Vista - Setting up hybrid (?) network

Hi there,

I'm having some trouble setting up a network in my home. Here's the deal, I've got my laptop running VistaHomePr 64 and my Desktop running XP Pro 32. I recently got a wireless netgear router. My notebook connects wirelessly through the router while my desktop connects to the router through an ethernet cable. (The router has both wired ports and wireless transmitter)

Now, before I installed the wirless router, I had the two computers networked (and working properly) through a dynex wired router. Now I'm having trouble getting them to see each other.

I'm not even sure if you can network computers while one is wireless and one is wired. I just figured it could be done since it was all going through one router.

So, first off, is it possible? If so, can I get some suggestions as to how to get them networked?

Thanks much,

Casey

BTW,

Both computers have internet access, no problems there. I just can't get them to see each other, or share files.

I found this thread that says it can be done:

Network with both wired and wireless

but the replies didn't help in my situation. Hoping someone else can shed some light.

Thanks again,

Casey

You need to enable file sharing in the router. File and print sharing on both computers. They need to be in the same subnet. MAC filtering is enabled on the router, both computers need to be in it, Setup the same user account and password on both boxes and give this account NTFS security to all partitions.

Hi there, thanks for the reply. File/print sharing is enabled on both computers, but I couldn't find it in the router setup. They are on the same subnet. Same user account, same password.

Could you expand a bit on the MAC filtering? What do you mean by "both computers need to be in it"?

Also, how do I give the account NTSF security?

Thanks again,

Casey

MAC filtering is a security feature on your router. It allows only computers on the list to use the router. If it is enabled, you have to make sure every computer is on the list.

If the user account can see all the files on each computer, NTFS security is setup.

If you click on networking, do the computers show up?

You could add both computers to the hosts. file of both computers.

Hi again,

I've been looking around in the router settings, and I don't see anything that says "MAC Filtering". Perhaps my router doesn't support it? I did find that the 'Router MAC Address' is set to 'Use default address'.

I also found that both the desktop and the laptop are listed under the "Attached Devices" section, along with their respective IP addresses (both different) and MAC addresses (Also both different).

Under the "Lan Setup" section, there is a list of "Address Reservation" that also includes both PC's.

Under the UPnP Portmap Table, though, neither of the PC's shows up.

In Network Places on the PC, only my shared folders show up. In Network Places on the laptop, the laptop itself shows up, but not the desktop.

not sure how to add both computers to the hosts. file of both computers.

Computers still will not see each other though.

I hope I haven't made it too complicated. Thanks for the help.

Casey

hosts. file is in c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc. Could be winnt instead of windows. You put in IP address and computer name. It has to be done from administrator account.

I found the list. Are you saying I should add the IP address and computer name of both computers to each of my host. files, or just only add the Laptop info to the desktop host. file and vica versa?

Also, how will this help to fix my problem?

Thanks,

Casey

The hosts file is a local DNS-type lookup. Your computers will know all the other computers IP addresses and netbios name.

Since the client machines can both access the internet, their IP and MAC-level settings are obviously fine. The problem will come down to either "isolation" mode on the router, or configuration on one or both clients which is preventing communication between them.

ROUTER: check whether it has "isolation" capabilities and whether they're enabled. In isolation mode, each client is permitted to access the internet via the router, but inter-client communication is prohibited (by the router). Some routers come with isolation mode enabled by default, which causes much grief to their owners.

Once you've ruled that out...

CLIENTS: Temporarily disable all firewalls on both client machines. Then, on a CMD prompt, try to PING the IP address of the other machine and check the outcome. If you can ping-by-IP, check what happens when you ping-by-name. If that works too, try using UNC to connect to the other machine: start, run, \\OtherMachineName . Depending on what works and what doesn't, someone here should be able to offer more help.