How to set up a network between two computers?

Both are hooked with internet through a router. One of the computers is a dell and it has Windows XP and the other is an e machines with vista home Edition 32-bit. Is there a way to hook them to a network so we can get at stuff from the other computer. Also how do i hook up a printer like this for both computers?





ThanksHow to set up a network between two computers?
First, sharing files:





Before giving any details I have to give you this warning: Share ONLY directories that really have to be shared. Remember that sharing a directory shares everything inside it, including other directories. Never share the root (\) of a drive because that opens up the entire drive to hackers.





Now the details. First, you have to share the directory. On the machine the directory resides on:





In Windows XP:





1.In Windows Explorer (My Computer) on the desktop machine, right-click on the drive and select Sharing and Security.


2.Click the Sharing tab.


3.Click the warning link to proceed to the sharing tab.


4.Click the Share This Folder On The Network checkbox.


5.Click OK.





In Windows Vista:





1.In Windows Explorer (Computer) on the desktop machine, right-click on the drive and select Share.


2.Two different paths now arise. If you created this directory, you should see a dialog box that says Choose People to Share With. If so


a.In the list box, select Everyone.


b.Click Add.


c.Click the Share button.


3.If instead you get a Properties dialog box,


a.Click Advanced Sharing.


b.Check Share This Folder.


4.Click OK.





Now it's available to be read from other machines on your network. On other XP machines:





1.Click on My Computer.


2.Click the Folders button to display folders in the left-hand pane.


3.Click My Network Places.


4.Click Entire Network.


5.Click Microsoft Windows Network.


6.Click your network.


7.Click the machine you shared the directory on.





On other Vista machines:





1.Click on Computer.


2.Click on Folders.


3.Click on Network.


4.Click the machine you shared the directory on.





Note: It may not show up here immediately, in fact, this has been the most frustrating part of sharing files or printers for me. Sometimes, restarting the machine with the directory seems to help this along.





If you expand the other machine's entry, you should now be able to see the directory in the list. You can click directly on it to open it, or you can go up to Tools-%26gt;Map network Drive and set up a link to the directory that comes up whenever you log in.





If the above steps don't work, you may have a firewall issue where a firewall rule is preventing Windows Printer and File Sharing.





Now about sharing printers:





XP machines should be able to simply Share the printer from the machine it鈥檚 attached to, this way:





1.Click the Start-%26gt;Control Panel menu item.


2.Click Printers and Other Hardware.


3.Click Printers and Faxes.


4.Click the printer in question.


5.Click the Printer-%26gt;Sharing menu item.


6.Click the Share radio button.


7.Give the printer a name.


8.Click OK.





If the machine with the printer has Windows XP and the other has Windows Vista, you have to do a bit more than that. Try this:





1.On the XP machine, set the printer to Sharing in the Printers and Faxes dialog box, as detailed above.


2.On the Vista machine, get to the Add A Printer dialog.


3.Click Add a local Printer. (Yes, I know it's not local. Trust me.)


4.Click the Create a new port radio button. Leave the type of port set to Local Port.


5.Click the Next button.


6.In the Port Name text box, enter the printer's name, complete with the other machine's name (e.g. \\Bob's Machine\Bob's Printer).


7.Click OK.





Hope that helps.