Both computers must be a member of the same Workgroup. To identify this do the following:
*Right-click on "My Computer"
*Click "Properites"
*Click the "Computer Name" tab
Do the above on both systems. On this tab you will see the Computer Name and Workgroup Name. If they are not the same, you need to change one of them to match the other by clicking the "Change" button. You will need to reboot the computer that you change in order for it to take effect.
After they are both on the same workgroup you need to configure Sharing on any folder that you wish to share. You will also have to Share your printer.
To configure Sharing:
*Right-click the Folder or Printer and select "Sharing and Security".
*Select the "Share this..." button
*Enter a share name in the box below
*Click OK
After sharing the printer, you need to install the shared printer on the laptop. Do the following:
*Click "Start - Run"
*In the Run box type the path to the printer - if the desktop printers name is "Desktop" and the printers share name is "Printer" you would type the following:
\\Desktop\Printer
*Click "OK"
For accessing the shared folders you can either do that by browsing "My Network Places" or by mapping a network drive. You can map a network drive by doing the following:
*Right-click "My Computer"
*Click "Map Network Drive"
*Enter the name of the computer and the share in the same format as the printer.
\\Desktop\Sharename.
*Click OK.
It will also help if you are using the same Username on both machines, that way you won't have a permissions issue on the shares.
Let me know what you find and if you have any additional questions.
Ted...
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