I've got 2 computers in my house and i want them both to be able to log into the same usernames (not at the same time) without having to use the remote desktop. The same sort of set up they use in universities and schools etc. I've got the router plugged into one pc and wireless pci in the other both using xp, anyone got any ideas?????
should be able to do it with no problem as is. i'm set up on a router with 2 computers & both access the net
Yea my internet is fine thats not what i mean, when i say usernames i mean usernames when windows first starts up. So i would like to be able to have the same desktop settings, wallpaper etc when logging into both computers meaning what changes i make on 1 will also be on the other next time i log in. As if they were the same computer really. Thanks
I think you will have to manually set up both computers the same one time. You can network to share drives/printers but I think the user name and settings have to be put into each computer unless you had a central server system to sign on from. Jerry
okay thanks, i thought i would have to buy some more hardware to get that to work. Any idea the cost of these central server systems?
Hey The thing your wanting is called a Roving Profile You will need to set up like a Windows 2000 Server to enable this. CJC
Roming profiles can be configured on both Windows 2000 and Windows 2003 servers. Windows 2000 Server is slightly hard to come by and Windows 2003 server will run you about $650 or so. Install Active Directory once you have Windows Server setup and then configure Group Policy Objects to map thinks like users' desktops and document folders to shared folders on the server. Home directories (aka H drive's) are configured by going into the Active Directory Users and Computers tool and configuring the shared network path to the user's home directory in the user's Profile tab.
Hey Well first of you will need to purchase Windows 2000 Server OS, then you will need another PC to install this on. Then; http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;142682 http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;224012 But i think it will cost a bit too much just for having 2 clients on it. CJC
Okay thanks people It does seem a bit expensive so is there anyway to set up an roaming/roving profile on a basic XP Pro? Also if i have to buy this server software will it all work correctly with a basic router and wireless pci card?
First of all, no. You must have a server OS running. Second, if your clients are XP Home, you will need to upgrade them to XP Pro. The router will work fine. The method of connectivity does not matter to the operating system software. In my opinion this is an extremely high maintenance and costly configuration which is prone to many bugs and overall probably not worth investing in. It works really well in large environments where the PC's conform to a dress code of sorts but when you start installing/removing applications from one PC the roaming profile will have problems on the other PC.
Thanks for your help IS there any cheaper server software i could use just so i've got some sort of network?
If your idea of a network is having your profile follow you from one PC to another, no. If you want to simply be able to share files, folder, and printers from one PC to another you can do that with your current setup. Simply goto your network properties and give each PC a unique name and assign them to the same workgroup.
By the time you go through the cost and time to set up the extra server software you would be better off just setting up the users on the 2 computers like I said in the other post. Set up both computers exactly the same with user and passwords one time and you are done. No extra cost or software. If you are networking several more PCs then maybe it would be worth it but the cost is excessive. Jerry
