Many thanks for your response. You've opened up a new world to me --
but I've come to a roadblock again.

First, let me clarify that I can view both the Desktop's and the
Laptop's Alpha folder side-by-side in either computer. I can't do that
with the Beta folder, though. (In real life, there is only one Alpha
folder and about eight Beta's.)

I'm the only user of both computers, so I guess I'm the Administrator,
and I log in as the only named user. (I use the Home Edition of WinXP
SP2 amd both computers connect directly to the internet via a DSL
modem/router.

In trying to follow your suggestions, the first thing I did was to
START>SEARCH>COMPUTERS on each machine. On Desktop, there are two
entries for Laptop, and on Laptop, there are two entries for Desktop.
Why are there double entries, I wonder? Need I do something about
that? If so what -- just delete one of the entries?

Next, I did a search on "permissions" in the START>HELP window and
discovered a new world. I got a long list of hits. I then clicked on
"Grant incoming connection access rights to your computer." That
brought up instructions that began with "Open Network connections,"
which I did. The instructions then say to click on "change settings of
this connection" but I don't have such an item listed under network
tasks, so I'm at a dead end.

Could it be that such an entry exists only in WinXP Pro?

Your last sentence presents a very appealing solution, but I'm a bit
confused about how I can get the computers to treat the newly created
"Network" folder like Alpha rather than Beta -- so that I can do side
by side comparisons of the files and folders in the two Network folders
on either machine.

I wold very much appreciate you continuing comments.

jercarrier@earthlink.net wrote:

> Many thanks for your response. You've opened up a new world to me --
> but I've come to a roadblock again.
>
> First, let me clarify that I can view both the Desktop's and the
> Laptop's Alpha folder side-by-side in either computer. I can't do
> that
> with the Beta folder, though. (In real life, there is only one Alpha
> folder and about eight Beta's.)

> In trying to follow your suggestions, the first thing I did was to
> START>SEARCH>COMPUTERS on each machine. On Desktop, there are two
> entries for Laptop, and on Laptop, there are two entries for Desktop.
> Why are there double entries, I wonder? Need I do something about
> that? If so what -- just delete one of the entries?

I'm pretty confused about what you are seeing. You might want to
consider having a knowledgeable friend or professional come and set you
up. I don't know why you should see double entries and honestly I'm not
sure where you're looking.

You've only got two computers and you've got a router. This should be
easy. Forget all the "desktop alpha/beta" "laptop alpha/beta" stuff. Do
this instead:

1. If you can successfully share files from both machines go to Step 3.
It doesn't sound to me like you are successfully sharing files on the
Laptop, but again - it's hard to visualize what's going on. If you
can't successfully share files, run the Network Setup Wizard on both
machines. Reboot.

2. If you are using a firewall other than the SP2 Windows Firewall, go
into its configuration and allow lan traffic as trusted. Do this with
an IP range, for ex. 192.168.1.0-192.168.1.254. The exact subnet
depends on what your router provides so check if you don't know. If you
have antivirus programs with Internet Worm Protection-type firewalls,
disable them. Make sure you are not running the Windows Firewall unless
it is your *only* firewall. If it is your *only* firewall, put a check
in File & Printer Sharing on the Exceptions tab.

3. Create a new folder on Desktop's desktop. Call it "Network". Inside
that folder, put shortcuts to desired shared resources on Laptop by
using Search for Computers on the Network and navigating to the shares.
One of those shared resources will be Laptop's Alpha and Beta folders.
I don't care how many of them they are as long as they all have
different names; i.e., Beta-1, Beta-2, etc.

4. Do the same thing on the Laptop's desktop only obviously you are
going to put shared resources from Desktop in there.

5. Now, on Desktop's desktop, make a shortcut to the Alpha folder (or
whatever) that lives on Desktop's hard drive. If you have several
folders you want to compare with Laptop's stuff, make a parent folder
and call it something like "Desktop's Alpha/Beta". Put the shortcuts to
the actual Alpha/Beta folders inside.

6. Do the same thing on Laptop's desktop, etc.

7. Now when you want to compare Laptop's Alpha folder, open the damn
thing from the shortcut you made. Now open the shortcut to Desktop's
folder you made. Look at them and compare.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Malke,

Thanks for your response, and I apologize for being unable to describe
the problem more clearly.

Your instructions worked. On either machine I can click on the
"Network" folder, which opens a Windows Explorer type of window for the
other machine. Then I can use Windows explorer to show the folder I'm
comparing it with and can even copy files from one to the other. That
will work, but it's very cumbersome compared with using my folder
synching program.

I cannot use my synching program ("Beyond Compare") with this approach.
BC displays the file folder contents of two machines side-by-side and
can speedily synchronize any two folders the machines have in common.
It now works on only one very large folder whereas it did work with
several before I lost and recovered the file-sharing network. I'll
explore with the software company to see If I can display the files in
the "Network" folders in BC.

Meanwhile I encountered some anomalies: When I run a search for the
other computer, duplicate listings. Clicking on either listing shows
the same set of folders and files. How can I get rid of one of the
duplicate? Does it matter? (It might be causing some of my
problems.)_

Secondly, when I click on listings that show up in the two machines I
see a list of folders that differs for the two machines and I don't
know how they got that way since they were originally set up to be
identical.

Thanks again,
Joseph

jercarrier@earthlink.net wrote:

> Malke,
>
> Thanks for your response, and I apologize for being unable to describe
> the problem more clearly.
>
> Your instructions worked. On either machine I can click on the
> "Network" folder, which opens a Windows Explorer type of window for
> the
> other machine. Then I can use Windows explorer to show the folder I'm
> comparing it with and can even copy files from one to the other. That
> will work, but it's very cumbersome compared with using my folder
> synching program.
>
> I cannot use my synching program ("Beyond Compare") with this
> approach. BC displays the file folder contents of two machines
> side-by-side and can speedily synchronize any two folders the machines
> have in common. It now works on only one very large folder whereas it
> did work with
> several before I lost and recovered the file-sharing network. I'll
> explore with the software company to see If I can display the files in
> the "Network" folders in BC.
>
> Meanwhile I encountered some anomalies: When I run a search for the
> other computer, duplicate listings. Clicking on either listing shows
> the same set of folders and files. How can I get rid of one of the
> duplicate? Does it matter? (It might be causing some of my
> problems.)_
>
> Secondly, when I click on listings that show up in the two machines I
> see a list of folders that differs for the two machines and I don't
> know how they got that way since they were originally set up to be
> identical.

Any problems with third-party software ("Beyond Compare") need to be
taken up with their tech support. I suggest you have a knowledgeable
friend (someone who is really knowledgeable and not just saying they
are) or professional take a look at your setup. I'm not able to
visualize what is going on with your computer and do not wish to
suggest something in those circumstances. Someone else may come along
with the answer for you, but very often someone on-site will be able to
solve things far more quickly and accurately than someone reading about
a problem in a newsgroup.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Malke,

Thanks for your help.

I'm still looking for a local, knowledgeable, pro to help. The ones I
know are very busy and rarely make house calls and I'm too old to
transport all that hardware to their shops. One that might make a
house call is currently on a two week vackation. No knowledgeable
friends unfortunately; they're all too old, like me. :-)

As of this afternoon, I'm in correspondence with "Scooter Support."
I've been using their "Beyond Compare" program for years and know they
will try very hard to help -- but I think the fact that their program
works on one of my 11 Synchronizing "sessions" is going to be a curve
ball for them.

If and when I get a solution, I will post it in this UseNet Group.

Best regards,
Joe