New to wireless

Hi

I'm kinda new to this wireless stuff and I need a little bit of help
setting up my wireless network for File, Internet, print, and DVD
sharing on both computers. I am using a laptop and a desktop.

I want the desktop to use a USB dongle, and the laptop will use a
PCMCIA card. I will not be using a router.

This will not be an ad-hoc wireless network.

I was told that I need to buy a wireless key. What is it?

It must also be encrypted.

Both PC's use Windows XP SP2.

Please help!!!

Thanks

Joe Soap

Joe Soap wrote:
> Hi
>
> I'm kinda new to this wireless stuff and I need a little bit of help
> setting up my wireless network for File, Internet, print, and DVD
> sharing on both computers. I am using a laptop and a desktop.
>
> I want the desktop to use a USB dongle, and the laptop will use a
> PCMCIA card. I will not be using a router.
>
> This will not be an ad-hoc wireless network.
>
> I was told that I need to buy a wireless key. What is it?
>
> It must also be encrypted.
>
> Both PC's use Windows XP SP2.
>
> Please help!!!
>
> Thanks
>
> Joe Soap

DVD R/W sharing is not supported by M$. Check with the vendor of your
DVD to see if they happen to have software to support R/W sharing.
M$ does support read-only sharing of CD/DVDs

If you have cable or DSL access to the 'net, buy a router instead of
using ICS. Using a router will allow each PC to concurrently access
the 'net, independent of the state of the other. And, a router will
supply some firewall security. And a router will mean that you don't
need to buy a second IPA from your ISP for simultaneous use.

You don't buy a wireless key, you make up your own. With a router,
you typically enter a passphrase, and it displays the passkey you
use on each PC.
--
Cheers, Bob

Bob Willard wrote:
> Joe Soap wrote:
>> Hi
>>
>> I'm kinda new to this wireless stuff and I need a little bit of help
>> setting up my wireless network for File, Internet, print, and DVD
>> sharing on both computers. I am using a laptop and a desktop.
>>
>> I want the desktop to use a USB dongle, and the laptop will use a
>> PCMCIA card. I will not be using a router.
>>
>> This will not be an ad-hoc wireless network.
>>
>> I was told that I need to buy a wireless key. What is it?
>>
>> It must also be encrypted.
>>
>> Both PC's use Windows XP SP2.
>>
>> Please help!!!
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Joe Soap
>
> DVD R/W sharing is not supported by M$. Check with the vendor of your
> DVD to see if they happen to have software to support R/W sharing.
> M$ does support read-only sharing of CD/DVDs
>
> If you have cable or DSL access to the 'net, buy a router instead of
> using ICS. Using a router will allow each PC to concurrently access
> the 'net, independent of the state of the other. And, a router will
> supply some firewall security. And a router will mean that you don't
> need to buy a second IPA from your ISP for simultaneous use.
>
> You don't buy a wireless key, you make up your own. With a router,
> you typically enter a passphrase, and it displays the passkey you
> use on each PC.
> --
> Cheers, Bob

What is your current setup - for current connection to the Internet ?
Where is the desktop & laptop relative to each other - ie for WiFi distance

Like the other person said - get a WiFi enabled router

There is going to be 2 levels of challenge -

#1 - the Network, either wired or WiFi
wonder if both computer have Ethernet jacks ?
as you could experiment with the Sharing aspect
by just cabling them together as a test
with a small Ethernet hub (or router),
or even a single Ethernet crossover cable.

#2 - Microsoft Sharing of files & devices.
Even if both systems are running XP/SP2 there can be "issues"
that cause problems in the Sharing.
I have 2 identical laptops - and one shares nicely, the other never has been
able