Part III ✦ Working with Networked Computers
Figure 14-9: Use the My Computer window to view and access networked computers. On the other hand, you can access the Network Neighborhood or My Network Places from
the drop-down list, shown in Figure 14-10. Clicking the Network Neighborhood or My Network Places in the list displays the entire network.
Chapter 14 ✦ Finding Computers on the Network
Figure 14-10: Choose the Network Neighborhood from the address bar. When you choose the Network Neighborhood or My Network Places from the My Computer
window, you’re actually changing from the My Computer applet to the Network Neighborhood or My Network Places applet. All active computers appear, as shown in Figure 14-11.
Part III ✦ Working with Networked Computers
Figure 14-11: My Network Places offers a different view of the networked computers. For more information about working in the Network Neighborhood or My Network Places, see
the section “Using the Network Neighborhood or My Network Places” later in this chapter.
Working with the networked computer
When you open a networked computer in My Computer, you can perform any task on that computer’s files and folders that you can on your local computer. Again, however, you must
have Share access.
Opening files and folders
You might want to open and view shared folders. If you do, simply double-click the folder. You can even double-click a file to open it plus the application in which it was created. If you open
a Word document from a networked computer, for example, your copy of Word opens along with the document from the other computer. The program itself doesn’t open across the net-
work. Of course, in order to open the Word document, you must have Word installed on your computer. The same is true for any file you want to open; you must have the program in
which the file was created installed to your computer.
Finding files
You also can find a specific file on the networked computer by using the Find Files dialog box. In the My Computer window, first select a folder. Then choose File ➪ Find. The Find dialog box
appears. Type the name of the file, text it contains, the date it was created, or other similar criteria.
Chapter 14 ✦ Finding Computers on the Network
In Windows XP, you choose Start ➪ Search ➪ For Files or Folders. In the Search Results dialog box, you choose what you want to search for: pictures, music, documents, all files and fold-
ers, and so on, as shown in Figure 14-12.
Figure 14-12: Find all files and folders on another computer. In Windows 98, for example, you can type a filename or text that might be contained within
the file. To search on another computer on the network, click the Browse button. The Browse for Folder dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 14-13. Click the computer you want to
search.
Figure 14-13: Find a file, folder, or specific text on a networked computer.
Part III ✦ Working with Networked Computers
In Windows XP, you can use the Search command similarly. Click Start ➪ Search ➪ For Files or Folders. The Search Results dialog box appears. Click All Files and Folders. You can maximize
the Search Results dialog box to better see the search criteria, as shown in Figure 14-14. Type all or part of the filename and text that appears in the file, or choose other options in
the Search Results dialog box. In the Look In drop-down list box, click Browse. The Browse for Folder dialog box appears. Click My Network Places and select the share in the list, as
shown in Figure 14-15.
With Windows 2000 and XP, check the shares carefully, because a computer doesn’t show up with a computer-shaped icon, as it does in Windows 98. Computers look like folders, just as
other folders do, but computer folders might be labeled something like C on Molly, for exam- ple, so that the entire drive is shared on Molly.
Figure 14-14: Locate a file on the network from Windows XP.
Note
Chapter 14 ✦ Finding Computers on the Network
Figure 14-15: Search a share in Windows XP.
Mapping drives and creating shortcuts
In My Computer, you can create a couple of shortcuts for getting to networked files and fold- ers quickly, and as is explained in Chapter 13, you can also map network drives. When you
map a drive, you can either type the path to the networked computer or go to the folder you want to map and create the connection that way.
After you open the networked computer in the My Computer window, select the folder you want to map to and then choose Tools ➪ Map Network Drive. Figure 14-16 illustrates the
resulting dialog box in Windows XP. Also, you can map to only a drive and one folder level; the command isn’t available after you open a folder on the network drive in Windows 98.
However, you can map subfolders in Windows 2000 and XP.
Figure 14-16: Map a drive after you locate the path and folder.
Part III ✦ Working with Networked Computers
After you map the drive, the mapped icon appears in your My Computer window on the local computer.
You can create a shortcut to any folder or file on the networked computer. Simply right-click the file or folder and then choose Create Shortcut. Windows notifies you that it will place the
shortcut on your desktop. The shortcut appears on the local machine. Anytime you want to connect, you simply double-click the shortcut.
Deleting and renaming
You can delete or rename files and folders on a networked computer, although you should be careful with these tasks, especially if the files belong to someone else. It could be disconcert-
ing to try to find a file that was renamed or deleted. Make sure that you ask permission, or at least notify the owner of the files or folders, before you rename or delete files and folders.
To rename or delete a file or folder, select it in the My Computer window. Choose File and then either Delete or Rename.
Moving or copying
You can move or copy a file or folder by using the My Computer window. If you move the file or folder, make sure that you let the owner know. You move files by cutting and pasting; you
copy by copying and pasting, just as you would any file or folder on your local computer.
Windows 2000 and XP are more secure than Windows 98, so deleting, renaming, and mov- ing files and folders over the network might not be as easy as you think. If you have trouble
performing these tasks, talk to the computer user to see what permissions he or she has set. You might take a look at Windows XP Annoyances by David A. Karp O’Reilly Associates
2002. This is an excellent book for explaining not only Windows XP permissions but also other XP puzzles.
Using the Windows Explorer
You can perform all of the tasks with the Windows Explorer that you can with My Computer, but the Windows Explorer broadens the view of your computer and of the network. The
Windows Explorer window is divided into two panes — drives and folders in the left pane, and folders, subfolders, and files in the right pane.
In addition to viewing your computer’s drives and folders, you can see the entire network, as shown in Figure 14-17. In the left pane, you click either Network Neighborhood or My Network
Places to view the shares on the network. In the right pane, you see the same shares, listed in a different way. Some shares are folders; others are computers. You don’t know unless you’re
familiar with the network or you click on the share to see what it contains.
Copying and moving files
The way the Windows Explorer displays computers, drives, folders, and files makes it easier for you to copy or move files from a networked computer to your own or vice versa.
Note Tip
Chapter 14 ✦ Finding Computers on the Network
Figure 14-17: View the entire network. Suppose that you want to move or copy a file from one computer to another. You can open
both computers to display their folders in the left pane, copy or cut the file in the right pane, and then scroll the left window to locate the folder to which you want to paste the file.
Figure 14-18 shows the network path \\Molly\d\MP3 in the address bar. Its contents are on the right. In the left pane, you scroll up to My Computer and you can easily copy a file or
folder on the right by dragging it to the hard drive or a folder on the left.
Performing other network tasks
You can perform other networking tasks in the Windows Explorer. In addition to deleting and renaming files and folders on your own computer or on a network computer, you can create
shortcuts. You also can view file, folder, and drive properties, and you can share objects in the Windows Explorer.
Just as with My Computer, you can find files, folders, and computers quickly. You also can map and disconnect mapped network drives. The difference with the Windows Explorer is
that these commands are found in the Tools menu instead of the File menu. The procedures work the same, however.
You can enter network addresses in the address bar, or you can locate computers in the left window pane of the Windows Explorer. And just as with My Computer, you can choose the
Network Neighborhood from the drop-down address bar list.
Part III ✦ Working with Networked Computers
Figure 14-18: Copy and move files quickly from one computer to another.
Using the Network Neighborhood or My Network Places
The Network Neighborhood and My Network Places are the Windows applets designed specif- ically for working with networked computers, folders, and other resources. When you first
open the Network Neighborhood or My Network Places, all connected computers appear on- screen, as shown in Figure 14-19. You don’t have to enter an address or double-click icons to
get to the network.
The Network Neighborhood and My Network Places include all the features and tools that My Computer and the Windows Explorer include. You can create shortcuts, as well as rename
and delete files and folders you view in the Network Neighborhood and My Network Places. You can cut or copy files and folders from one networked computer and paste them to
another. You also can map drives, disconnect mapped drives, and find files, folders, and com- puters from the Network Neighborhood and My Network Places.
Because the applet is meant to work with the network, you also can perform other tasks in the Network Neighborhood and My Network Places. To open the Network Neighborhood or
My Network Places, double-click the icon on the desktop.
If you right-click the Network Neighborhood icon on the desktop and choose Properties from the quick menu, the Network dialog box appears. You can install and configure networking
software components — such as protocols, clients, and adapters — in the Network dialog box.
Tip
Chapter 14 ✦ Finding Computers on the Network
Figure 14-19: Open the Network Neighborhood or My Network Places to view all computers that are online.
Using the entire network
The Network Neighborhood and My Network Places display the computers in your work- group plus an Entire Network icon. Your workgroup includes any computers in a workgroup
network. Your workgroup also includes any Windows computers in the same domain as your computer. You find domains with clientserver networks such as Novell NetWare and
Windows 2000 Server.
A domain is a larger “workgroup” of sorts; the domain consists of a group of clients attached to a server. Those Windows computers also can see each other on their network, depending
on the network configuration. A similar situation also can occur with a NetWare network: Windows 98 computers may be able to see each other in addition to the server.
That’s where the Entire Network icon in the Network Neighborhood comes in for Windows 98 users. If you’re a member of a workgroup and a member of a larger domain or clientserver
network, you can view the larger network members in the Entire Network. Figure 14-20 shows the Opinions domain on a Windows 2000 server that appears after double-
clicking the Entire Network. When you double-click the Opinions Domain icon, you see the com- puters and server that are members of that domain.
Part III ✦ Working with Networked Computers
Figure 14-20: View the Entire Network. Figure 14-21 shows the computers on the Opinions domain. Humble is the Windows 2000
server.
Figure 14-21: View the computers on a specific domain.
Chapter 14 ✦ Finding Computers on the Network
The Entire Network icon in Windows 2000 and XP is a bit different. It doesn’t show up when you open My Network Places. Instead, all connections — servers, workgroup, folders, mapped
drives, and any other shares — show up when you open My Network Places. You do see the Entire Network in the Windows Explorer, and when you open the icon, you see other network-
ing services, such as the Web Client Network, Microsoft Windows Network, a Terminal Services network, if you’ve added one, and so on. You will not likely use or need the Entire Network icon
in Windows 2000 or XP. For more information, see your Windows 2000 or XP documentation.
Finding resources in the Network Neighborhood
Windows 98 can often have problems with networking that make it difficult to include in your network. One major problem is using the Network Neighborhood to browse the network;
sometimes it doesn’t work. If no computer on your local area network is specified as a browse master, you can have trouble seeing your network computers in the Network Neighborhood.
You can often fix this problem by following these steps:
1. Click Start ➪ Settings ➪ Control Panel. The Control Panel opens. 2. Double-click Network. The Network dialog box appears.
3. Click File and printer sharing and then click Properties. 4. In the Property box, click Browse Master. In the Value box, click Enabled.
5. Click OK and OK again. 6. Click Yes when prompted to restart your computer.
If you have a server on your network, the server is normally the browse master. Windows 2000 automatically sets itself as browse master.
Otherwise, using the Network Neighborhood or My Network Places is very similar to using the My Computer window.
Finding Computers on Macs
The Macintosh operating systems are similar between System 7 through System 9. System 9.x through Mac OS X and up start changing somewhat in the way the OS deals with networking.
Mac OS X makes it easy to locate computers on the network and share files and printers with them.
When you connect to the “server” in the Mac, the server isn’t necessarily a server as in client server network. The server is simply another computer with which you can share resources.
Depending on how your network is set up, you’ll have a domain andor a workgroup. To view the computers on the network with Mac OS X, follow these steps:
1. Click Go ➪ Connect to Server. The Connect to Server dialog box appears, as shown in
Figure 14-22.
2. Click on the server or the workgroup you want to connect to. The list of available com-
puters appears in the right pane, as shown in Figure 14-23.
Note
Part III ✦ Working with Networked Computers
Figure 14-22: Finding computers on the Mac.
Figure 14-23: Select the computer to which you want to connect.
3. Double-click on the computer, and the SMB Mount dialog box appears see Figure
14-24.
4. Select the share and then click OK. Depending on the network setup, the SMBCIFS
Filesystem Authentication dialog box may appear, as shown in Figure 14-25.
Domain
Workgroup
Chapter 14 ✦ Finding Computers on the Network
Figure 14-24: Choose the share.
Figure 14-25: Enter a password, if necessary.
5. Type the password and click OK. The drive icon appears on the desktop, as shown in
Figure 14-26.
6. Double-click the icon to open the drive on the networked computer see Figure 14-27.
Part III ✦ Working with Networked Computers
Figure 14-26: The connected drive icon appears on the desktop.
Figure 14-27: Open folders and files on the network share.
Networked drive
Chapter 14 ✦ Finding Computers on the Network
Finding Computers on Linux Machines
Most Linux distributions use Samba as a method of networking with Windows computers andor Windows servers. Samba is a program that lets computers using Server Message
Block SMBCommon Internet File System CIFS share files, printers, and other networked resources. Samba enables Linux computers to share with Windows computers on the net-
work, and Samba enables Windows computers to see the Linux computers on the network.
Samba enables a Linux computer to share file systems, share printers, enable browsing through the Network Neighborhood, authenticate clients logging on to a Windows domain,
provide name server resolution, and much more. Generally, a Linux box needs to be the Samba server, and it provides the services to other
Linux boxes on the network. If you only have one Linux box, then it can be the Samba server and client. As a Samba client, the Linux box looks and acts like a Windows computer. The GUI
is the same as Windows. The Network Neighborhood works the same way as the Windows Network Neighborhood. The latest Linux distributions include an updated Samba that auto-
matically lists local domains andor shares when you open the program.
Summary
In this chapter, you’ve learned to find computers and resources on the network. Specifically, you’ve learned to use the following:
✦ Network paths
✦ My Computer
✦ Windows Explorer
✦ Network NeighborhoodMy Network Places
Additionally, you learned to find Mac and Linux computers on the network. In the next chap- ter, you learn to print on the network.
✦ ✦
✦
Printing on a Network
O
ne of the reasons you want a network is so that your family can share expensive peripherals, a printer in particular. If three or
four people can share one laser or color inkjet printer, the cost per person makes the printer costs more reasonable. Everyone can print
over the network without copying a file to disk and carrying it to the computer attached to the printer.
Understanding Basic Printing
Basic printing is nearly the same whether you’re printing to your local computer or to a network printer. Your local printer is attached
directly to your computer with a parallel, serial, or USB cable or by means of wireless communications. Generally, a network printer is
attached to another computer; you access a network printer over the network.
The main difference between printing locally and printing to a network printer is in the setup and configuration of the printer. After you install
a printer on your computer, the printing procedure is the same. The only times you’ll notice you’re printing to a network printer are when
you have to retrieve your print job, when you have to put paper in the printer, or when you clear a paper jam. At these times, you have
to get up from your desk and go to the network printer’s site.
Using the Print dialog box
Most of the documents you print will come from an application of some sort — Word, Excel, WordPerfect, Quicken, or some other pro-
gram. When you choose to print in a program, the program displays the Print dialog box.
Figure 15-1 illustrates Word’s Print dialog box. Note that the printer is a network printer, but the options are the same as with a local
printer. You can choose the printer you want to use, a page range, number of copies, and other options.
15 15
C H A P T E R
✦ ✦
✦ ✦
In This Chapter
Understanding basic printing
Installing and deleting a network printer
Setting options for the printer
Managing workgroup network printing
Managing client server network printing
Printing between operating systems
Troubleshooting printing
✦ ✦
✦ ✦
Part III ✦ Working with Networked Computers
Figure 15-1: Print dialog boxes are the same whether you print locally or over the network.
The Printer area of the dialog box is where you choose the printer you want to use. In Windows 98, click the down arrow beside the printer name in the Name text box. In
Windows XP, click the printer’s icon in Select Printer, as shown in Figure 15-2. You install printer drivers in Windows to add printers to the list; for more information, see the sec-
tion “Installing the printer” later in this chapter.
Figure 15-2: Select a printer icon.
Chapter 15 ✦ Printing on a Network
After you choose the printer, you can set specific properties for that printer by clicking the Properties button in the Print dialog box. Properties include paper size, orientation, graphic
resolution, fonts, and so on. Each printer has different properties specific to it. In a Macintosh OS X, network printers are listed by IP addresses. Figure 15-3 shows the Print
dialog box with a network printer listed in the Printer drop-down box. To change printers, click the arrow and choose another.
Figure 15-3: Printing in the Macintosh Naturally, even in a Mac you must indicate Printer Sharing in the Sharing dialog box before
you can share a printer. In addition, to share Windows printers, you must also turn on the File and Printer sharing services in the Network dialog box. For more information about sharing,
see Chapter 12.
Using drag-and-drop printing
All Windows operating systems enable you to print a document without first starting the pro- gram in which the document was created. Using an icon on your desktop, you can drag and
drop a file to the icon to print it quickly.
Drag-and-drop printing might work well for small offices, because many forms, reports, doc- uments, and spreadsheets are needed from day to day but not all need to be revised or
modified. Quick printing of expense forms or time sheets, for example, can save time.
Small Business
Tip Note
Part III ✦ Working with Networked Computers
To create an icon on the desktop, you create a shortcut to the printer. This works with both local and network printers. Follow these steps:
1. Choose Start ➪ Settings ➪ Printers in Windows 98. Click Start ➪ Printers and Faxes in
Windows XP. The Printers window appears, as shown in Figure 15-4.
Figure 15-4: The Printers folder is where you add, remove, and control printers for your system.
2. Right-click the printer for which you want to create a shortcut, and then choose Create
Shortcut from the quick menu. Windows asks if it should place the shortcut on the desktop. Click Yes.
3. Close the Printers window. Figure 15-5 shows two printer icons on the desktop; the HP
LaserJet 4M is the network printer, and the Epson FX-80 is a local printer.
Chapter 15 ✦ Printing on a Network
Figure 15-5: Use the shortcuts on the desktop to print files. To print from a printer shortcut on the desktop, follow these steps:
1. Open the Windows Explorer, My Computer, or Network NeighborhoodMy Network
Places. Locate the file you want to print.
2. Select the document with the left mouse button, and then drag the document to the
printer, as shown in Figure 15-6. Make sure the printer icon is highlighted when you “drop” the file to be printed.
Printer icons
Part III ✦ Working with Networked Computers
Figure 15-6: Drag a file to the printer from the networked computer. Windows associates the application with the file type — for example, a DOC is associated with
Word, and a PCX file may be associated with Paint. If Windows can’t associate the file with an application, it prompts you to choose an application for that purpose. You don’t have to open
the application; you just tell Windows which one it is. Using drag-and-drop printing, especially over the network, saves time and effort.
You can select multiple files in the Network NeighborhoodMy Network Places, Windows Explorer, or My Computer and drag them all to the printer shortcut on the desktop. Windows
prints all the files, one after another.
Installing and Removing a Network Printer
Before you can use a printer attached to another computer on the network, you must install the printer’s software, or driver, to your computer. After you have the driver on your com-
puter, you can use the printer like any other. You also must make sure that the printer is shared.
For information about sharing resources, see Chapter 12. Cross-
Reference
Tip
Drag
Chapter 15 ✦ Printing on a Network
You also can delete a network printer from your computer at any time. If you choose to remove the printer from the network or replace it with another printer, you don’t want extra
drivers cluttering up your computer. Deleting an extra printer driver is easy and explained in this section.
You should install a printer driver for every printer on the network on every user’s computer. That way, if one printer is busy, the document might be such that it can be printed on
another printer in the office.
Installing the printer
Windows makes it easy for you to install a network printer by using the Add Printer Wizard. When you add a network printer, Windows copies the drivers from the computer directly
attached to the printer. If you were installing a local printer, you would have to choose the driver and port the printer will use. The Macintosh is a little different in setting up and
installing a printer.
If you’re using different Windows operating systems, you must install the driver made for the operating system, such as the Windows 2000 driver or the Windows XP driver. For more
information, see “Printing between Operating Systems” later in this chapter. To install a network printer to a Windows 98 computer, follow these steps:
1. Choose Start ➪ Settings ➪ Printers. The Printers window appears. Double-click the Add
Printer icon. The first wizard dialog box appears, telling you the wizard will help you install a printer.
2. Click the Next button to continue. At any time during the installation, you can click the
Back button to review your choices. The second Add Printer Wizard box appears, as shown in Figure 15-7.
Figure 15-7: Install a network printer.
3. Choose Network printer and then click the Next button. The next wizard dialog box
appears, as shown in Figure 15-8.
Tip Small
Business Tip
Part III ✦ Working with Networked Computers
Figure 15-8: Enter the path to the network printer.
4. Type the path to the network printer; alternatively, you can use the Browse button to
locate the printer. Figure 15-9 shows the Browse for Printer dialog box. Double-click the computer to which the printer is attached. Instead of the folders appearing, only the
attached printers appear. Choose the printer and click OK.
Figure 15-9: Browse for available printers.
5. Choose the option for whether you print to MS-DOS-based programs. Click Next. The
next wizard box appears, as shown in Figure 15-10.
6. You can enter a new name for the printer or accept the default. Also, choose whether
to make the printer the default for your computer. Click Next.
7. The wizard asks if you want to print a test page. You should always test the connection.
Windows copies the files, sends a test page to the printer, and asks if the page printed correctly. If the page printed, click Yes; if the page didn’t print or had trouble printing,
click No. If you click no, Windows displays the Print Troubleshooter to help you solve the problem.
Chapter 15 ✦ Printing on a Network
Figure 15-10: Name the printer. After you install the printer, the printer’s icon appears in the Printers window.
You also can install a network printer from the Network NeighborhoodMy Network Places, Windows Explorer, or My Computer. Locate a printer on another networked computer. Right-
click the printer, and choose Install from the quick menu. The Add Printer Wizard starts and guides you through the installation.
Installing a network printer in Windows 2000 or XP is similar to Windows 98. You must be sure to have the appropriate driver for the operating system. Follow these steps:
1. Click Start ➪ Printers and Faxes. The Printers and Faxes dialog box appears. 2. In Printer Tasks, click Add a Printer. The Add Printer Wizard dialog box appears.
Depending on the connection — such as a USB, infrared, or FireWire port — Windows 2000 and XP automatically installs the printer for you without the wizard. However, if you’re
installing over the network, you will most likely need the wizard.
3. Click Next. The Add Printer Wizard displays its second dialog box see Figure 15-11.
Figure 15-11: Choose to install a network printer.
Note Tip
Part III ✦ Working with Networked Computers
4. Click the network printer option and click Next. The Specify a Printer dialog box
appears, as shown in Figure 15-12.
Figure 15-12: Specify the printer.
5. You can browse for the printer, enter the name and path of a printer, or enter a URL if
you’re printing over a virtual private network VPN or the Internet. Click Next.
6. If you clicked Browse, the Browse for Printer dialog box appears, as shown in Figure
15-13. Select the printer and click Next. If you clicked one of the other options, the com- puter looks for the printer driver.
Figure 15-13: Browse for a printer.
7. If the driver is not already installed, Windows prompts you to install the proper driver.
You can choose from drivers within Windows see Figure 15-14, or you can click the Have Disk button to install the driver from a specific location, such as a folder you cre-
ated when you downloaded the driver from the Net.
