Networking hepl please plz plz plz?

i have an e machines cpu (desktop) has a printer connected to it and it is connected to the internet wirelessly and then i have a Compaq (desktop) and it connects wired and i enabled networking on the e machines and when i tried to on the Compaq it just froze and eventually said not responding it froze at the point when it ask does it connect directly or wirelessly and when i go to system and put my work group as 313971 and i do it on the e machines as well i cant find the computer what is my problem i am running xp on both what can i do to fix this problem i need to network for my printer for school!

Networking hepl please plz plz plz?
Dont use the computer name. USe the ipaddress for that machine.





If its 162.27.1.1 type \\162.27.1.1\ then you should see the printer to connect to. Double clikc it and cross your fingers because some printers work easily some dont.





Make sure the printer is shared.





On a workgroup network you wont see names properly because its just a workgroup.





It would also help if you setup your comptuers for static IP addresses.





http://www.cnet.com.au/desktops/pcs/0,23...





What you are doing takes a lot of patience. But with time you can get this working. Just keep reading.





This link is good for workgroup setups.





http://www.cnet.com.au/desktops/pcs/0,23...





THis link is good for setting up static ip addresses.





http://www.homenethelp.com/web/howto/sta...
Reply:Start at a lower level to verify things are working.





If these are windows computers try running ipconfig /all and make sure each has a similar IP address like 192.168.1.10 (machine one) and 192.168.1.11 (machine 2). If either has a 169.x.x.x type address it is setup for dhcp and not getting an address. It sounds like this is the problem on the compaq if it froze right after enabling the netwrok. Did it say "unable to retrieve address for adapter xxx, after it froze a couple minutes?


Once you figure out the ip addresses try to go to a cmd prompt and ping the remote computer "ping 192.168.1.11" if that doesn't work none of the higher level networking functions will work like file and printer sharing.





Verify the low level IP stuff first and get back on here and let us know.
Reply:Numbers are not good for workgroup, they should at least start with a letter, and are better to be all letters. Right click my computer and select properties then computer name. Set the workgroup to an all letter name. Set the computer names to simple words too. Set the exception for file and printer sharing in each firewall. I assume the wired machine is connected to one of the router lan ports. Right click your printer and any folders you want available and set them shared.