Networking Help

i am able to share files like this when my brother comes over with his laptop and i have mine. however we both connect to a gateway (router) and from there we share files.

to share files through a gateway using a computer with microsoft xp, you just have to run your network wizard and allow filesharing. then you pick what folders you want to share and your set.

microsoft does an excellent job of walking you through it with the wizard.

you can also go through the wireless network wizard to set up an ad-hoc network...wich is basically routerless...just computer to computer..(haven't done this...so i'm sorry i can't give steps..but from what i know...the network setup wizard should take you through it)

I have set up an Ad-Hoc network, but every time two or more people try and sharefiles/transfer with the same computer, it whole network lags bad. Some even get disconnected and have to search for the network, and then try to reconnect to gain access again. Its like some strange bottle neck or something. Is this common, with just two notebook on the network, everything seem to work fine, it just when we start adding more notebooks that we have problems.


Another question, is it possible to instant message over a network, with out internet? If so whay type of software would a person use?

Another question, does dial-up TCP/IP interfear with Ad-hoc file sharing.......on this type of network? I have noticed that when one of the computers are connected to the internet by dialup, they are removed from the workgroup list. They are still connected to the network just unable to view, or share files. All other computers cannot find the computer in question in the workgroup when they are connected to dial-up.

Edited by nogard, 13 February 2006 - 10:22 PM.