How do I set up a network in my house, with file sharing?

[seenew]

Hi,
I know this sounds stupid, but I've got a wireless router thats supplying internet to my iMac in my bedroom, my mom's PC laptop in her room, and the family eMac is physically connected to the router via ethernet. When my older sister is home, her PC in her room picks up the wifi signal as well. Oh, and there is an older G3 iMac also physically connected to the router via ethernet routed through the wall, into the attic, and down again into my parent's room.

So, my dad wants me to set up a network so that all the computers can share files, you know, like just have a specific folder on each computer that is accessible to everyone on the network. Also, he wants to be able to use any of the three printers in the house from each of the computers (specifically my mom's PC laptop).

I assume I have all the hardware/software needed, but how do I set this up?
I'll settle for networking the three Macs, first. All of them have OS X.

Help?

 

[yojitani]

Hi,
I know this sounds stupid, but I've got a wireless router thats supplying internet to my iMac in my bedroom, my mom's PC laptop in her room, and the family eMac is physically connected to the router via ethernet. When my older sister is home, her PC in her room picks up the wifi signal as well. Oh, and there is an older G3 iMac also physically connected to the router via ethernet routed through the wall, into the attic, and down again into my parent's room.

So, my dad wants me to set up a network so that all the computers can share files, you know, like just have a specific folder on each computer that is accessible to everyone on the network. Also, he wants to be able to use any of the three printers in the house from each of the computers (specifically my mom's PC laptop).

I assume I have all the hardware/software needed, but how do I set this up?
I'll settle for networking the three Macs, first. All of them have OS X.

Help?

Instead of guide you through it, I would suggest checking The Mac OSX Missing Manual or, if you don't have one of those around, do a quick google search. That would save us from typing!!

The good news is that it's damn easy with the macs - the bad news is that windows XP is just not prepared to interact with computers easily. It can be done, but usually requires a bit of fiddling with XP - especially if you use the built in firewall in SP2. Sigh. I've heard that Vista is a vast improvement networking-wise.

Oh, you ought to check your router's documentation too.

yt

 

[mad jew]

Okay, on the Macs go to the Sharing pane of System Preferences and under the Services tab, make sure Personal File Sharing, Windows Sharing and Printer Sharing are checked. You may need to then restart your machines although in theory this won't be necessary.

The PC, as the wise yojitani said, is slightly more difficult. Maybe follow our guide for networking with Windows. It looks more difficult than it is. Good luck.

 

[seenew]

Thanks for the help, I'll give it a shot in the morning!

 

[Jordan6]

Okay, on the Macs go to the Sharing pane of System Preferences and under the Services tab, make sure Personal File Sharing, Windows Sharing and Printer Sharing are checked. You may need to then restart your machines although in theory this won't be necessary.

The PC, as the wise yojitani said, is slightly more difficult. Maybe follow our guide for networking with Windows. It looks more difficult than it is. Good luck.

Yeah, mad jew showed me that guide before and it worked easily, especially if you have a lil idea on what's going on but it definitely looks more difficult then it really is.a lil patience and you good.