Networking over two routers

This is my first time posting here and I could really use some help. I've searched all around the net for an answer to my problem but this seems to be the only place that could help me. I am running Windows 7 RC 7100 (of course) and I'm wanting to get a network setup between two computers over two routers. Here's my story:

I just moved in with two of my friends and we have 6 computers (3 laptops and 3 desktops) and we have 2 360s and 1 ps3. So needless to say my friends 5 port router wasn't enough for all the equipment so we decided to use my router with his. Now after a day of configuring we have it running smooth and playing games with no troubles but there is one problem we want to access media on the ps3 from all the computers. I can access my media from the ps3 no problem since I'm on the same router as it but I can't access my friend media because he is on the 2nd router.

We have two belkin routers the main one has my friends PC, his 360, his ps3, and my router connected to it. My router has the remaining two pcs and my ps3 connected to it. Does anyone have a solution to this problem? I have tried putting the systems on one work group but that failed. I also tried connecting to one homegroup but I can't detect his group and vice versa. If anyone could tell me how to set this up I would be grateful. My friend thinks it's might involve the routers DHCP but I'm not sure. Thanks for any help and sorry about the long post.

The routers should be operating on the same subnet. So, for example, if one router is 192.168.1.1, make the 2nd router's ip address 192.168.1.x and go from there.

You'd probably be best off if you assign static ips to everything and disable DHCP, but not particularly necessary.

torrentg said:

The routers should be operating on the same subnet. So, for example, if one router is 192.168.1.1, make the 2nd router's ip address 192.168.1.x and go from there.

You'd probably be best off if you assign static ips to everything and disable DHCP, but not particularly necessary.

So should I disable DHCP on both routers or just one?

Disable DHCP on both routers, make them on the same subnet, assign static ips to every device/computer and you should be good to go. That's how I'd do it.

So for example, when you assign static ips to each device, they all will be exactly the same except for the last part.

192.168.1.20
192.168.1.21
all devices should have 192.168.1 in common, including both routers
etc...

torrentg said:

Disable DHCP on both routers, make them on the same subnet, assign static ips to every device/computer and you should be good to go. That's how I'd do it.

So for example, when you assign static ips to each device, they all will be exactly the same except for the last part.

192.168.1.20
192.168.1.21
all devices should have 192.168.1 in common, including both routers
etc...

Ok I'll give that a try, thanks for the help.

static is best yes. but if you still want dhcp, for say wireless clients, you can setup the head router as dhcp server the 1.1, and turn it off on router #2, dhcp should still operate/function. If you want a little more safe feeling, enter the mac addresses of each adapter/device in the router mac "allow" table. If thats available, havent fired up a belkin router in a long while. From memory, i think they are pretty limited in the firmware department. Nevertheless, if wanted you can still run the dhcp as so. Just always have the gateway and dns as the 1.1, and same subnet for tcp/ip. Doesnt matter if you are connected to router #1 or #2. Router 1 will be still used as a "gateway/router" while the #2 will function as a "switch".

***DO NOT use the WAN port on router #2***

my guess is that you may be doing so, this is why you cant see the other side of the network. Using the Wan or uplink port may require you to setup a static route /table.