Wired Access to Music Folders - PC & Mac

Posted by: HuwJ on 18 September 2010

I'm trying to connect my Macbook Pro (which acts as my source for Music Files) to my PC (which contains FLAC files) on a wired connection using my Sky Broadband router. It's proving a challenge. I've tried Google and followed the suggested methods but just can't get them to see each other. I did have sight of my Mac on my PC but nothing showing on the Mac. At the moment I can't see the PC on the Mac on the other way around. This is the setup:

- The Macbook connected to the Sagem by wire.
- the PC connected to the Sagem by wire.
- both PC & Mac can get on the Internet
- I see the Mac on the PC but not all the files that I have shared on the Mac - 'Music' can not be seen. I see 'xxxx public folder' (not at the moment).
- I can not see the PC at all when I look at the Network on the Mac (in fact it shows nothing at all).
- I have shared files on the PC and the Mac.
- I have set WINS on the Mac to look at 'Workgroup'

Anyone got any ideas?

Regards,
Huw
Posted on: 18 September 2010 by garyi
You need to purchase a router.
Posted on: 20 September 2010 by HuwJ
The Sagem Sky router is a router and a 4 port switch.
Posted on: 20 September 2010 by Holty
you need to authenticate between the differing OS protocols.. I think from memory you need to install apple talk..

If it's vista / windows 7 you need to make sure other devices are discoverable on your network.
Posted on: 20 September 2010 by garyi
Holty you are way out of date mate!

On the mac make sure sharing is turned on and that you have turned on SMB as well, you also need to specify in the sharing pref what folders you want shared.

On the PC they should just show up as shares in my network places. Always has for me. And on the PC specify the folders you want shared and they will appear in the finder on the side bar.

Sagem are shit products. Did they not make the speedtouch? Man what a device!

Once you have given up, try my suggestion, get something half way decent such as a Netgear rangemax or Draytek. Yes they cost a few quid, but then this is whats running your network. Anything 'given away' by BT is always bad, don't let their products determine your network quality.
Posted on: 21 September 2010 by HuwJ
Hi Gary,

I have a Netgear Rangemax DG834N router, which was used with my old ISP - Pipex (Tiscali then someone else). However, with Sky you can only user the Sagem Router they provide as it is locked. I'm guessing I can't use the Netgear (as a switch) and Sagem as a router at the same time.

At the moment I have sight of my PC, Mac, wireless PC on my main PC (Win7 / OS 10.5) and can access the Mac from my Windows 7 PC - a big step forward which must have occurred when I restarted the system.

I also now see my PC on my Mac. When I try to connect it asks for a Registered User name & password but I have not set one up and I don't need one to access the Mac from the PC.

Any ideas where to find this user name / password? Is it set on the Mac or PC?

Regards,
Huw
Posted on: 21 September 2010 by garyi
HuwJ

Phone Sky and ask for your logon user name and password. They will tell you that they cannot offer support for any other router. Tell them this is fine and put the info in your rangemax.

watch in awe and fascination as your shares appear as they should Winker

As for the password thing. If you are on windows 7. I am pretty confident you would have had to set up a user name and password, however for guest folders you should be able to connect simply as the guest option.

Ultimately you will buckle like every one else and get a NAS, no need for all this crap then!