Network, wut?

[Redcaa]

Ok, so, I have a laptop (Windows 7) and desktop (Windows XP), I want to connect these two. I first tried a LAN/WLAN but then it seemed I needed a network adapter (right?) so I gave up. Then came all this workgroup stuff which I have no idea on. So basically I want to connect these two without the need of wires or other stuff (things which I have to buy =.=).

Thanksssssssssssssssssssss :3

[Accessless]

So you are trying to connect two computers together on a network without any hardware to achieve this goal. You also have no intention of getting any hardware. Is this a joke?

A wireless connection between the two computers will require a wireless networking adapter for both computers and a router.
Wired connection will require both computers to have ethernet ports and a LAN cable.

I've not tried networking a Windows XP computer to a Win7 so someone else will have to fill in on the software setup.

[Redcaa]

Listen here, if you're going to reply like a rude dirty brat then don't bother replying. A simple no will do.

[Accessless]

If I could defer your attention to my signature for a moment, of which I have written specifically in an attempt to avoid conflict. My wording can often be crude and I do tend to rub off wrong on people.

I apologise for any insult that I may have conveyed. I do however object to being called a dirty brat by users who do not display their age.

Also, replying with "No" wouldn't have made sense, your original post questioned the need for network adapters. To which the answer was yes, but needed explanation.

[BC_Programmer]

I first tried a LAN/WLAN but then it seemed I needed a network adapter (right?) so I gave up

Um... It's pretty safe to assume that the laptop has a Wireless connection and the desktop has a wired connection.

"Connecting" them, or more precisely, the first step in getting them to communicate, is to connect them to the same network (for example, a router).

my desktop machine and my Linux SVN server is connected to my router via a Cat5 cable; my laptop, my brothers PS3, and his computer are connected via Wireless-N and G.

All of these devices can "see" the others via IP address configurations. Sharing is possible only between my laptop and desktop, as I have taken the time to make them part of the same "homegroup". before this they were part of the same workgroup.

Basically, you say that you "gave up because it needed a network adapter" but they almost certainly both have one.

[Redcaa]

If I could defer your attention to my signature for a moment, of which I have written specifically in an attempt to avoid conflict. My wording can often be crude and I do tend to rub off wrong on people.

I apologise for any insult that I may have conveyed. I do however object to being called a dirty brat by users who do not display their age.

Also, replying with "No" wouldn't have made sense, your original post questioned the need for network adapters. To which the answer was yes, but needed explanation.

Ehh... Im sorry, im sorry. I just got a bit stunned, i'm truly sorry. I didn't mean to react as so.

@BC

Well they're both connected to the same router. And both are connected via wireless adapters. So how do I come around making a "Homegroup" ? (Yes I will google it first)

Oh and please remember this is between a Windows 7 and Windows XP (Home).

[camerongray]

Also, Could you please tell us what you are wanting to connect them for e.g. Sharing Files/Folders, Sharing one printer .etc

[Redcaa]

Oh! Right, silly me. I wanted to connect them so I could share folders. Sharing printers (it's not a wireless one, if that's relevant) would be good but it's not one of my main priorities.

[Spoiler]

This will help

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=80B1AA5D-1B5A-4447-8036-ACC918BA7AF2&amp%3Bdisplaylang=en

just download it and the doc will walk you though the steps

[Redcaa]

Thanks a lot!

God knows how you found this, lol.

I haven't read it at the moment, but i'll go over it a bit later

[Redcaa]

Sorry for the double post but yea

Ok, so I read that doc file and it seems the computer needs to be in my wrokgroup first in order to be in my homegruop. Then I looked up how to set up a home group connection which lead me to find out that you'd need a network adapter, I think. So this isn't really going anywhere. New question:

Can you connect a Windows 7 computer and a Windows XP computer, which are both wirelessly connected to the same router, without the need of wires or network adapters, in order to share files between them?

[BC_Programmer]

Then I looked up how to set up a home group connection which lead me to find out that you'd need a network adapter, I think. So this isn't really going anywhere.

It's pretty safe to assume that the laptop has a Wireless connection and the desktop has a wired connection.

To be more clear, a Wireless network card is a Wireless Network Adapter.

[soybean]

Can you connect a Windows 7 computer and a Windows XP computer, which are both wirelessly connected to the same router, without the need of wires or network adapters, in order to share files between them?

Yes.  See this reference: Share Files and Printers between Windows 7 and XP

Regarding printer sharing, if your printer is network-ready, you could connect it to your router rather than connecting it to a computer.  Then, either computer could use the printer without another computer needing to be powered on.

[Redcaa]

I've seen this article before but I was quite confused. On the first step it says that both computers have to be in the same Workgroup, which im not sure how to do. Then I think (im not sure) it explains you how to get them on the same Workgroup, but I don't know if it is for that reason. I'll have a go at this later. Thanks.

[Redcaa]

Gah, sorry. Double post.

Ok, so I managed to get my head around this as got my desktop (XP) in to the same workgroup as my latop, but as always a problem has occurred. When I access the Laptop from the computer, it works fine however, when I try to access the Desktop from the Laptop, it doesn't work. It give me the error 0x80070035. Now what i'm confused on is that, where is the fault. Is it my Desktop firewall which blocks the incoming connection or is it the Laptop blocking the outgoing connection? Or did I just do something else wring D:

I looked around in google and I found something. On my Desktop firewall I was to allow an IP Range for the network but how do I find the range?

Thanks for replies.