Can't find other computer on network

Question

Level 2

323 points

Can't find other computer on network

My laptop is connected to my wireless router (Linksys) by Ethernet. The connection is working because I can get the internet on my laptop just fine, I just updated my Office applications; but I can't see my other, desktop computer for file sharing. I have no idea how to connect with it. The laptop is running 10.4.11 and my desktop is 10.5.2. File sharing is turned on on both computers. How do I get my laptop to see my other computer?

Mac Pro 2.66 GHz, Mac OS X (10.5.2)

Posted on May 24, 2008 12:40 PM

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Answer 1

Clea Rees

Level 4

1,245 points

May 24, 2008 1:08 PM in response to Ken Spiker

Have you repaired permissions since installing the Office updates?

Repair disk permissions...
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25751

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Answer 2

BDAqua

Level 10

239,207 points

May 24, 2008 2:09 PM in response to Ken Spiker

Find the IP of the Desktop in the Network pref pane>Advanced, then on the Laptop...

Finder>Go menu>Connect to Server...

type in afp://ip/of.other.mac, like...

afp://192.168.0.3

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Answer 3

Ken Spiker Author

Level 2

323 points

May 24, 2008 3:27 PM in response to BDAqua

Thanx. That worked. I guess it's necessary to type in afp:// before the address. I repaired disk permissions too. I am able to access the my main computer from my laptop and one of my external firewire drives, but for some reason I can't access the other one. Maybe because they're chained?

You'd think Apple would have made a system where you could be able to see what's on a network without having to type in the IP address for each location. O well.

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Answer 4

BDAqua

Level 10

239,207 points

May 24, 2008 4:10 PM in response to Ken Spiker

If you enable Personal Web Sharing, it helps advertise the services.

Also, in Finder>Preferences>Sidebar, if you toggle the Show Network Icon OFF/ON, it should update to show what is available.

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Answer 5

Clea Rees

Level 4

1,245 points

May 24, 2008 4:18 PM in response to Ken Spiker

Which computer are the drives connected to and which computer cannot see the second drive? Normally, you can see chained FW drives, though I'm not sure about chained drives connected to other computers over the network...

- cfr

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Answer 6

BDAqua

Level 10

239,207 points

May 24, 2008 4:36 PM in response to Ken Spiker

Most times you need to use Sharepoints...

http://www.hornware.com/sharepoints/

to view external drives over the Network.

But can be done in NetinfoManager, or Terminal.

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Answer 7

Ken Spiker Author

Level 2

323 points

May 24, 2008 4:38 PM in response to Clea Rees

My 2 Firewire drives are connected to my desktop Mac Pro. My laptop sees the desktop and one of the firewire drives but not the other one. Actually it's rather important that it finds the other external drive. Both drives are mounted okay on my desktop. I don't understand why the laptop when it's networked with the desktop can't see the 2nd firewire drive.

Personal web sharing is checked on both computers. I can't find any checkbox under Sidebar that says Show Network on/off. That's on my Mac Pro with 10.5.2. The Laptop has 10.4.11 and I can't find any Sidebar there under System Prefs. Actually I don't know what Sidebar is. Could someone explain?

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Answer 8

Clea Rees

Level 4

1,245 points

May 24, 2008 4:43 PM in response to Ken Spiker

It's the far left column in a Finder window.

Look in Finder's preferences - not in System Preferences.

- cfr

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Answer 9

BDAqua

Level 10

239,207 points

May 24, 2008 4:46 PM in response to Ken Spiker

The Laptop has 10.4.11 and I can't find any Sidebar there under System Prefs. Actually I don't know what Sidebar is. Could someone explain?

Finder Preferences, not System Preferences!

Click on Finder in the Dock, then Preferences under ZFinder at top!

Sidebar is what shows on the left side of all finder Windows, unless you need to hit the litle oval at top right of the window! 🙂

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