[Stereosteveo]

Hi,

Just wondering the simplest way to organize and network everything in my house, software wise mainly. Fairly new to home networking, and XBMC really.

I have:

Living Room:
-Wireless Gateway Cable Modem (Feeds All Devices)
-PC 1 (Win 7 Pro) XBMC: Cat-5 to Modem : HTPC > TV
-PS 3 : Internal Wireless Adapter > TV

Bedroom 1:
-PC 2 (WinVistaBusiness) XBMC: USB Net Adapter : HTPC > TV
-PC 3 (Vista Premium) : USB Net Adapter : Desktop > Monitor

Bedroom 2:
-PC 4 (Win 7 Pro) : USB Net Adapter : Desktop > Monitor

1. Should I put all my media on PC 1 and use it as a server or what?
2. Would it make things much easier to get Win 7 on ALL machines?

So I won't ask too many more questions. Just looking for the simplest way to network all of this before I dig in. Right now I can see all PC's from any PC. And I'm just screwing with WORKGROUPS AND HOMEGROUPS, and experimenting with transferring files in the network explorer window.

Thx a Lot!,
-Stv..

[isamu.dragon]

Hi,

Just wondering the simplest way to organize and network everything in my house, software wise mainly. Fairly new to home networking, and XBMC really.

I have:

Living Room:
-Wireless Gateway Cable Modem (Feeds All Devices)
-PC 1 (Win 7 Pro) XBMC: Cat-5 to Modem : HTPC > TV
-PS 3 : Internal Wireless Adapter > TV

Bedroom 1:
-PC 2 (WinVistaBusiness) XBMC: USB Net Adapter : HTPC > TV
-PC 3 (Vista Premium) : USB Net Adapter : Desktop > Monitor

Bedroom 2:
-PC 4 (Win 7 Pro) : USB Net Adapter : Desktop > Monitor

1. Should I put all my media on PC 1 and use it as a server or what?
2. Would it make things much easier to get Win 7 on ALL machines?

So I won't ask too many more questions. Just looking for the simplest way to network all of this before I dig in. Right now I can see all PC's from any PC. And I'm just screwing with WORKGROUPS AND HOMEGROUPS, and experimenting with transferring files in the network explorer window.

Thx a Lot!,
-Stv..

If you want to stay on the Windows Route, Yes WIN7 is A LOT Easier.

I would recommend that with as many machines that you use, I'd have one computer Hosting ALL of the media, and have the others connect to it to play the media.

If your want a synced library, then use MYSQL solution to make things easier.

With WIN7 add all machines to the same homegroup, and that should give them all the proper permissions

[Stereosteveo]

OK thanks for the guidance.
Until I can get 2 more copies of Win 7 how do I:

Share my E Drive (with all my media) on the Win 7 PC with my Vista PC's?

I've been through all the steps I can find.
Created a Workgroup.
Set all sorts of permissions etc..

Then I did this:

" How to enable in Windows Vista and Windows 7:

By default, Windows Vista and newer versions of Windows prevent local accounts from accessing administrative shares through the network.

To enable administrative shares you have to make a registry change. Click on Start Menu and in the search box type ‘regedit’ and press ENTER. Add this registry item:

Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Key: Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
Name: LocalAccountTokenFilterPolicy
Data Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1
After rebooting, the hidden share is accessible from other computers. "

Still cannot access it........

I can share anything I put in the "Public" folder on the Win 7 PC, but I want to share the whole E drive. It's 2 TB.

Thx,
-Stv..