network question

[colm_mcm]

I'm sure the answer for this is in google, but maybe someone here can answer this:

We have 2 laptops and a desktop in the house, would it be possible to store lots of music etc. on the desktop so that it can be accessed by the 2 laptops using Media Ceter/Media player etc? and share files between all 3 computers if necessary.

We have a wireless router, PC is XP, one laptop is XP and the other is Vista.

[Muad_dib77]

yup ..

Check this out..

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/window ... r/faq.aspx

or if you're not a fan of those lads..

http://www.twonkyvision.de/

and here's the one I use..

http://tversity.com/

my setup differs from yours - but the tversity actually sets up a simple webinterface for you that you can access through your browser and any of the machines...

keep in mind that if you have a large media reservoir it will take a bit of time for the application to create the database it uses to reference the files across the network..

Enjoy.. I know I am.

[colm_mcm]

Great stuff, J. will have a look.

[gfalls]

Get yourself a NAS Drive (Network Attached Storage) Connect it to your modem using RJ45 cable. All your PC,s will be able to pick it up. Store anything on it and everybody can share. You'll also be able to configure it so you can access it from any PC anywhere in the world...COOL...

[JD]

Our setup at home is just like yours colm, Desktop connected to wirelss router, laptops and PC's around the house, access the web wirelessly through the router. Mixture of XP and Vista.

I just set up file sharing on the main desktop and each of the others, set up a shared directory on desktop PC, put all my music (and whatever else you want to share) into that directory and any of us can access and play all of the music from any of the other PC's or laptops through the wireless router, e.g. can play music from the shared drive on another desktop or laptop. Same with the printer attached to the desktop, can print to it from any of the other computers.

Its a simple a free solution for what I think you are trying to do, unless I misread your post.

Cheers
JD

[Muad_dib77]

both Gfalls and JDs suggestions are good..

really depends - are you looking to share files or are you looking to stream media.

There's nothing wrong with doing both

[stevec]

I did exactly this over Christmas so I could play play music from the desktop pc on the stereo in the living room via a laptop.

The only hardship was getting Norton to allow the incoming link on the desktop without turning off the firewall on it.

[colm_mcm]

I also have a Philips Streamium box that connects to your wireless networks and plugs into the Hifi, lost the instructions, will hopefully get it all working soon!

[Muad_dib77]

I also have a Philips Streamium box that connects to your wireless networks and plugs into the Hifi, lost the instructions, will hopefully get it all working soon!

Have one of those yokes as well... dead handy once you have it setup..

mine is the sl300i, an older version - for some reason when you set it up wirelessly you have to input the hex version of the keys..

once it's up and running its fairly sweet though..

oh - and I wouldnt bother with the Philips software, it's fairly cr.p..

[colm_mcm]

I had it up and running in my old gaff in Dublin. it's a nice bit of kit, the screen is a bit too small, but I mainly used it for internet radio.