Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

I am setting up a Dell laptop, as a spare in case this puppy goes belly-up, and also for some limited travel purposes.

I don't have a clue about how to get the 2 computers to talk to each other.

Both are connected to wifi. The laptop does not appear to see the PC.

The PC sees the laptop, but when I try to connect to it, I get the pop-up below

I have no idea what the "network credentials" are. I have tried my windows id and password from this PC. I have no login on here, just a pin. The laptop also has a pin, but no password. I have tried every combination of ID and password from these, but get the same error message. Oh, I have also tried it with the wifi password, but to no avail. Can anyone tell me what information it is asking for? I have never tried connecting 2 PCs through a network before, and I am stuck.

I have been able to copy some of the stuff I need by plugging in one of my backup drives and doing an internal copy, but this data is out of date, and doesn't help getting any new data across when needed.

I throw myself on the collective wisdom of the UHH experts!

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Try typing admin in both those boxes. That worked for me once a long time ago on an old system. Just something to try; I doubt it will work.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Basically what I do is go to the file source computer;
run Explorer;
go to a folder I want to share with the other two computers in the house;
select properties;
select sharing;
click share;
select advanced sharing;
give it a share name if blank (or change it);
add Everyone (our WIFI is PW protected so it's everyone on OUR network)Apply;
select permissions;
set desired read/write privileges;
apply.

This has to be done on all computers with each (top level) folder you want to share, not sub-folders.
We have two laptops and a desktop that can work with files on other computers.
If you don't share, each other user has to have an account on the other computer(s), that's what your pop-up is asking for.
Easier for me to set up sharing.

Be advised if you change/add the share name the privileges for THAT share name must be set separately.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Addendum:

On the computers, look under Network in Explorer on the left. The "permitted" folders on the other computers will be under the computer name.

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

Ok, thanks for the info. I will try these ideas out in the morning.

Incidentally, while I was trying to do this, I changed something under 'streaming services' or something (I can't find where it was at the moment), and it allowed me to stream music from the PC and play it on the laptop... I swear I am getting less and less technical as time goes on!

Thanks!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Sorry, can't help you there with that one.

I know what you mean. My first computer I knew both inside and out, down to the integrated circuit level.
With the introduction of Windows and the subsequent versions, I lost more and more control with each version.
I'm getting closer to being an end user now.

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

Yeah, I used to be a Unix system administrator, back in the day. These PCs are way more complicated these days!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

$grep -i "when did we loose control"

Hopefully you're using all Win 10/11 boxes. Win 7 (old desktop) sometimes didn't play nicely with our win 11 boxes.

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

Yeah, these are both Win10.

JBRIII

If you go to the network connections box (bottom right), you should see a "option for WiFi hotspot". When pressed it will allow your computer to be accessed by other devices. It will provide a I'd and password (network creds). You should be able to logon to this computer from another. It will show up in the same window/box as any other WiFi source.

Also just try connecting both to you network, but allow device to be seen by other devices on the network. It all depends on how a computer is setup.

If I did this often, my instructions would be much better.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

It's really a matter of file access privileges on the computers. Just getting into WIFI will not permit the access, but one does have to be connected to the WIFI to go further.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

It is a matter of permissions as you state. All my Win 10 and 11 machines have file/folder permissions limited to the logged in user unless you change them. The steps are to enable sharing on the folders you want to access, then set the permissions (to a specific user or everyone), and then map the remote computer folders or drive as a network drive. If you’re successful, the shared drives will show up as a drive letter in file explorer. This used to be much easier before Microsoft killed homegroups from the latest releases.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I haven't explicitly "mapped" the drives as network drives.
Once shared with privileges they show up in Explorer under Network Locations.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

You can do it either way - I like to map them so they show up as a drive letter - personal choice.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Ahh.
I inferred that one had to map them to get them to show up on other computers.