Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with WindowsXP and networking

Troubleshoot network places in Windows XP

feelinggood — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:26:21 -0800

How can I erase all my network places in Windows XP (one computer XP Pro, one computer XP Home) and start again? The trouble is that some places that used to work don't work any more, and I don't know why. Also, when I try to create new places, some work, and some don't. Would it be also good to somehow restore both computers to a state in which they had never been networked and start again from the beginning (how to do this?)
Folder sharing has completely got me down.
I share a folder on one computer and try to connect to it from the other computer and get the old "Access is denied" message.

ALSO, are there advantages to Network Places over mapped drives or vice versa?

Perhaps someone could point me to an exhaustive XP networking troubleshooting site?

Is it possible to share network/internet connection via a usb dongle (from XP)?

mule — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 22:31:57 -0800

wifi sharing via USB dongle filter: Is it possible to share network/internet connection via a usb dongle (from XP)? if so how? My mum just purchased a new laptop (ibook) which she would like to connect wirelessly to her home network. She has a wired Linksys broadband modem connected to her WinXP box via ethernet.

I advised her to pick up a wifi usb dongle to share the internet and network from her PC to the iBook, thinking that the dongle could be used to 'push' the netwprk out. With plenty of fiddling the laptop can see the network as a peer to peer but not share the connection to the net.

I'm pretty experienced with the mac side of things but the Windows stuff seems like an endless loop of wizards.

Can anyone point me to set of instruction on how to get this working?

Windows XP Home as a file server?

kables — Wed, 20 Apr 2005 14:58:41 -0800

I just bought a smokin' new laptop with a 60GB hard drive, replacing my aging-but-serviceable desktop. I have about 90GB of files in total--too large to fit on the laptop. My just-replaced desktop is running XP Home, while my laptop is XP Pro -- can I use my desktop as a file server, or is XP Home too limiting/insecure? Am I opening myself up to a world of hurt? If possible, I'd prefer not to install a different OS.

FYI, I have a removable hard drive that I use for back-up purposes, but don't want to be tethered to it when I'm accessing my password-protected wi-fi network from the coffee shop in the bottom of my building. Also, I'd like to be able to map a network drive that reconnects at login. Google has confused me in regards to all this.

Shared drives between PC and Mac

pieoverdone — Sat, 07 Aug 2004 22:15:30 -0800

I have a PC with WinXP Pro. She has an iBook with Mac OS X. Together they ~~fight crime~~ share a router. e:\ is where I shove all my ~~porn~~ music. How can I make this available to her to copy what she wants to her machine or her ipod?