1. You wrote: "I've repeated the steps and I've sellected the second option 'connect with a device connected to Internet in the LAN' "
I have reread your post [sdp=91458]here[/sdp], and I follow your sequence.
As you note, the third panel is "Select a connection method.
Now, is this where you have selected the "second option"?
For me, the second option is "This computer connects to the Internet through a residential gateway or through another computer on my network."
If this is what you have, I'm not sure that it is correct.
What I suggested is to select the third option, which is "Other". Then the next panel is "Other Internet connection methods ...". Here the first (of three) options is "This computer connects to the Internet directly or through a network hub. Other computers on my network also connect to the Internet directly or through a hub." I think that this is what you want - for both computers. Compare the illustrations for both these options.
Anyway, at what point in the sequence is it that you receive the error message?
2. You raise a good question as to whether or not to reinstall XP before continuing.
Reinstall now - cleans up the system, getting rid of malicious programs, allows you to get the computer to the current level on a 'clean' system (including SP3?).
Reinstall later - if you can get file sharing to work, it is vastly easier, by using the network, to copy over to the other computer those files that need to be saved for later copying back.
You will have to weigh the advantages against the disadvantages for each.
3. But, setting aside all this, we will go on to Sharing.
To review: Old can see files on New. New cannot see files on Old.
But: network definition fails on Old, therefore processing didn't get to the point where Sharing is established. Is this reasonable?
It is not completely clear to which computer your printers are connected, but I think that they are on the Old computer. Is this correct?
To activate sharing for a
folder across computers, there are two things that must be done:
Select 'Share this folder'; and, authorize access by 'Everyone'.
(Just a comment here on a couple of Group names: 'Users' means 'all user log-ons on this computer'. 'Everyone' means 'all users on the network(s)'; it is a superset (includes) Users.)
How to establish sharing? This must be done with Administrative rights.
In Explorer, right-click on the folder desired. Click on 'Sharing and Security'.
On the 'Sharing' tab, select 'Shared', and fill in the name by which this folder is to be identified. (On our home computers the folder which I have set for sharing is the "Shared Documents" folder on each XP machine. The name that I use is just 'Shared'. These are differentiated by the computer names (which must be unique on the network).)
There is also a button on this panel labeled 'Permissions'. Click that, and set up the Group 'Everyone'.
Then, on tab 'Security, also set that 'Everyone' has authorization. You can profile what rights each group has - Full Control, Modify, Read & Execute, etc.
To activate sharing for a
printer across computers, again there are two things that must be done (these are similar to the procedure used for folders):
In the Printers and Faxes window, right-click on the printer icon and click on Sharing.
On the Sharing tab, turn on Sharing and give it a name.
On the Security tab, ensure that group Everyone is listed. And set the rights as desired.
After changing my sharing profiles I
sometimes find it necessary to reboot the 'other' (unchanged) computer. But sometimes not.
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