Advice on wireless networking

[trafficjam]

I would be pleased if someone can help me with the following:

I have a Dell Dimension pc which is about 3 years old with Windows XP 2002 with service pack 3, connected by Lan to a BT Home Hub 2.0.

I have just purchased a Samsung R510 Pentium Dual Core T3200 2 GB Notebook with Windows Vista Home Premium SP1.

I have read all information about wireless networking the two but am not certain of the order in which I connect the PC and Notebook via the Home Hub. Also, as I am not certain about home networking, when both are connected wirelessly to a Home Hub, will I be able to copy files between the two without going into windows to network the two together or do I have to network the two together first before connecting wirelessly?

I wish to move my PC  and printer (which is not wireless) upstairs where I do not have a telephone connection, so that I can use my laptop downstairs.  As I do not have wireless capability on my pc I have purchased a BT Voyager 1055 Wireless USB Adapter for my PC which will be upstairs.

What I wish to know is:

1. Do I connect the USB Adapter to my PC first, insert the disc and instal the Adapter with or without the Lan connection to the BT Home Hub, or do I connect the Notebook wirelessly to the BT Home Hub first?

What I am not sure is whether the Lan connection can be still connected to the Home Hub while using the Home Hub wirelessly at the same time whilst setting up the connections.

2. Does it make any difference using Windows XP on one computer and Windows Vista on another and are there any problems I may have when networking the two.

3. When all are connected wirelessly will I be able to use my laptop downstairs, access my pc and printer from my laptop downstairs to my pc and printer upstairs, or is their anything else I need to purchase to be able to do this?

I know this may be very simple for most people but I would like some advice before I start in case there is something I have overlooked.

I would be grateful for some advice from the techies on this forum, thanks.

[Grier78]

I think you are making it sound more complicated than it is. Just plug everything in and install the software and hey presto.

Getting multiple computers on the network to see each other and access each others files is a nightmare though, I have got it to work but it is very unstable. I now use a network drive that they can all see as a work around.

[trafficjam]

I think you are making it sound more complicated than it is. Just plug everything in and install the software and hey presto.

Getting multiple computers on the network to see each other and access each others files is a nightmare though, I have got it to work but it is very unstable. I now use a network drive that they can all see as a work around.

I agree I may be making it sound more complicated than it is but I am a mere 70 year old stupid woman. I know men just get on with it and see if it all works but I am very cautious, just like my poker!

[rex008]

First step is to get both talking to the internet. Doesn't matter what order. Both can do it at once. That way you know they're both connected to the hub. Doesn't matter which order you do it in, and doesn't matter if they're both connected at the same time, whether wired or wirelessly. The hub won't care.

Once they're both connected, you'll need to set them both to be in the same workgroup, so the windows can see each other. Search in the windows help to see how to do that. Doesn't matter what the workgroup is called, as long as they're both the same.

You need to make sure File and Printer sharing is turned on in both (windows help). In the Network and Sharing Center in Vista. Can't remember in XP.

Once you've done that, if you're very lucky, they might be able to see each other. Which version of XP is it? Home or Pro? The networking is different in each, IIRC.

[trafficjam]

Thanks Rex, my XP is Home Edition. I know this is very simple for most people but wanted to have some confirmation that it would all work.  Being an oldie I am very cautious.

[rex008]

You can't break anything. It may just Not Work. Certainly getting both together connected to the router (wired, wireless, whatever) should be pretty straightforward, they will be independent. It's the filesharing bit that's a bugger, especially with a mix of XP and Vista. I program computers for a living, and getting similar working at home took much googling even for me.

Get them connected, then come back for more if you need to .

One thing worth doing is making sure both machines are fully updated - once they're connected to the internet, use Windows Update to make sure all the latest patches/fixes are installed. Don't assume that because you've got a new laptop that it will be up to date - it almost certainly won't be.