Error Messages and Confusion

[Mtnmike]

Okay I am at about my wits end with trying to get my main computer to share its files and printer via wireless network with the second computer that I have an Actiontec 54 mbps USB Adapter plugged into.

The installation of the wireless adapter went fine and the second Desktop is able to access the Internet through the Actiontec DSL router on my main computer via wireless. I can also see and access, from my primary computer, all files (ETC) on the second computer that has the USB Adapter.

The problem is I cannot see or access the main computer's files with the second computer that has the USB adapter. Also I cannot access the printer on the main computer via wireless from the second computer. Both computers have the share File and Printer sharing for Microsoft Networks box checked in connection properties, along with Clients for Microsoft Networks and Internet Protocol TCP/IP boxes.

When I try to tell the main computer (using My Computer C drive) to share all files for that drive the following error message is generated: :"An error occurred while trying to share C. The server service is not started. The shared resource was not created at this time."

When I try to tell the main computer to share its printer the following error message is generated: "Printer settings could not be saved. Operation could not be completed."

Both computers are desktop PC's. Both are running Windows XP (sp2) the main is XP Pro and the second is XP Home.

Any thoughts???? :confused: :mad:

[Mtnmike]

Went into "Adminstrative Tools" and changed server service to start and automatic. That corrected the error problem. However the inability to see or share printers or files from the second computer with the wireless adapter still exists.

I am about to give up. It seems to me that this should be a simple and not so complicated process. One should be able to install a wireless network adapter on one computer. Select share printers and files and voila it works. But NOOOO you damn near have to be an expert in this area to get this to work, and for a "networking novice" like myself it ain't going to happen without help that is not so technical in its offering but more understandable to the average person trying to do this.

I have been through the TCP/IP checklist and have gotten lost in the ternminology and where to look to make all these checks and changes. Anyone want to address this in layman's terms??:confused:

[Mtnmike]

Well surprise I now can share the printer. I enabled "Guest Account" in "User Accounts" on the main computer and went to the second computer with the wireless adapter, opened printers & faxes, selected "add a printer" and BINGO up pops my main computer's printer. Test print went fine. Don't know what I did right this time, but it is working.

PS: I am also able to see all shared files of the main computer on the second computer with the wireless adapter. Anyone have thoughts on what made this happen??? I am the curious type who when I stumble on to a solution I want to know what made the difference.

[Greenstead]

Enabling the guest account did not fix it.
It was starting the server service which fixed the problem. It can take time for the PCs to see each other so that would account for the delay.

[Mtnmike]

Thanks

Kind of what I thought.

[marco911]

Ok ..here is some help .. this prob happened to me and the only way I
found to solve it was to uninstall the "file and printer sharing" and
the "client for microsoft networks" then reinstalling it again. here are
the steps:
1. go to my network places,
2.press on view network connections
3.right click on local area connection and choose properties
4.mark on file and printer sharing for microsoft networks and press
uninstall, (will ask for restarting press no restart later)
5.mark on client for microsoft networks and press uninstall, (will ask
for restarting , this time press ok and restart the PC.)
6.after restarting and logging in go for the local area connection and
press right click and properties and press install.
7.choose services and press add then choose file and printer sharing
and press ok.
8.press install again and choose client then press add, choose client
for microsoft networks and press ok.
9.try to share your folders and hope it solves your problem.

hope it may help you and good luck :)