Can't get two computers networked!!

seanmcq · 11-07-2007, 11:57 AM

Hi there, was wondering if maybe a fresh brain might help on this. I have a laptop and desktop and simply want to network them together via a BT HomeHub, to share files. I had both of them connected fine a few weeks ago but my Vista install went bust after installing a beta driver so I had to reinstall. Now, here's the details of the problem:

- The desktop is Windows XP and the laptop is Vista Ultimate.
- The desktop is wired into the HomeHub, the laptop is wireless.
- Both running Norton Internet Security 2007
- I have NIS2007 on both of them set to trust the network and to trust each computer individually also.
- Windows firewall is turned off on both machines.
- Both machines are in the MSHOME workgroup.
- Have Network discovery and File & Printer sharing turned on in the Vista Network Manager thing.
- I can ping between both machines fine using their name and IP address.

When I go into "View devices" on the laptop, I can see the laptop and another one called "Thomson" which is the Homehub itself but not my desktop. However, when I go to run and type \\desktop\ I do get a folder up but it contains only "Printers" and none of the other shared folders. If I try to access \\desktop\share then I just get a message saying it couldn't be reached. On the desktop if I try to get to \\laptop\ I get nowhere!

I even tried turning Norton off on both machines but it seemed to make no difference. Like I said, I had file sharing working fine before I re-installed Vista and was able to map to drives on the desktop.

Maybe I'm missing something simple here but I CANNOT get this to work!!

johnwill · 11-08-2007, 06:09 AM

Windows XP And Vista On The LAN Together

seanmcq · 11-08-2007, 03:59 PM

Tried those with no success. Most people I have asked have pointed to the mixed Operating Systems but I had the EXACT SAME copy of Vista (same disk) installed on the Laptop before I had re-install and the two machines were able to talk with no problems at all!

seanmcq · 11-08-2007, 05:02 PM

Hi, can't seem to edit my last post. I tried disconnecting the WAN and completely disabling Norton & Windows Firewall on both machines, still with no joy. Tried with JUST Windows firewall and nothing.

I can reach \\desktop\ from the laptop (i.e. I don't get an error message) but all I get is a folder with "Printers" and none of the shared folders. Originally "Desktop" doesn't show up in the "View Devices", after I browse to it via \\desktop\, it shows up in the list, but when I click on it, again I get only "Printers".

From the desktop \\laptop is not accesible at all. I can ping between both machines fine and can even remote desktop using their internal ip or hostname. At my wits end with this one!

johnwill · 11-08-2007, 05:07 PM

In the main screen of the Network and Sharing Center, what are the settings? Can you post a screen shot of that?

To post a screen shot of the active window, hold the Alt key and press the PrtScn key. Open the Windows PAINT application and Paste the screen shot. You can then use PAINT to trim to suit, and save it as a JPG format file. To upload it to TSG, open the full reply window and use the Manage Attachments button to upload it here.

seanmcq · 11-08-2007, 05:19 PM

Hi, here's a screenshot of the Network & Sharing Centre. Network Discovery, File Sharing & Public Folders all turned on.

seanmcq · 11-08-2007, 06:08 PM

Hmm, kind of (half) fixed the problem.

Seems it may have been a problem with NetBios. I checked the Event Viewer on my XP machine and saw that I was getting an error relating to NetBT "Initialization failed because the driver device could not be created." and when I tried a nbtstat - n, I was getting an error message. I ran a fix ("netsh int ip reset resetlog.txt") and then rebooted both machines.

I can now see Laptop from the "View Workgroup Computers" on the XP Desktop and can connect to it and view its shares. In the Network & Sharing Centre of the Vista Laptop, I can see Desktop on the Devices. However, here's the problem:

I can see the device listed as a Workgroup computer, but if I double click the icon or run \\desktop, I get a "device is not accessible" message. But, if I browse to the actual share name, it seems to open OK (e.g. \\desktop\downloads opens fine).

Weird...

11-07-2007, 11:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
seanmcq Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 12 OS: Windows XP	Can't get two computers networked!! Hi there, was wondering if maybe a fresh brain might help on this. I have a laptop and desktop and simply want to network them together via a BT HomeHub, to share files. I had both of them connected fine a few weeks ago but my Vista install went bust after installing a beta driver so I had to reinstall. Now, here's the details of the problem: - The desktop is Windows XP and the laptop is Vista Ultimate. - The desktop is wired into the HomeHub, the laptop is wireless. - Both running Norton Internet Security 2007 - I have NIS2007 on both of them set to trust the network and to trust each computer individually also. - Windows firewall is turned off on both machines. - Both machines are in the MSHOME workgroup. - Have Network discovery and File & Printer sharing turned on in the Vista Network Manager thing. - I can ping between both machines fine using their name and IP address. When I go into "View devices" on the laptop, I can see the laptop and another one called "Thomson" which is the Homehub itself but not my desktop. However, when I go to run and type \\desktop\ I do get a folder up but it contains only "Printers" and none of the other shared folders. If I try to access \\desktop\share then I just get a message saying it couldn't be reached. On the desktop if I try to get to \\laptop\ I get nowhere! I even tried turning Norton off on both machines but it seemed to make no difference. Like I said, I had file sharing working fine before I re-installed Vista and was able to map to drives on the desktop. Maybe I'm missing something simple here but I CANNOT get this to work!!

11-08-2007, 06:09 AM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 28,057 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Can't get two computers networked!! Windows XP And Vista On The LAN Together __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

11-08-2007, 03:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
seanmcq Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 12 OS: Windows XP	Re: Can't get two computers networked!! Tried those with no success. Most people I have asked have pointed to the mixed Operating Systems but I had the EXACT SAME copy of Vista (same disk) installed on the Laptop before I had re-install and the two machines were able to talk with no problems at all!

11-08-2007, 05:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
seanmcq Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 12 OS: Windows XP	Re: Can't get two computers networked!! Hi, can't seem to edit my last post. I tried disconnecting the WAN and completely disabling Norton & Windows Firewall on both machines, still with no joy. Tried with JUST Windows firewall and nothing. I can reach \\desktop\ from the laptop (i.e. I don't get an error message) but all I get is a folder with "Printers" and none of the shared folders. Originally "Desktop" doesn't show up in the "View Devices", after I browse to it via \\desktop\, it shows up in the list, but when I click on it, again I get only "Printers". From the desktop \\laptop is not accesible at all. I can ping between both machines fine and can even remote desktop using their internal ip or hostname. At my wits end with this one!

11-08-2007, 05:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 28,057 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Can't get two computers networked!! In the main screen of the Network and Sharing Center, what are the settings? Can you post a screen shot of that? To post a screen shot of the active window, hold the Alt key and press the *PrtScn* key. Open the Windows PAINT application and Paste the screen shot. You can then use PAINT to trim to suit, and save it as a JPG format file. To upload it to TSG, open the full reply window and use the Manage Attachments button to upload it here. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

11-08-2007, 06:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
seanmcq Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 12 OS: Windows XP	Re: Can't get two computers networked!! Hmm, kind of (half) fixed the problem. Seems it may have been a problem with NetBios. I checked the Event Viewer on my XP machine and saw that I was getting an error relating to NetBT "Initialization failed because the driver device could not be created." and when I tried a nbtstat - n, I was getting an error message. I ran a fix ("netsh int ip reset resetlog.txt") and then rebooted both machines. I can now see Laptop from the "View Workgroup Computers" on the XP Desktop and can connect to it and view its shares. In the Network & Sharing Centre of the Vista Laptop, I can see Desktop on the Devices. However, here's the problem: I can see the device listed as a Workgroup computer, but if I double click the icon or run \\desktop, I get a "device is not accessible" message. But, if I browse to the actual share name, it seems to open OK (e.g. \\desktop\downloads opens fine). Weird...