Networking Without Networking

I have never had much luck following Microsoft's networking procedures & am wondering if there isn't a simpler way for computers to "talk" to each other through USB or Ethernet cables?

Here's my situation:

I have 4 computers (with 3 operating systems,,,ranging from Vista, XP & Millenium) & have them all running off a KVM switch so that I can use them all from the same keyboard, mouse & monitor. I would like to wire them up so that each computer would "see" the other (like a hard drive) & be able to share files.
Why is this so difficult to accomplish?? (at least for me)

Devil,

I use a Netgear RP 614 router to distribute internet between computers and set everything to automaticly set the addresses. I have 12 computers in the store with WIn98 and XP on the same network, no Vista yet. The Netgear router is only 4 port so I use hubs to extend the range. You have to set file and printer sharing for the computers to talk togeather. The router translates the IP addressing and created a hard firewall making it harder to hack.. I have a similar setup to you in my office with three computers sharing a common keyboard, mouse and monitor.

Steve.N wrote:Devil,

I use a Netgear RP 614 router to distribute internet between computers and set everything to automaticly set the addresses. I have 12 computers in the store with WIn98 and XP on the same network, no Vista yet. The Netgear router is only 4 port so I use hubs to extend the range. You have to set file and printer sharing for the computers to talk togeather. The router translates the IP addressing and created a hard firewall making it harder to hack.

I have all my computers connected to a Linksys router. Shouldn't they all be able to see each other then, or do I have to do the Windows networking crap?

Make sure that the drives that you want to share between computers are set to share. Right click on the drive, click property's, click share. remember that when you share the drive everybody can see what is on the drive

Right click MY COMPUTER, open properties, then tab COMPUTER NAME, confirm all pc are using same workgroup info. If not, make the change, will require a reboot. You can use any name, will go in caps automatically. After sharing is allowed you should see all you want. Printer sharing is very eary using this also.

LOL, I hate vista...

Devil505 wrote: Shouldn't they all be able to see each other then, or do I have to do the Windows networking crap?

You will have to go through the networking setup to make sure that file and printer sharing is enabled on each machine. It is straightforward on Vista and XP, just run the "network setup wizard" from the control panel. From what I remember about Windows ME you just right click on the directory you want to share and select "share", although it has been about 8 years since I used Windows 98/ME so I could be missing something.

And I thought I was the only one using a KVM switch.
You got dual monitors also?

I had two computers with KVM switch with dual monitors on one computer and single monitor on the other. It was nice. Now I'm down to one monitor and my son has my spare pc.

Just one monitor but I have a 4 port KVM switch which works great! (I just really use the old computers as spare hard drives but use one for my Insurance Survey jobs)

Devil505 wrote:I have 4 computers (with 3 operating systems,,,ranging from Vista, XP & Millenium) & have them all running off a KVM switch so that I can use them all from the same keyboard, mouse & monitor. I would like to wire them up so that each computer would "see" the other (like a hard drive) & be able to share files.
Why is this so difficult to accomplish?? (at least for me)

If the machines are all in the same Workgroup it shouldn't be a problem. Vista and XP should be chatty easily.

Make sure firewalls (if present) on the computers are set to allow SMB file sharing (Netbios ports 137-139). This is the #1 cause of problems.

The ME box may be problematic. Putting entries in the hosts and lmhosts files can also help if you can't browse to a machine by name. The ME box may not like browsing for computers that have spaces or non alphanumeric characters in their names.

I like to set static IP's for any machine sharing resources.