File Sharing - PC to Laptop

eirebhoy

I bought an Ethernet Crossover cable today to transger files to a laptop. I've got as far as Ticking "Share this folder on the network" but I'm pretty lost tbh. Could anyone give me a step by step guide for sharing files? I've been googling for a while now but I just find things like "change your ip" without actually explaining how.

Cheers.

petes

Start by setting the ip addresses on both the computer and the laptop. To do this do the following:

Start=>Programs=>Control Panel=>Network Connections. Double click on your local area connection. Under the general tab click on properties. On the properties page scroll down until you find "Internet Protocol TCP/IP. Highlight this and click properties.

Select use the following ip address and set the computer top 192.168.1.1. Do the same procedure on the laptop and set it to 192.168.1.2.

Apply all this and return to the desktop. Right click my computer and selec t properties. Under the computer name tab select member of workgroup and name it mshome or something. Ensure this is the same on both pc and laptop. Rebooot both machines. You should be able to share your files now.

challengemaster

ok, first of all you have to change the ip of both computers. to do this, go to

Start->settings->network connections->Local Area Connection

Click properties->Internet Protocal(TCP/IP)->properties->click Use the following ip address and put in "192.168.2.1" on one computer, and "192.168.2.2" on the other. and click apply then ok.

after this, from whichever pc you want to get files from (we'll say you want to get files from "192.168.2.1" pc to "192.168.2.2" pc. on the pc with the ip 192.168.2.2 go to "Start-> Run" then type in \\192.168.2.1 and hit enter. all files which are shared on the network should then appear for you. after that, just copy them.

eirebhoy

I set the Laptop to 192.168.1.1
The PC to 192.168.1.2

From the PC I can access it's own IP and ping its own IP ok. When I try to access the laptop from the PC it says the following after about 10 seconds:
"No Network provider accepted the given network path"

From the Laptop I can't do anything. It won't even try to access its own IP or anyone's IP.
"The network location cannot be reached"

I think it's a problem with the connection. The cable is in fine but nothing changes on either computer (no new icons, etc.). I don't have the internet on the laptop but the Local Area Connection has a red X on it and says "Network Cable Unplugged".

This is the cable I bought:
http://cgi.ebay.ie/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=016&item=260043162426

Cheers.

neacy69

have you got your windows firewall switched off?
also are you using norton/mcafee/zone alarm as these have firewalls in them also

Hobbes

I got something like this for this solution..
http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electronic/8199/

I haven't tried that one but thats the name to look for. Basically you plug the cable into both USB ports and it launches software stored within the cable to transfer your files. Very trendy and less dicking around with settings.

neacy69

to be honest its not that hard to setup a network between two PC's
you have to make sure that the cable is in properly, both are using simialar IP address and subnet masks, Both are using tcp/ip and that you have nothing blocking the communications.
Also make sure that your laptop network card is switched as most of them are switched as default as a power saving feature....
any joy???

eirebhoy

neacy69 wrote:

have you got your windows firewall switched off?
also are you using norton/mcafee/zone alarm as these have firewalls in them also

Firewall is switched off and anti-virus is disabled (I don't really need it without the internet).

I just find it strange that it doesn't seem to recognise the cable, or at least there's no way of known if it does.

neacy69

on the laptop there should be an icon in the sys tray (beside the time) that looks like two monitors when you hang your mouse over them it should give you a status message like this
untitled.JPG
what does yours say on the laptop and on the pc

petes

Also on the back of the computer and laptop there will be an indicator led where the connection goes in letting you know if there is any activity. Di you try "ipconfig" at the command prompt on both?

eirebhoy

neacy69 wrote:

on the laptop there should be an icon in the sys tray (beside the time) that looks like two monitors when you hang your mouse over them it should give you a status message like this
untitled.JPG
what does yours say on the laptop and on the pc

The one on the PC is just as normal:
Local Area Connection
Speed: 10.0Mbps
Status: Connected


And the laptop:

Local Area Connection
A network cable is unplugged.


Nothing has changed there at all.

eirebhoy

petes wrote:

Also on the back of the computer and laptop there will be an indicator led where the connection goes in letting you know if there is any activity. Di you try "ipconfig" at the command prompt on both?

I don't see any LEDs at the back of the PC. There's about 7 at the front of the laptop which shows when a CD is loading and things like that but nothing lights up when the cable is in.

I've typed in ipconfig in the PC and laptop. A DOS window flashes up for a second.

petes

eirebhoy wrote:

I don't see any LEDs at the back of the PC. There's about 7 at the front of the laptop which shows when a CD is loading and things like that but nothing lights up when the cable is in.

I've typed in ipconfig in the PC and laptop. A DOS window flashes up for a second.

For ipconfig go to Start and then run. Type cmd. Then use the ipconfig command. Is there an led lighting up at the back of the pc where the connection is? It will look like its inside where the connection goes in.

neacy69

defo sounds to me like your laptop NIC is switched off do you know how to switch it on?
quickest way is to plug your laptop into your charger...otherwise go to device manager and there should be a NIC menu and you can switch it on from there
details of how to switch off/on here

eirebhoy

petes wrote:

For ipconfig go to Start and then run. Type cmd. Then use the ipconfig command. Is there an led lighting up at the back of the pc where the connection is? It will look like its inside where the connection goes in.

ipconfig runs as normal on the PC and gives the expected IP.

On the laptop I get:

Windows IP Configuration

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

No LED at the connection.

neacy69

neacy69 wrote:

defo sounds to me like your laptop NIC is switched off do you know how to switch it on?
quickest way is to plug your laptop into your charger...otherwise go to device manager and there should be a NIC menu and you can switch it on from there
details of how to switch off/on here

Can you go to control panel click on internal NIC configuration tell me what the current status of your NIC is?
should look like this throw up a screenshot if you can like this
NIC.JPG

eirebhoy

neacy69 wrote:

defo sounds to me like your laptop NIC is switched off do you know how to switch it on?
quickest way is to plug your laptop into your charger...otherwise go to device manager and there should be a NIC menu and you can switch it on from there
details of how to switch off/on here

It is listed as "Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast Ethernet NIC".

I unticked "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power"

Is there anything else I should do? It's enabled but still with "network cable unplugged"

neacy69

have you plugged in your laptop as per the NIC config on my laptop when its been deactivated at any stage you need to plug it in to re-activate...
go to network connections right click on your LAN connection select disable then select enable...

eirebhoy

neacy69 wrote:

Can you go to control panel click on internal NIC configuration tell me what the current status of your NIC is?
should look like this throw up a screenshot if you can like this
NIC.JPG

There's no "Internal NIC Configuration" in my Control panel at all or anything to do with NIC.

neacy69

on laptops there is usually one of these icons in the control panel its a bit strange for it not to be there for an internal network card as you need to be able to change the power save config of it.....

if your network card is activated then the LED on the port should be lit otherwise it hasnt detected that cable is there or is powered.
Have you tried swapping the ends around in the laptop and computer to rule out the possibilty the you have a dodgy connector?

eirebhoy

I've just put the ethernet cable directly into the router from my PC and the internet works through that (I usually use the USB connection). I finally see what you mean by the LED at the back of the PC.

I did the same from the router to the laptop. Again it works perfectly but without the LED. I'm actually typing this from the laptop (it seems a lot faster on this for some reason but anyway...). That means the cable is working I suppose.

btw - I didn't realise I could have the PC and laptop connected to the router at the same time. Is this recommended? I know I'm going off topic...

eirebhoy

Anyone got any suggestions before I buy one of those USB things?

challengemaster

you mean you still didnt get it working? tbh the advice give here should work if you follow it to a tee, and actually have an Xover cable. i've done it before..

also. what is a "USB thingy" as there's 100's of devices that use a usb interface

eirebhoy

challengemaster wrote:

you mean you still didnt get it working? tbh the advice give here should work if you follow it to a tee, and actually have an Xover cable. i've done it before..

also. what is a "USB thingy" as there's 100's of devices that use a usb interface

Still not working and have tried all suggestions. The PC is fine but I can't even ping the laptop's own IP which is strange.

The USB device is the one that Hobbes suggested earlier.

Gurgle

All you want to do is transfer files?
If you're not talking about too many GB, why not just get a USB pen drive?
A 2GB is €55 these days.
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=306472

eirebhoy

Gurgle wrote:

All you want to do is transfer files?
If you're not talking about too many GB, why not just get a USB pen drive?
A 2GB is €55 these days.
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=306472

I suppose I'll have to get one of them. Komplett charge €12 delivery on everything though so I'll shop around.