Connect laptop to desktop Mac

Question

Connect laptop to desktop Mac

I have posted this in the Airport Extreme area and have hit a brick wall. I was advised to post it here

discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=920419&tstart=0

The short story is I am trying to set up so I can access my desktop computer (Mac) from my laptop with my Airport Extreme. I'm reasonably sure I have it connected right (desktop computer to lan port and RoadRunner cable modem to wan port). I want to be able to change/add data on my desktop computer from the laptop. I have done it on the desktop computer. On my laptop I hit Go off the top menu bar, go to Network but don't get the next screen where I choose the computer (I am able to do this on the desktop computer). After a laptop reboot I get a momentary glimpse of the next screen, but it disapears. I can't get the momentary glimpse again unless I reboot again. Any help would be appreciated.
Stu

iMac DV, Mac OS X (10.4)

Posted on Apr 13, 2007 4:05 AM

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Answer 1

Camelot

Level 9

59,343 points

Apr 13, 2007 12:08 PM in response to Stuart Goldberg

Have you enabled file sharing on the desktop?

The laptop won't be able to connect to the desktop unless the desktop is configured to share its files.

System Preferences -> Sharing -> Personal File Sharing

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Answer 2

Apr 14, 2007 2:42 AM in response to Camelot

Yes I have. I spoke to someone at Apple. He said it was complicated and it would be easier to use third party software like Timubktu. When I get time, I'm going to call back, I'm not sure this makes sense.

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Answer 3

j.v.

Level 5

4,155 points

Apr 14, 2007 10:11 PM in response to Stuart Goldberg

So, you're trying to mount this computer as, essentially, an external drive that shows up as an icon on your desktop, so you can drag and drop files in both directions, or open files directly and edit and save on the remote drive? You have stated that you have personal file sharing already enabled in System Preferences Sharing Services (port 548 open).

Rather than mount the drive via ⇧⌘k as you have already tried (Finder > Go > Network), how about doing a ⌘k, and afp-mounting this networked computer thusly? Will that approach give you the functionality that you need?

(if you find that this solves your problem, or is actually helpful towards arriving at a solution to your problem, please consider clicking on either the "helpful" or "solved" buttons in the header of my post)

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Answer 4

Apr 15, 2007 7:03 AM in response to Stuart Goldberg

Thanks to all. I have connected to my desktop computer.I needed to hit connect from the go menu, then network. I would like some clarrification. If I have the network icon on both the laptop and desktop (I assume I need it on both?), will the changed, added, or deleted data be on both machines or does it just look like it is because I am connected to the network?? This is what I want (same data on both machines), but was under the impression I couldn't do this
Stu

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