I am having problems setting up my home network. I am using a linksys router and had no problem hooking it up so both computers now have internet access. The problem I am having is sharing files and a printer. I used the network setup wizard and shared the files I wanted. The problem is the Windows welcome screen that pops up when I restart the computer. Before when it popped up I just hit cancel and it was fine, but now that I setup the network it tells me that without logging in I won't be able to use certain aspects of the network. Now when I go to find the other computers on the network it can't find them. I pretty sure that the problem has to do with not logging in.
I would greatly appreciate a way to get around this or any other recomendations on how to get it to work.

what OS?

and try to look for powertoys within MS site...there is a feature that makes your PC log in automatically....

i'm assuming you're using win98SE or so...you can just set your password to blank and then just hit enter instead of cancel?

Yeah, tell us which version of Windows is on each computer. And which one is giving you the login trouble. I had 2 Windows 98 puters on my linksys LAN and it worked fine. Now, one is Win2000. Both puters can access the internet, but no longer can see each others files/hard drives. It has to do with domain login on the Win2K computer and just became too hard. Now I email files back and forth, but I'd rather have direct file access.

most of the time, make the folder shared and type in teh IP of the PC as follow

works all the time....IP does it all the time...

\\ip address\share folder$

I am running Windows ME, and I just set my password blank and always log in. I can see the other computers on the network (one is running XP) with np. I am using the Lynksys router with 8(?) ports, maybe 5, can't remember

I will say that running file/print sharing between say WinXP and Win98SE is a major pain in the ass! If that is what you are using, good luck.

Some general points - ensure the Network settings for both show the same workgroup name, but different computer names. Even if the sharing is not set up right, you should still see the other computer in Network Neighborhood (assuming this is a Win machine). Once you get that working, you can start troubleshooting the sharing. Make sure you don't have anything funky checked in your TCP/IP or Ethernet card settings, such as Log on to NT domain, or anything odd like that. Give us some more details, and maybe we can help more.

B-Nez is right. Internet Connection Sharing and File/Print Sharing on a Win98 and/or WinME OS can be a pain. But there's hope.

Your most likely problem is not setting up the Internet Connection Sharing correctly (in the right order) on your "server/host" machine. It's very critical in what order you configure your workstations. Sounds like this solves only your internet connection sharing, but it also effects your print and file sharing if it is done wrong thus preventing your client machines from connecting properly to your network.

I ran into the same type of problems on my home computer several years ago when I ran Win98SE. And I do this for a living.

Here are three very good links on that will most likely solve your problem.

Setting up Internet Connection Sharing (Windows 98) (http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/ics_98)

Networking Basics: File Sharing and Security (http://computer.howstuffworks.com/home-network3.htm)

Be patient, take your time and you'll get through it.

Or you could do what I would do in this situation - upgrade your OS to XP. It is a network happy OS. Much easier to set up TCP/IP and is a much more stable OS.

Good luck.

..Mark, MCSE + I, MCP
Systems Engineer

Originally posted by RX-8 Zoomster
Or you could do what I would do in this situation - upgrade your OS to XP. It is a network happy OS. Much easier to set up TCP/IP and is a much more stable OS.
LOL. I did just that on Monday - did a clean install of XP on the wife's machine. My life is so much easier now!

Also, cueball, if you're running from cable -> router -> PCs, once you get your problem solved you should consider binding (forcing) file sharing over IPX rather than TCP/IP. This will make your systems much more secure from outside intrusion. We can give you details for that after your present condition is resolved.

Thanks for the help. I don't have time to try everything right now becuase of school, but I will when I get home.
For those wondering what OS i am using: they are Win 98 on one and ME on the other. I might just upgrade them to XP for more ease of use.