Networking Through A Router

I have 4 computers (with 3 operating systems) connected to my Linksys router & would like to find an "easy way" to be able to share files amongst them. I figured since they all share a single router, this should be easy to do....BUT......I seem to get tangled up with all the networking BS "hoops" that Windows makes you jump through! Is there any easy way to share files through a router?

I thought you just set up each computer for File Sharing in the My Computer or My Networking. Set the C: drive and any of the directories for SHARING and give it a name, the other computers should be able to find it. You can go to My Network, Find Computer, etc....it's been a while since I set mine up.

WNY wrote:I thought you just set up each computer for File Sharing in the My Computer or My Networking. Set the C: drive and any of the directories for SHARING and give it a name, the other computers should be able to find it. You can go to My Network, Find Computer, etc....it's been a while since I set mine up.

Seems to me that I ran into problems but it's been a while so I forget. I have different OS's ranging from Windows ME..to XP...to VISTA on 4 different computers that I have working off a 4 port KVM switch.

NAS (Network Accessible Storage) a stand alone device available at most big box stores.
Get a NAS.
Let that be the share point.
Make sure it is Vista friendly.
No longer worry about Windows networking issues.
That is the easy way.

CapeCoaler wrote:NAS (Network Accessible Storage) a stand alone device available at most big box stores.
Get a NAS.

Would this work across 3 different OS's? http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/D-Link-D ... o#proddesc

Just plug all my computers into this & they will see each other to share files?

Let that be the share point.

Sounds like you send the files you want to share to the NAS, that way all the PCs can access them. Am I right?

When I got DSL the ISP proviced a router that has 4 ports, so I was able to network my 2 PCs. I could never access shared files on this PC from the other one, never could get it to work. I could access shared files on the other PC from this one, but the setup has stopped working several times and I have to reconfigure it. Now I find it so much easier to move about 5 feet to the other PC when I need to work with a file that's on it, or I just email it to myself to get it to the other PC.

Gotta love Windows!

Can't give any specific advice because I never used it, all the issues you are running into are security related. You certainly don't want Joe Schmoe from India browsing your files. Having said that the first thing I would do is disable windows firewall. A firewall is used to prevent other computers from accessing your computer.

Windows firewall is not that great to begin with and the router provides a firewall to the outside world so you really don't need it.

I have a several year old Network Attached Storage (NAS) device. Love it. It has multiple internal hard drives and several configuration options. I use redundant disk striping which gives me a mirrored image of all my files. It's a Buffalo brand TeraStaion. There are newer models that also provide real time hardware data encryption. The best ones encrypt in hardware so there never any plain un-encrypted data as there would be with software encryption. One thing you need to be aware of is many of the products use a native disk file format that is not the MS Windows format. So you can not remove the hard drive from you NAS and put it in a Window OS computer and expect to see your data. I share data via my wired router to Windows OS computers, Linux OS and UNIX engineering workstations. High end functionally like I have is somewhat expensive, I paid about the price of a low end PC. Much less expensive choices are now available.

Make sure each computer is in the same workgroup. When setting up the Network Wizard or right click

A 'workgroup' is simply a logical grouping of computers. On a home network, only a single workgroup is needed. If all of your computers are not in the same workgroup, they may not be able to see each other correctly. Just make one up and stick to it. Keep it simple and easy to remember.

Each computer should get the SAME WORKGROUP name and a DIFFERENT computer name. Again, keep all names simple and easy to remember.

Wood'nCoal wrote:I could never access shared files on this PC from the other one, never could get it to work. I could access shared files on the other PC from this one, but the setup has stopped working several times and I have to reconfigure it. Now I find it so much easier to move about 5 feet to the other PC when I need to work with a file that's on it, or I just email it to myself to get it to the other PC.

Just seems like every time I try to set up a network I run into problems! Seems to me that, with so many people keeping their old computers, that networking them should be easy! I do the same thing as you John: Out of desperation , I'll sometimes email files between computers or copy files onto a thumb drive. They're all connected via ethernet cable to the router, so it should be a simple procedure to be able to see all the hard drives/files at once. I'll try Richard's advice & disable the Windows firewalls & see if that works.

Assuming all your computers are connected to a router, if I was Bill Gates, I would have a few simple steps to network. Under Network there would be a few simple questions:

1. Is this computer part of a network?
2. Name or number this computer



PERIOD!!!...then any computers that are powered on & part of the network would be visible to all the others. What;'s wrong with that?

I just came back from C. City & got to talking with a tech who told me for cheap money a program from here http://realvnc.com/ would allow me to share files, etc. with all my computers, without having to add any hardware. Anyone know anything about this program/site?

Devil505 wrote:I just came back from C. City & got to talking with a tech who told me for cheap money a program from here http://realvnc.com/ would allow me to share files, etc. with all my computers, without having to add any hardware. Anyone know anything about this program/site?

Devil,

I'm not into networking but I can tell you my son told me VNC is a free program (he's a network guy). Look for it on Opensorce.org

I think what VNC does is allow you to operate a computer from a remote computer over the internet. That's how a network guy repairs computer file issues at work from home, the beach etc.

chemung wrote:I think what VNC does is allow you to operate a computer from a remote computer over the internet. That's how a network guy repairs computer file issues at work from home, the beach etc.

Just had time to take a quick look at the site but I thought it said the free version couldn't do file transfers?? I'll check again.

As a Computer Consultant my first point is....beware of advice you get from a big box store employee.
They are there for a reason....to fetch the product that you have researched and know you want.
I work on Windows and Mac networks. SOHO/Medium Offices/Schools.
VNC is remote desktop management/control not file sharing or Windows networking.
We do not work from the beach!
You know what sand does in your shorts! Now imagine that in your computer innards!
Poolside on a bluff overlooking Cape Cod Bay or Nantucket Sound...Possibly....
An Ashton and with nice Straight Kentucky Bourbon you bet!
Networking Windows with different OS can be/is a PIA.
My motto is KISS.
TCP/IP is your friend.
I like Linksys and use their products almost exclusively.
Other companies when they have an excellent niche product.
Overly complex systems only break down easier.
So...you want it to be easy....and almost fool proof....that even a member of the Democratic Party could not screw it up!
Notice, I did not say Democrat....
Use this...less than $150....it does what you need and then some!
http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellit ... torWrapper
Every computer goes to it...so no networking worries.
You can make public and private folders for your network.
No other computer has to be on.
You can even get to it from outside of your house with FTP.
A good way to have a simple 'server' type product for non 'computer geek' people.
This is the best 'free advice' you can get for a simple, easy and inexpensive networking/file sharing device.
Now where is that coal shed?

Now the down side to this simple device.
The file format is not native Windows NTFS.
When your drive in this device craps out, normal data recovery products will have issues with it.
I have done a boatload of data recovery this summer and it was not easy.
Some folks had their stuff on backup drives from Maxtor and Western Digital...proprietary formatted drives nasty...
Multiple backups on Windows formatted drives in several locations is the way to go if you value your data.
Of course most people do not do this and the result can be devastating.