Question: Sharing XP Home DVD/CD with MBA

[reddirt14]

This is my first Mac and I haven't purchased the Superdrive yet. I've been searching Google and found a lot of "hits" on the general topic, but either it's using a different OS (slight difference in screens) or glances over the topic.

1. Can anyone recommend a good thread or site that details how to share a CD/DVD from a Windows XP (Home Edition) box over a home network (Linksys 4 port/wireless) to a MBA (new). The MBA successfully connects to the wireless router and I can access the internet. The Desktop (Windows XP box) successfully connects via RJ45.
   
   
2. Secondly if the above is fairly easy, I'd love to know how I can print from the MBA through the network connection to the PC. The printer is a Xerox WorkCentre M15 (it's a office grade machine which I had presumed works well in a shared environment.) The printer is connected to the PC via a USB connection. However I've ordered a Buffalo LinkStation (I think that's the name) which is a NAS box that has print sharing capabilities, so I could hook the printer up that way if necessary to use for both the PC & Mac.

Thanks for any help you guys can share. I apologize for my lack of knowledge. I really enjoy this Mac and I can see both using it more and more for my everyday work, as well as buying a larger machine for dedicated home use.

 

[oakie]

1. Remote Disc for Mac or Windows http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1777

2. print from Mac to a shared Windows printer: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3771 or here: http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20070916131935539

 

[reddirt14]

Thanks for the reference. I tried the instructions, installed the Remote CD or DVD software on my XP Box and I can see the Audio CD loaded in the XP box, through the Finder on my MBA. However I get the following message when I click on a track (file):

"The operation can’t be completed because the original item for “Audio CD” can’t be found."

Yet I can clearly see the file. It's quite odd. The CD doesn't spin up, so I'm not sure what is going on. Has anyone else experienced this. I don't think the CD/DVD sharing is nearly as easy as Apple makes it out to be. At this point I'd tell most people to spend the money and by Apple's external CD/DVD drive for the MBA (assuming you plan to get files from a CD/DVD).

Any other suggestions? Has anyone else ever shared a CD from an XP box (Service Pack 3) with their MBA (OS X 10.6)?

 

[reddirt14]

I think I'm making run to the Apple store today. I don't think Sharing an XP drive really works. It looks like it was an oversold concept.