network config messed up......need advice

[kdhl23]

This is the original setup. Dial-up ISP running to router. Router directly connected to desktop. Laptop running wirelessly to router. Printer directly connected to desktop. Print and file sharing had absolutely no problems. Full access between all machines. Both computers are running Windows XP.

NOW... upgraded to satellite ISP. Network not seeing each other in "my network places", but can see each other if each IP address is typed in to explorer bar. No access to files this way, tho eventho the sharing options are still correct.

Mapped drives to both computers to provide access to both, but problem lies with printer. There needs to be access to printer via wireless laptop. Thought about mapping but something tells me that wouldn't work, and I have never mapped a printer before, only network drives. (Incidentally, the actual drive C: that was mapped shows but doesn't allow access but the my documents mapping works like a charm....??)

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Ned this fixed ASAP....

[ilanp]

On each machine, right click My Computer, go to Properties, give the machines different names and set them to the same workgroup. Also run the network setup wizard, and reboot the machines. This commonly fixes the problem with My Network Places and PCs showing up. The router's assigned DHCP addresses should be as if each machine is on the same subnet.. eg; 192.168.0.1, 192.168.0.2, etc.

As far as the printer, is it a network printer? once you plug an ethernet cable in and it aquires an IP address; you can add the printer to any machine, even wireless, by adding TCP/IP Port (printers IP) and viola.

It should work well

Goodluck

[kdhl23]

I have gone thru all the wizards on both machines and given each a seperate name. I can open the explorer bar and type in the IP address of the other machine and the name comes up and shows to be on the same network as the current one. In the folder view, they are both listed under the same workgroup, but not in my network places...
The printer.... that is usually plugged into the desktop and accessed via the shares... meaning we have to have hte desktop on to print fromt he laptop... which was never a problem.....
Any further advice?