I have set up a network using my PC as the host. The Mac identifies the network but then I get a configuration error. Same thing happens when I use...

Hello,

Thank you for contacting us. My name is Mario and I am here to help you resolve your issues. Could you please tell me the exact error message you are getting when trying to connect? I suggest you disable your PC's firewall under Start > Control Panel. Try to connect your devices and let me know the results.

I will be waiting for your response.

Thank you,
Mario V.

Robert,

Thank you for providing me these information. Have you configured a static IP address assignment? Please follow these steps:

1. Go to a Start menu > Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center.
2. Click on the "Change adapter settings" on the left.
3. Right click on the "Wireless Network Connection", and select "Properties". Under "Networking" tab, select "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)", and click on "Properties" button.
4. Check "Use the following IP address:", and enter the following:
   
   
   
   • IP address: 192.168.137.1.
   
   
   • Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
   
   
   • Leave the "Default gateway" and "DNS severs" blank
   
   
5. Click "Ok".
6. On you Mac, select the "System Preferences", and select "Network" under "Internet & Wireless" section.
7. Under the Network window, select "Advanced..."
8. Select "TCP/IP" tab, under "Configure IPv4", select "Manually" and key in the IP addresses as shown below:
   
9. Click "OK", and click "Apply".
10. Turn on your AirPort, and you should be able to find your network name under "Devices".

I will be here waiting for your response.

Thank you,
Mario V.

Robert,

Thank you for writing back. The message you are now receiving is different than from the previous one, is this correct? Could you disable the requirement for a WEP key for testing purposes? You would have to re-create your ad hoc network. You may do this by following these instructions:

1. Go to a Start menu > Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center.
2. Click "Manage wireless networks link" on the left.
3. On the next screen, choose "create an ad hoc network". Click Next.
4. Fill out the required information. Under Security type, choose "No authentication (open)".
5. Your ad hoc network should be created.

Now, try to connect to the network we have just created with you Mac. I hope this would solve the problem. Please let me know if you are getting any new error messages.

Thank you,
Mario V.

Robert,

You are receiving this message because you are not connected to the Internet, but you have a connection between your computers, haven't you? You are not connected to the Internet because network sharing is not enabled. This is not required for transfering files inside ad hoc network. Are you able to transfer files between the computers? Have you shared a folder on your PC you want to transfer?

Thank you,
Mario

You need to create and share a folder on your PC that you will then access from your Mac.
To do this create a folder (or select and existing one) right click on it from Windows Explorer and select “Properties”. Select the “Sharing” tab and share out the folder under Advanced Sharing.

To access the shared folder from you Mac, from the Finder menu go to “Go > Connect to Server”. In the “Server Address” field enter “smb://192.168.137.1/folder”, replacing the IP address with the IP address of your PC, and “folder” with the name of the Windows shared folder you created earlier.

When asked to authenticate, enter the name of your PC in “Workgroup/Domain”. For “Username” and “Password” enter the username and password which you use to log on to your Windows machine with. Click Ok and your shared folder should be mounted as a network drive on your desktop.

I hope this helps.

Thank you,
Mario V.

Robert,

As it turns out, I am scheduled to go off-line now for a few hours. I would really appreciate the opportunity to personally make sure you are satisfied with your answer and I hope you will try following the procedure from my last comment.

Thank you,
Mario V.

Robert,

I am sorry the solution I have provided didn't work in your case. I am being paid for giving help when a user accepts my answer. That means clicking the "Accept Answer" button below my first response. I would appreciate if you do this.

As you are still having problems with connecting and transferring files between your computers, you can try Remobo. It creates a private network between the computers connected to the Internet. I believe it would be useful.

I will be here if you have any questions.

Thank you,
Mario V.

Robert,

Thank you for accepting my answer. You can revert back the original IP address assignment settings by following these steps:

1. On you Mac, select the "System Preferences", and select "Network" under "Internet & Wireless" section.
2. Under the Network window, select "Advanced..."
3. Select "TCP/IP" tab, under "Configure IPv4", select "Using DHCP".
4. Click "OK", and click "Apply".

Now you should be able to connect to most of the public Wi-Fi networks as they usually use automatic IP assignment using a DHCP server.

You can select a Wi-Fi network manually. From the AirPort menu (), choose the network you want to connect to. If a lock icon appears next to the network name, you will be prompted to enter a username and password to join. If the Airport menu is not on the menu bar, choose System Preferences from the Apple menu, open Network preferences, click "AirPort", and check the option named "Show AirPort status in menu bar".

Note: If you can't make a connection, check to make sure that AirPort is on. The AirPort menu bar icon () should be bold and should state "AirPort: On" at the top. If AirPort is off, turn it on from the AirPort menu.

I hope this helps. Will be here open for your questions.

Thank you,
Mario V.