hi, I have a Linksys WRT54GS router connected to my laptop and PC. My laptop is connected wirelessly using a Linksys WPC54G notebook adapter. My PC is connected to one of the ports of the router using an ethernet cable. Both are connected to the internet. (NTL Cable modem 10mbit) How do I get file sharing to work?, both have the same workgroup name a network has been setup but I cant see the files on either PC. And I'm using Zone Alarm Security Suite (latest edition) Both PC's have Windows XP Pro SP2. Any ideas out there? thanks amit

You have enable file sharing in WindowsXP. You can right click on a folder you want to share and go to the sharing tab and enable sharing--WinXP will lead you through the sharing wizard. Then you will be able to browse the network and share files...

Also, be aware that your router already has a built-in hardware firewall, so any additional firewalls like the WindowsXP firewall and the ZoneAlarm can cause problems in sharing files. You should turn off firewalls on your computers. You want to be protected from the outside, not computer to computer. Also be sure to turn on WEP in your wireless router if you live in an area where there are people who can connect to you and you don't want them to. If you do want them to connect, then you should have firewalls on your PCs--because once they connect to your router they will be able to get into your computers too if you share files... I'm sure there are people here who can give the details on this issue better than me.

Some routers have a check box from bridging wired to wireless in the router. Make sure yours is checked. Next ping between the two. Can you ping successfully? If not check/disable any and all firewalls. Now are you successful? Once you can ping then see if you can browse to the file shares. Post back your results Give a person a fish, they eat for a day. Suggest they internet search and they learn a skill for a lifetime.

Also be sure to turn on WEP in your wireless router if you live in an area where there are people who can connect to you and you don't want them to. Don't use WEP. It's so insecure, anyone can crack you WEP Key with little effort. Instead use WPA or WPA2. When creating a key make sure to make it 128 bits and not a word or phrase that can be found in a dictionary. The WPA cracks that I have seen only attempt a dictionary attack, so creating a long and alpha-numeric key will defeat those tools. Fed up with Windows? Try Ubuntu Linux