Mapping win 10 and win 11, with variations

Hello:

I have a Win 10 desktop connected via Ethernet cable to a modem (Netgear R6400). Just got a Laptop (HP Spectre X360) that I want to share folders and printers with wirelessly (router - laptop).

Searching on the Net is difficult for these rather complex conditions, so I take the liberty to ask here how I go about this (no, I do not expect step by step directions).

I assume that I should make sure router is set up for wireless (Ethernet is certainly set up for sharing between my wife's Win 10 desktop and mine). Public or private network? (I was surprised to see that Win 11 recommended public network.) Anything else i need to think about? Any tutorial that would "fit my bill"?

Thanks in advance!

Hans L

Hans,

I'm not sure where you saw the recommendation to setup your network as Public, but that is not correct. For your home network, you want to set it up as Private.

Also, you note that you already have sharing configured with Ethernet. There is really no difference in setting up access for WiFi aside from the actual WiFi settings to allow you to connect to your network.

Hans, if you can point to any specific concerns that you have, please note those as I'm not really sure what else to say without going through a complete step-by-step.

hsehestedt said:

Hans,

I'm not sure where you saw the recommendation to setup your network as Public, but that is not correct. For your home network, you want to set it up as Private.

Also, you note that you already have sharing configured with Ethernet. There is really no difference in setting up access for WiFi aside from the actual WiFi settings to allow you to connect to your network.

Hans, if you can point to any specific concerns that you have, please note those as I'm not really sure what else to say without going through a complete step-by-step.

Hannes, thank you very much! I might have to get back to you.

Hans L

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Try3 said:

Hans,

1 This is the checklist I use when setting up networks:-
A consolidated network setup checklist for Windows 10 and 11 - my post #4 - TenForums
It has never failed me.


2 "I was surprised to see that Win 11 recommended public network"
You need a Private network because you want access between computers.
If you were using your network just to allow all your computers to access the internet then you could indeed use a Public network,
The labels can be misleading.
- Public is a warning that the general public is also on the network [the internet].
- Private means that you want it do private things, to access your various computers. Your router will handle the fact that the internet connection is a Public-facing aspect of the Private network.


3 I cannot tell you how to set up your router. There is no standard procedure for that so you'll have to use its manual and/or any useful guidance in its support website or user forum.
But, in summary, you are going to access the router's admin settings using the ethernet connection & the admin password you assigned it then
- choose a frequency band if you have a choice - 5GHz is generally better but use 2.4GHz if necessary and use both if you can
- assign its WiFi capability an "SSID" name for the 2.4GHz band and another for the 5GHz one then
- set a "security key" [password] for the 2.4GHz band and another for the 5GHz one then
- switch on the WiFi then
- connect to it from your new WiFi computer including
- - selecting the SSID from the list of available networks [neighbours, passing buses, ...] choosing the name for the 5GHz band if you can
- - putting in the security key
- - responding to the question that you do want to make it a "discoverable" network which is just another word for "Private".


4 I cannot tell you how to set up your printer. There is no standard procedure for that so you'll have to use its manual and/or any useful guidance in its support website or user forum.
- You have not mentioned how your printer is currently connected. If it is connected by ethernet cable to the router then there is no particular need to change it to use WiFi.
- If your printer has a WiFi network capability, it is very likely to be limited to 2.4Ghz which is why you might make use of the 2.4GHz in your network.


5 If you were able to set the router to use both a 5GHz and a 2.4GHz band WiFi network then the router will be able to manage the interaction between them & with ethernet connections.
- There will be no problem if your WiFi computer connects to the 5GHz band and your printer connects to the 2.4GHz one.
- Similarly, there is no problem with your old computer remaining on an ethernet connection



Best of luck,
Denis

PS
Why are you on Version 19042? I think that's out of support. Run the command WinVer to check your Version.

Denis, thank you for this excellent response. More than I had hoped for, and more than I had the right to hope for.

My version, according to SIW, is Windows 10 Home x64, version 22H2, build 19045,3085. Don't know where you got 19042 from.

Denis, apologies for the slow response. I was not available for a good while.

I'm not sure that I can add anything more. Your instructions for router setup were very good. Maybe the only thing that I can say is this: Focus on the items that Denis noted. Some routers have a bazillion settings, some of them geared toward very fine tuning of performance or needed only under very special circumstances. My advice would be to leave those settings at defaults unless you have a really good reason to change them.

Try3 said:

Hans,


You need to adjust that section [your system specs] then.
Look at the top of the page - Quick links, Update system spec.


All the best,
Denis

Done!

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hsehestedt said:

Denis, apologies for the slow response. I was not available for a good while.

I'm not sure that I can add anything more. Your instructions for router setup were very good. Maybe the only thing that I can say is this: Focus on the items that Denis noted. Some routers have a bazillion settings, some of them geared toward very fine tuning of performance or needed only under very special circumstances. My advice would be to leave those settings at defaults unless you have a really good reason to change them.

hsehestedt, thank you!

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Try3 said:

Hans,

1 This is the checklist I use when setting up networks:-
A consolidated network setup checklist for Windows 10 and 11 - my post #4 - TenForums
It has never failed me.

Denis, I am following your instructions. A glitch: After changing my wife's desktop name, I could not log in. Trying to get MS to accept verification. Oh well ...

One thing is unclear to me. In

5 Set up all Control Panel, Network and Sharing Center, Advanced sharing settings. Turn on all three of these settings on each computer.

Turn On Network Discovery - TenForumsTutorials
Turn On File and Printer Sharing - TenForumsTutorials
Turn On Password Protected Sharing - TenForumsTutorials
Turn On Network Discovery - ElevenForumTutorials
Turn On File and Printer Sharing - ElevenForumTutorials
Turn On Password Protected Sharing - ElevenForumTutorials

What should be the Private vs Public settings (on or off)?

Thanks,

Hans L

Try3 said:

You do not explicitly set it as Private anywhere. You turn on Network discovery, which amounts to the same thing.

Denis, do I do the same thing for Public?

Hans L