) using
the wireless connection.

Thanks again.

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Steve Winograd [MVP] - 11 May 2005 06:28 GMT

>>>I'm trying to setup a home network with a computer running ME and a laptop
>>>running XP Home. I'm not familiar with networking in the slightest, but did
[quoted text clipped - 42 lines]
>
>Thanks again.

You're welcome, Blaine.

All versions of Windows can network with each other. Your ISP should
know that.

If I understand your setup correctly:

1. The ME computer has two Ethernet adapters. An Orinoco PC card
connects to the radio antenna, and the other Ethernet adapter connects
to the WAN port of the router.

2. You've enabled Internet Connection Sharing on the Orinoco card,
using the other Ethernet adapter for the local area network.

If that isn't right, please reply to this message (don't post a new
message with a different title) and describe your network setup as
completely as possible.

I don't think that you need to use ICS at all, since your router has
an Internet sharing capability built in. Here's what I'd try:

1. Un-install ICS.

2. Connect the cable from the radio antenna to the router's WAN port.

3. Connect one of the ME computer's Ethernet adapters to a LAN port on
the router. Don't connect anything to the other one.

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Blaine - 12 May 2005 05:17 GMT

> If I understand your setup correctly:
>
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> 3. Connect one of the ME computer's Ethernet adapters to a LAN port on
> the router. Don't connect anything to the other one.

Thanks for all of your time Mr. Winograd. The only problem with with
setting things up they way you described is that the cable from the antenna
won't connect to the WAN port. I wish I could post a picture, but I'll try
to describe it. The cable coming from the anntenna is thick, there is a
pigtail connected to the end of the thick cable and it connects to the back
of the Orinoco card, this link (if it works for you) shows what that
connector looks like, it's under the column "Connector 1". I'm not sure
there is an adapter to connect it to the WAN port. Hope this helps.

http://www.hyperlinktech.com/web/cable_radio_pigtails_switchcase.php?connection=
MC-Card&pgType=mc-card

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Steve Winograd [MVP] - 12 May 2005 12:51 GMT

>> If I understand your setup correctly:
>>
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
>
>http://www.hyperlinktech.com/web/cable_radio_pigtails_switchcase.php?connection=
MC-Card&pgType=mc-card

Ah, I see. The antenna doesn't have a standard Ethernet connector, so
it can only connect to the Orinoco card. Thanks for clearing that
up.

I think that the solution is to continue to use ICS on the ME
computer, and to use the D-Link router as a wireless access point
only, bypassing its routing capability. ICS will serve as the router
for your network. Here's how:

1. Disconnect the router from the ME computer.

2. Disable and then enable the XP computer's wireless connection.

3. Using the XP computer, access the router's built-in web server.
It's probably at an address like http://192.168.0.1. The address will
appear on the XP computer as the default gateway for the wireless
connection.

2. Disable the router's built-in DHCP server.

3. Change the router's LAN IP address to 192.168.0.254 to be
compatible with ICS.

4. Reset the router by unplugging it from the electrical power,
waiting a few seconds, and plugging it back in.

5. Connect the ME computer's second Ethernet adapter to one of the LAN
ports on the router. Don't connect anything to the WAN port.

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Brian Kraft - 26 May 2005 03:04 GMT

>Please reply to this message in the news group (not by E-mail) with
>more information to help other people understand the problem.

I have a WinMe desktop computer with a USB 2.0 card added.

I have an XP SP2 laptop with Bluetooth 2.0 capability built in.

Is it possible to transfer files over Bluetooth with the right USB
dongle?

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N. Miller - 09 May 2005 17:58 GMT

> I'm trying to setup a home network with a computer running ME and a laptop
> running XP Home. I'm not familiar with networking in the slightest, but did
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> I know less than nothing about networking, so please be patient with me.
> Thanks.

If you have a broadband Internet connection, buy a SOHO router. Most brands
have decent models available for as little as $20, on sale, and/or with
rebates. D-Link, Linksys, Netgear, and SMC are popular brands. D-Link,
Netgear, and SMC also have routers which can share dial-up connections, if
you are interested; and the same models will work on broadband connections,
as well.

In order to enable shares, you need to go into network properties, and add
"Client for Microsoft Networks", and also "File and printer sharing for
Microsoft Networks". With ICS in use, make sure that you only enable those
on the LAN facing network card. You must not enable those for the Internet
facing network card. The ICS computer should have two network cards, or one
network card and a modem. Do not enable shares on a modem; do not enable
shares on the network device used to share the Internet. You don't want the
whole world to have access to your shared resources.

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Norman
~Win dain a lotica, En vai tu ri, Si lo ta
~Fin dein a loluca, En dragu a sei lain
~Vi fa-ru les shutai am, En riga-lint

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