Wireless file sharing: HELP

[nicksim]

I'm new to Routers and networking, but quite experienced in computer usage overall. I installed a D-Link 614+ Router to a W98se Dell computer and have a successful 802.11b wireless access point beaming the internet to my laptop (W98se, too). D-Link tech support was quite helpful up to that point.

Now I want to access desktop computer files from my laptop and use the desktop printer--in other words wireless newtorking. The desktop computer has a wired connection to one LAN port on the router. The WAN port goes to the cable modem.

D-Link was courteous but of no help in file sharing, referring me to three newtorking sites. This was one.

Frankly I don't know where to begin. What protocols must be installed? What kind of network adaptor is needed? sharing settings?

Can someone point me in the right direction?

I know how to access the device manager page, use DOS box, access the Router admin, and similar techy stuff.

And the bonus question? When this is working, can I throw my other Dell computer (xp) onto the network?

Thanks,
Nick

[JimGeier]

Generally, a DSL or cable modem Internet service provider will assign you a single official IP address, which you must share among all of your network devices (each device needs a different IP address to enable network applications). That will make networking possible.

At the router, you need to enable its DHCP server to assign IP addresses to your network devices. You'll also need to enable NAT (network address translation) at the router to allow the IP addresses assigned by DHCP to interface with the single official IP address assigned by your Internet service company. That should allow you to reach the Internet from the laptop or PC.

For printing, use the "add printer" function within the Windows operating system on your PC to add the printer in a way that allows sharing. This is slightly different with each version of windows. Just go through the steps and ensure you identify the printer as connected to the PC and available to others on the network. That should make the printer visible to the laptop. At the latop, add the printer through the operating system "add printer" function. Windows should display the printer availability as connected to the PC. Keep in mind that some printers may require the installation of special drivers, so check the printer installation instructions.

For file sharing, you can add a short cut on your PC/laptop desktop that points to a folder on the other computer. Just make sure that the laptop and PC have file sharing enabled.

I hope that helps. You can find more details by using help within the Windows operating system.

[nicksim]

Thanks, I'll start checking. The DHCP and stuff were configured by the Router help desk to get the Internet successfully shared. They disavowed responsibilty for files and printers. I already enabled networking on the laptop and desktop, set the printers and certain folders to be shared. But nothing shows up under the Network Neighborhood. The wireless network is simply not recognized past sharing the internet.

[Firmware Guy]

Make sure you have file and printer sharing enabled. This varies depending on which Windows. At least one has a check box, "I want to share files and printers." Note that there are security issues and that you should understand them before enabling sharing on your network (i.e. you could end up sharing them with anybody who has a WiFi card, or even the entire Internet).