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fillmeup · Apr 10, 2005, 11:31 PM

Anybody know how to connect a Mac running 10.3.8 to a Laptop with a wireless internet connection running windows XP home SP2 using FireWire?
I would like to access file sharing and printer sharing between the two. Both already are connected to the internet through a Wireless-G Cable Gateway (the Mac using an Ethernet cable).

Turned out to be a breeze to get the PC to connect and get access to the Mac. I am haveing no luck at all getting the Mac to gain access to the PC.

I found an article on Mac OS Hints.com which got the PC to log onto the Mac, but not the other way around.

Any ideas?
I would rather use firewire because I'm already using the ethernet plug for the internet.

fillmeup · Apr 24, 2005, 02:36 PM

As usual this is more of a PC problem then a Mac problem.

I finally figured out that I needed to do was enable "Incoming connections" which then showed up in my Network Connections window. I then had to build a "Network Bridge" between my active "Local Area Connection" and my "1394 Connection (FireWire)" connection. Then the Windows machine showed up in the Network Servers window of my Mac and I was able to access my Shared folder. You can set other folders to share on the PC too, and even share the entire C drive through the properties setting of each. Now I have my laptop on a wireless internet connection, my Mac on a wired internet connection and a VERY fast firewire connection between the two machines. About 4 times faster than the ethernet connection offered. I figured this all out by just accessing the Help files on the PC. Nothing on the internet gave the answers.

I would be glad to give further details if anyone else is interested.

ghporter · Apr 24, 2005, 03:52 PM

Yeah, the "network bridge" thing in Windows is a problem. And it's more of a problem because users can accidentally bridge the wrong things and wind up with NO connectivity! As you did, careful reading of the help files for this subject on the PC is a must. Too bad so many of us are in too much of a hurry to bother doing that.

Keep your eyes on this forum, and if someone else posts that they're trying to do the same thing, please provide any help you can. That's what community is all about!

larkost · Apr 24, 2005, 04:16 PM

Thinking of FireWire as a valid solution for networking is a bad idea. It interacts with TCP/IP very badly. You already have them both on the same network through the router... just use that.

fillmeup · Apr 25, 2005, 07:10 AM

I'll admit that I have yet to try to connect the two through this new router. I heard about the idea of using FireWire and and information that was provided only worked by giving the PC access to the Mac. It stuck with me and I HAD to solve the problem of the Mac accessing the PC. I don't use the connection that often, but when I do it works wonderfully. Very fast. Great for moving large files. Even the small ones almost act like they are already on the other comp. I'll keep my eyes open for any problems that arise from this connection. None yet.

I will be more than glad to assist anyone else that wants it. I was acctually waiting for a day off of work to sit down and write - in detail - the steps needed to make this work. Never found it anywhere else on the web. Seems fitting that MacNN would now be the only source.

an0therdumbsn · May 2, 2005, 01:31 PM

I am having alot of troubles trying to connect my pc (windows xp sp2) to my mac (pb 10.4).
I have done it before and it worked fine, now i just cant seem to do it, even after walking through some of these online tutorials.
very frustrating.

an0therdumbsn · May 2, 2005, 01:35 PM

i can see my pc in the network section of my powerbook but when i try to connect it asks me to enter my pc password, after that it says "the alias "danny" could not be found....."
any help on how to fix, work around this?
im directly connecting via ethernet btw

ghporter · May 2, 2005, 04:34 PM

I keep having that problem with connecting as well. You need to enter the name of the computer first. Say you've named your computer "Bob's Book." Its name is bobsbook as far as the network goes. You may need to look at System Profiler to remind yourself of the name you gave the computer. Anyway, the Windows machine will find the computer on the network-it probably will take a few refreshes of "My Network Places" for it to do so. You also have to have Sharing turned on for at least some folder on the Mac for the Windows machine to see it. Once you connect to the computer, then you can connect to your profile.

fillmeup · May 5, 2005, 03:03 AM

Make sure your on the same workgroup.

Utilities/Directory Access/SMB

nesika41 · May 18, 2005, 10:44 AM

Hoping you've had the time to write up the FW PC to Mac instructions. I've just gotten a pc (for AutoCAD, mainly), and am hesitant to connect it to the web. But would like to exchange compatible files (mp3, pdf, etc) between the two. pc is running xp pro; mac is running 10.3.8.

Jim
Ashland, OR