Ok, this should be easy enough.
Yes, first give the computers different names. It might not matter, but it doesn’t hurt to rule that out as a conflict.
So, go right-click Computer on the Start Menu, hit Properties, then click Advanced System Settings on the left side menu of the window that comes up. Go to the Computer Name tab and hit the Change button. Change the name of one of the machines to something different, and then give it some workgroup name. Go to the other machine, do the same thing, but without changing the name, and just make sure it has the same workgroup name.
Now, theoretically, if both of your computers are connected to the same default gateway, they should be able to see each other under Computer > Network. If they still don’t detect each other, make sure they are both using the same default gateway (just in case you have some stray wireless router handing out IP addresses or something). You can check that by using Start > Run > cmd, then typing “ipconfig” in the window that comes up and hitting enter.
Assuming they are using the same default gateway, the other likely culprit is Windows Firewall. Go to Start > Control Panel > Windows Firewall and turn it completely off. You can turn it on again later after you are done transferring, but in my experience, the thing is only good for interfering with your own legitimate network traffic, and never seems to do much to stop real threats.
Assuming at this point you get the computers to see each other, you will also have to turn on file sharing for the folders on the computer you want to copy files from. Right click the folder in Computer or Windows Explorer and click Share With > Advanced Sharing, then click the Advanced Sharing button. Click the “Share This Folder” box, then click the permissions button and check to allow full control for the everybody group. Then, click ok twice to apply the settings.
Changing the name seems to let new computer see old computer so far.
Ok this is odd: on their maps each computer states the other computer name cannot be put on the map and each states that the other computer is a media player.
If they still don’t detect each other, make sure they are both using the same default gateway (just in case you have some stray wireless router handing out IP addresses or something). You can check that by using Start > Run > cmd, then typing “ipconfig” in the window that comes up and hitting enter.
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When I go to run and type in ipconfig a square black screen pops up for just an instant. it does this on both computers.
If they still don’t detect each other, make sure they are both using the same default gateway (just in case you have some stray wireless router handing out IP addresses or something). You can check that by using Start > Run > cmd, then typing “ipconfig” in the window that comes up and hitting enter.
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When I go to run and type in ipconfig a square black screen pops up for just an instant. it does this on both computers.
Windows firewall is on and there doesn’t seem to be a way to turn it off.