Home wireless file sharing

trogdor · Jan 15, 2011

I feel like an idiot for having to ask this, but I can't figure out how to do something that must be pretty straightforward. StyleForum has always provided good answers to tech queries, so here goes...

I have both a desktop and a laptop connected to the same router (the former wired, the latter wireless). I have an external hard-drive connected to the desktop, and it contains all my music.

I want listen to that music, using my laptop, in other places around the house. So, how do I set this up?

I'm running XP on both machines, and the laptop is work-owned, so I can't change any of its setting (e.g., domain/workgroup).

But surely there must be a way (using folder sharing, IP addresses etc.) to share files between the machines, without having to install anything else, no? I don't need anything fancy -- I just want to be able to open my desktop's external HD, using my laptop.

spence · Jan 15, 2011

Create a share on the desktop and your laptop can probably see it.

nerdykarim · Jan 15, 2011

I would probably just do this: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2358

trogdor · Jan 16, 2011

Thanks guys, but...

Sharing stuff on the desktop doesn't seem to make it visible on the laptop (possibly because the laptop is a work machine and set to be part of the domain there, whilst the desktop is part of a home workgroup). So it's not as straightforward as the "Network Neighbourhood" route.

I don't use iTunes--I prefer Foobar--but in any case, that would only work if the machines were in the same network neighbourhood, which they're not (see above).

deadly7 · Jan 16, 2011

Unless WinXP has changed, you can't do this because of domain/workgroup incompatabilities. If you want a drive both machines can interact with, a network drive may be what you're looking for. There are premade options or you can always set up your own share using Linux/FreeBSD with the specifications you want. Somewhat steep learning curve to do the latter.

trogdor · Jan 16, 2011

Originally Posted by deadly7

Unless WinXP has changed, you can't do this because of domain/workgroup incompatabilities. If you want a drive both machines can interact with, a network drive may be what you're looking for. There are premade options or you can always set up your own share using Linux/FreeBSD with the specifications you want. Somewhat steep learning curve to do the latter.

I feared--but suspected--that this might be the case. Typical Windows (i.e., won't let me do something that ought to be fairly commonplace and straightforward), but as you say, the learning curve for other options might be a bit of a steep learning curve.

Maybe a VNC solution would work best? In which case, any recommendations?

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Home wireless file sharing

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