Is network file-sharing possible with AOL?

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Guest

Following AOL's instructions, and using their own disk and provided router, I
set up 1 PC by Ethernet, and the 2nd by wireless adaptor. An AOL Screen Name
and Password has to be permanently assigned to the router, after which,
either PC can access the Internet without the other being on - unlike ICS.
However, in effect, no network has been set up through Windows XP, thus it
(Pro and Home) doesn't recognise the other PC or make it possible for
file-sharing.

I want to know if the Network Setup Wizard and Wireless Network Setup Wizard
are compatible with the setup requirements of AOL, or if there is any way of
setting up a network 'traditionally', whilst still enabling AOL's
configurations.
 
Following AOL's instructions, and using their own disk and provided router, I
set up 1 PC by Ethernet, and the 2nd by wireless adaptor. An AOL Screen Name
and Password has to be permanently assigned to the router, after which,
either PC can access the Internet without the other being on - unlike ICS.
However, in effect, no network has been set up through Windows XP, thus it
(Pro and Home) doesn't recognise the other PC or make it possible for
file-sharing.

I want to know if the Network Setup Wizard and Wireless Network Setup Wizard
are compatible with the setup requirements of AOL, or if there is any way of
setting up a network 'traditionally', whilst still enabling AOL's
configurations.
Click to expand...

I'm not familiar with AOL's router, but I suggest that you run the
Network Setup Wizard on each computer and see if it lets you share
files over the network.

If the Wizard detects the router's shared Internet connection, tell it
to use that. Otherwise, tell the Wizard that the computer connects to
the Internet through a residential gateway. Also, tell the Wizard to
enable File and Printer Sharing.

You don't need to run the Wireless Network Setup Wizard.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
 
If this works, why wouldn't I need the Wireless Network Setup Wizard when my
2nd PC is connected by wireless adaptor? As for my router, AOL provided a
Netgear DG834G v3. Also, when I setup with the AOL disk, it included WEP
security. If I'm succesful with the wizard(s), will that be compromised?
 
If this works, why wouldn't I need the Wireless Network Setup Wizard when my
2nd PC is connected by wireless adaptor? As for my router, AOL provided a
Netgear DG834G v3. Also, when I setup with the AOL disk, it included WEP
security. If I'm succesful with the wizard(s), will that be compromised?
Click to expand...

Running XP's Wireless Network Setup Wizard is always optional. I've
never used the Wireless Network Setup Wizard, and I've set up dozens
of wireless networks.

Running XP's regular Network Setup Wizard is also optional. You can
make the required network settings manually.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
 
Would the WEP security provided through the AOL setup be compromised by using
the Network Setup Wizard?
 
Would the WEP security provided through the AOL setup be compromised by using
the Network Setup Wizard?
Click to expand...

No. The Network Setup Wizard has no effect on wireless network
settings.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
 
You said that the Wireless Network Setup Wizard is optional (like all
wizards, as you pointed out). However, if a wireless adaptor can be set up
with the regular Network Setup Wizard, how does the other one differ and why
is it there?
 
You said that the Wireless Network Setup Wizard is optional (like all
wizards, as you pointed out). However, if a wireless adaptor can be set up
with the regular Network Setup Wizard, how does the other one differ and why
is it there?
Click to expand...

Wizards are there because Microsoft thinks that they make it easy for
users to set up Windows functions.

The "Help and Support" topics "Network Setup Wizard Overview" and
"Setting Up a Wireless Network" describe what the Wizards do.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
 
I ran the Network Setup Wizard on PC 1 (XP Pro, connected by Ethernet), which
didn't recognise my existing connection, but after selecting the residential
gateway option (as advised), file-sharing was enabled and I could see the
Shared Documents directory (and subs) in My Network Places on both PC 1 and
PC 2 (XP Home, connected by wireless adaptor). However, when I ran the
Network Setup Wizard on PC 2, it stated the connection to be ICS (although as
I said originally, either PC can go online via the router without the other
being on), and after completing the wizard, there was no sign of PC 2's
Shared Documents in either PC's My Network Places.

I've also noticed that on PC 1, if I select the Sharing tab of the
Properties of the Shared Documents directory, I'm unable to change the
default network name - SharedDocs. I'm able to click in and/or highlight the
field, but am unable to edit the name - although the help file states
differently.
 
I ran the Network Setup Wizard on PC 1 (XP Pro, connected by Ethernet), which
didn't recognise my existing connection, but after selecting the residential
gateway option (as advised), file-sharing was enabled and I could see the
Shared Documents directory (and subs) in My Network Places on both PC 1 and
PC 2 (XP Home, connected by wireless adaptor). However, when I ran the
Network Setup Wizard on PC 2, it stated the connection to be ICS (although as
I said originally, either PC can go online via the router without the other
being on), and after completing the wizard, there was no sign of PC 2's
Shared Documents in either PC's My Network Places.

I've also noticed that on PC 1, if I select the Sharing tab of the
Properties of the Shared Documents directory, I'm unable to change the
default network name - SharedDocs. I'm able to click in and/or highlight the
field, but am unable to edit the name - although the help file states
differently.
Click to expand...

You're welcome.

What tells you that the connection is ICS? You haven't enabled
Internet Connection Sharing on either computer, have you? With a
router, you don't need ICS.

The Network Setup Wizard might have detected the router's shared
Internet connection. If so, that's the right connection option.

To change the share name of a shared folder, un-share the folder and
then re-share it with the desired name.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
 
Whilst running the Network Setup Wizard on PC 1, a detection of sorts was
made, but instead of revealing my network, a generic message (which I can't
remember exactly) stated that an unrecognisable network had been found and I
then selected the residential gateway option as suggested. On PC 2, there was
no 'unrecognisable' message, although my specific network still wasn't
detected and I selected the residential gateway as on PC 1. It was in the
summary at the end of the wizard of PC 2 in which it was stated that there
was an ICS connection.
 
Whilst running the Network Setup Wizard on PC 1, a detection of sorts was
made, but instead of revealing my network, a generic message (which I can't
remember exactly) stated that an unrecognisable network had been found and I
then selected the residential gateway option as suggested. On PC 2, there was
no 'unrecognisable' message, although my specific network still wasn't
detected and I selected the residential gateway as on PC 1. It was in the
summary at the end of the wizard of PC 2 in which it was stated that there
was an ICS connection.
Click to expand...

You're welcome.

When I run the Network Setup Wizard and tell it that the computer
connects to the Internet through a residential gateway, the summary at
the end says "Connecting through another device or computer". Is that
what you see? That doesn't mean that Internet access uses ICS.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
 
The generic 'unrecognisable setup/device' message was specifically stated at
the beginning (not the summary) of the setup of PC 1. And ICS was
specifically stated to be in operation at the summary of the attempted setup
of PC 2.
 
I ran the Network Setup Wizard on PC 1 (XP Pro, connected by Ethernet), which
didn't recognise my existing connection, but after selecting the residential
gateway option (as advised), file-sharing was enabled and I could see the
Shared Documents directory (and subs) in My Network Places on both PC 1 and
PC 2 (XP Home, connected by wireless adaptor). However, when I ran the
Network Setup Wizard on PC 2, it stated the connection to be ICS (although as
I said originally, either PC can go online via the router without the other
being on), and after completing the wizard, there was no sign of PC 2's
Shared Documents in either PC's My Network Places. [snip]

You're welcome.

What tells you that the connection is ICS? You haven't enabled
Internet Connection Sharing on either computer, have you? With a
router, you don't need ICS.

The Network Setup Wizard might have detected the router's shared
Internet connection. If so, that's the right connection option.

To change the share name of a shared folder, un-share the folder and
then re-share it with the desired name.

Whilst running the Network Setup Wizard on PC 1, a detection of sorts was
made, but instead of revealing my network, a generic message (which I can't
remember exactly) stated that an unrecognisable network had been found and I
then selected the residential gateway option as suggested. On PC 2, there was
no 'unrecognisable' message, although my specific network still wasn't
detected and I selected the residential gateway as on PC 1. It was in the
summary at the end of the wizard of PC 2 in which it was stated that there
was an ICS connection.
Click to expand...

You're welcome.

When I run the Network Setup Wizard and tell it that the computer
connects to the Internet through a residential gateway, the summary at
the end says "Connecting through another device or computer". Is that
what you see? That doesn't mean that Internet access uses ICS.
Click to expand...

The generic 'unrecognisable setup/device' message was specifically stated at
the beginning (not the summary) of the setup of PC 1. And ICS was
specifically stated to be in operation at the summary of the attempted setup
of PC 2.
Click to expand...

Make sure that any firewall programs are configured to allow access
via the local area network. Note that some recent antivirus programs,
such as Norton Antivirus 2006, have firewall components that need to
be configured.

If that doesn't help, please give more information to help other
people understand the problem:

1. What is the exact wording of the generic 'unrecognisable
setup/device' message?

2. What is the exact wording of the message that says that ICS is in
operation?

3. Can each computer ping itself and the other computer by IP address
and by name? For example:

ping 192.168.1.101
ping PC1
ping 192.168.1.102
ping PC2
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
 
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