Adding a computer to a Home network

Hello guys

My situation, is that i have an XP and a Vista computer on a home network.
Can anybody tell me how to add a Third computer running windows 7.

A friend of mine linked them up a while ago, but this time i will print any instructions out for future freference.
I could go messing around, and have seen various ways of going about this, as people tell you to do different things, it probably all works the same in the end, but i would like just to follow some instructions and any advice that may be given......

So thats 2 computers already networked thats XP and Vista and just like to know How to network windows 7 with these two........

Windows 7 / home premium / 32 bit

Thanks for any replys in advance....

Cibertek said:

Carl606,
I would like to help, but I need to know a few more things about how your network is setup. You said "XP and a Vista computer on a home network", how do you have this setup? Are you using a router/switch? Did you setup Windows Networking and/or HomeGroups between the two machines? Are both machines in the same room and wired to the network or wireless?

If you already have a network, then just add the Windows 7 to the same "Workgroup" and you should be able to at least see the other machines from there.

The tricky part is sharing and then connecting to the other machines, especially connecting to the W7 box from XP.

If you can reply with some more info, I believe you will get an answer quickly.

cibertek
The Cibertek Blog

Sorry cibertek, yes the two computer;s already networked are wireless , connecting to a router..
Workgroup name is MSHOME, so i take it its MSHOME on the vista computer also.

So i would have to change this to MSHOME on the windows 7 computer.. if it does not have this name already, and then is it a matter of going to "to network and sharing center" to enable file and printer sharing.................

chev65 said:

These tutorials can help with that.
Sharing files and printers with different versions of Windows - Help & How-to - Microsoft Windows

Networking home computers running different versions of Windows

Thanks chev65, i'll just hang on to see what cibertek, come's back with...

I think you got it. As long as all the machines on the network are in the same "workgroup" they should be able to link to each other.

Check your firewall settings, especially on the W7 machine, to make sure File and Printer sharing is turned on.

Beware, If you share your printers, you may have some problems with drivers. You may still have to install drivers on the machine you need to print from. XP printer drivers dont always work on W7 machines... etc.

Cibertek said:

I think you got it. As long as all the machines on the network are in the same "workgroup" they should be able to link to each other.

Check your firewall settings, especially on the W7 machine, to make sure File and Printer sharing is turned on.

Beware, If you share your printers, you may have some problems with drivers. You may still have to install drivers on the machine you need to print from. XP printer drivers dont always work on W7 machines... etc.

Hello cibertek, Yes got it all sorted, the printer was a pain, just would not connect to the printer on XP, i had to try various methods until i found this one,i had also downloaded the drivers for the printer on XP, on the Windows 7 machine..(lexmark X1270 drivers windows 7 64 bit)
That was confusing also,
So great cibertek, thanks for your advice and for replying

("Stand alone" Network printers can be done slightly similarly BTW).

assume the computers are call XPMACHINE and W7MACHINE.

1) Ensure Printer on XP machine is shared - assume it's called SHAREDPRINTER.

2) On the Network Browsing on your Windows 7 machine ensure you can "See" the Printer share.

Now on the Windows 7 machine do the following (doesn't matter if it's X-86 or x-64).

3) Control Panel==> add LOCAL (Yes LOCAL) printer. I know it's on a Network but hold your horses -- what we are actually doing is "Poodlefaking" the Windows 7 machine into thinking it's running the printer.

4) Create NEW port==>Local port

5) Portname is \\XPMACHINE\SHAREDPRINTER

6) Now Windows 7 will load a driver and you'll be able to print on the XP machine.

Simple

(For a "Network stand alone printer") at 4) chose TCPIP port
and at 5) enter the [COLOR=#0072bc !important][COLOR=#0072bc !important]IP [COLOR=#0072bc !important]address[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR].


If the printer is on the Windows 7 machine and you want to print on the XP machine then do the same instructions on the XP machine --
port name in this case will be \\W7MACHINE\SHAREDPRINTER