Networking two windows 7 computers together.

[tommy13t]

I have a Toshiba Satellite running Windows 7 home pre and a desk top running the same. I want to network the two together so I can share external Hard Drives and such.
I want to do this so the files can only be seen and or read by my two computers.
I have a room mate who is also running windows 7.
What can i do to make sure he dose not have access to my computers?

Both are connected to the internet VIA wireless connection. ( router in room mates room ) I have both computers connected together via a cross over cable also.

 

[cluberti]

What you want is called a "homegroup":
Home sweet homegroup: Networking the easy way in Windows 7

Only machines joined to the homegroup will have access to the files.

 

[tommy13t]

He has his computer on a homegroup. Also trying to make it so i use my crossover cable instead on my wireless connection.

 

[hjonesMCT]

Great question, Tommy, and welcome to 7F. You can create your own Homegroup, and your roommate won't be able to access your files, period. You can think of a Homegroup as an exclusive club-- just because you're a member of one doesn't mean you're a member of another. Each Homegroup is separate.

Now, because you guys are sharing wireless (I assume) you will have a problem because Win7 will detect there is a homegroup already configured on the network. You will need to configure it for your wired connection instead. Try disabling the wireless connection first, setting up your Homegroup (which has its own unique password, btw, that your roommate won't know) then connecting the wireless again. See if that works, and let us know?

Heather

 

[tommy13t]

No luck. thanks anyways.

 

[hjonesMCT]

Hey Tommy, can you explain what happened with your machine? When you try to join a Homegroup, do you get any type of error message?

Also, Homegroups require IPv6. Make sure that is enabled on both your machines.

 

[tommy13t]

Sorry for the delay. Nothing happend. When I disconnected from my home network on my laptop and desktop and created a group on one it would never give me the option to join one on the other.
I also tried a router between the two but no luck.

When i try to get stuff from one computer it will work and then wont work. Oh well. I dont know anything about this stuff so i dont know where to begin in diagnosing a problem.

 

[seavixen32]

Sorry for the delay. Nothing happend. When I disconnected from my home network on my laptop and desktop and created a group on one it would never give me the option to join one on the other.
I also tried a router between the two but no luck.

When i try to get stuff from one computer it will work and then wont work. Oh well. I dont know anything about this stuff so i dont know where to begin in diagnosing a problem.

Click Start/Help & Support and type setting up a homegroup in the search field and you should be presented with 30 or so help topics to start you off.