I have been trying to setup a home/office network. I have followed so many setups that I lost track. This is some of the software and hardware.
Toshiba laptop , gateway desktop, on hp psc 2210 all in one printer, a linksys router and a motorola cable modem. Both pc with windows xp pro, both have norton personal firewall and antivirus. The only thing I can do so far is share a internet connection from the laptop wirelessly. I would like to be able to connect to my home computer from work and from work to my home computer and share a single printer when I'm at home.
Please keep in mind that I'm new to computers and please any responses keep it as simple as possible.


Thank You

Here are a couple general guides to browse:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...g/default.mspx

http://www.networkingtutorials.net/

For the Office / Home link I believe you need software similar to the following:

https://www.gotomypc.com/en_US/entry...9C9E2E99539095

Someone with more Network knowhow should be about shortly.

I have tried must of these setups but nothing as worked so far. Can someone help me with the setup from begining to end. considering what I have for hardware and software. I'm afraid I'm missing some kind of setting on either the router or somewhere else ?????

As far as I know.. (some correct me if I am wrong) You cannot access your home computer from work unless you have some type of remote agent installed (as jephree posted).

To install a printer on a computer that is not connected to the printer, try:
Open the Printers Folder (Start > Printers and Faxes)
Click "Add a Printer"
Select "A network printer, or a printer attached to another computer"
Browse for a Printer
Look for the name of the computer that the printer is hooked up to, and left click until you see "PRINTER" or the name of the printer you wish you install to the laptop.

You SHOULD see the printer that you wish to share.

Originally Posted by Shayliz

As far as I know.. (some correct me if I am wrong) You cannot access your home computer from work unless you have some type of remote agent installed (as jephree posted).

Correct. Windows XP has its own remote access "service" called Remote Desktop Connection:

Start Menu > All Programs > Accessories > Communication > Remote Desktop Connection.

If that doesn't give you what you need, you'll want to use something like VNC or Symantec's PCAnywhere. But, in any case, you'll also need to configure your firewall / router to allow incoming communications from your work PC ... and back out again.

P.S. Why do we get so many people on here that are "new to computers" who are trying to set up complicated home networks? Who is it that's going round telling everyone it's easy?!!

You might be right about your opinion on newbies, but the question wasn't asked directly at you so why did you bother.
I was just looking to help on something I didn't know, it's not like I need this setup but I got interested in computers about a year ago and I think everythink about computer is amazing. That's all.
Anyways thanks for your help.

Sorry, I didn't mean to cause offense

It was just an observation that most people agree home networking is really hard to get right and it normally results in a problem that has a complicated and in-depth resolution. Yet it seems to be at the top of EVERYONE'S "To Do" list at the moment! I believed the hype myself and tried to network up Windows XP and 2000 using the XP networking wizard and just couldn't get it to work properly at all. I've done it before on Windows 98 (without any wizards) and that seemed easier but only with an in-depth knowledge of networking.

I'm a network / systems manager at work and, in an office, networking IS easy. But home networks work differently and they're normally much more temperamental.

Good luck with it though - you should be pretty pleased with yourself if you get it all running how you want it

....and Shayliz is spot on with his instructions for connecting to a printer that's plugged into a different machine but remember that you'll only be able to browse for printers that are already shared. Once your network is running properly, you'll be able to right-click on the printer (on the PC/laptop that it is attached to) and there will be a "Sharing" option so you'll need to configure that first

Originally Posted by DJNafey

....and Shayliz is spot on with his instructions for connecting to a printer that's plugged into a different machine but remember that you'll only be able to browse for printers that are already shared. Once your network is running properly, you'll be able to right-click on the printer (on the PC/laptop that it is attached to) and there will be a "Sharing" option so you'll need to configure that first

* her instructions
Why do people always assume someone who knows a thing or two about computers must be a male?

Just poking fun after your newbie networking comment.