Sharing Files And Programs

[SDODOM]

I have two desktop computers which have Windows Vista, and one notebook (the one that I am using now) which has Windows XP. How do I share the files and programs between all computers? They are all on the same network, as far as connecting to the internet. The modem is connected to one of the desktop computers which has the Windows Vista on it. When I search for computers on the network, it doesn't show any other computers, only itself. I originally had a different desktop computer with Windows XP on it, connected to that modem, when I originally set the network up. Thank you!

[johnwill]

Please supply the following info, exact make and models of the equipment please.

Make and exact model of the broadband modem.
Make and exact model of the router (if a separate unit).
Model numbers can usually be obtained from the label on the device.
Connection type, wired or wireless.
If wireless, encryption used, (none, WEP, WPA, or WPA2)
Version and patch level of Windows on all affected machines, i.e. XP-Home (or XP-Pro), SP1-SP2, Vista, etc.

Do you have Internet access on both machines?

I'd also like to see this for each of the machines.

Hold the Windows key and press R, then type CMD to open a command prompt:

Type the following two commands:

NBTSTAT -n

IPCONFIG /ALL

Right click in the command window and choose Select All, then hit Enter.
Paste the results in a message here.

If you are on a machine with no network connection, use a floppy, USB disk, or a CD-RW disk to transfer a text file with the information to allow pasting it here.

[SDODOM]

I will gather all info and post later. Thanks!

[SDODOM]

I have three computers on this network altogether. They all have access to the internet. One computer is my notebook, and the other two are desktop computers. One of the desktop computers is the computer that the network runs off of via an Arris broadband modem model# TM402P/110, and a Linksys router model# WRT54G v.3. This report that you requested is from my notebook (laptop) which is a Gateway and runs on Windows XP Home Edition Version 2002 Service Pack 2 (I will place the other two desktop computers seperately). It connects to the network via a wireless connection with a WEP Encryption. Here is the report for this computer:


Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>NBTSTAT -n

Local Area Connection:
Node IpAddress: [0.0.0.0] Scope Id: []

No names in cache

Wireless Network Connection:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.1.101] Scope Id: []

NetBIOS Local Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
BEDROOM <00> UNIQUE Registered
BASEMENT <00> GROUP Registered
BEDROOM <20> UNIQUE Registered
BASEMENT <1E> GROUP Registered
BASEMENT <1D> UNIQUE Registered
..__MSBROWSE__.<01> GROUP Registered

Local Area Connection 15:
Node IpAddress: [169.254.2.2] Scope Id: []

NetBIOS Local Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
BEDROOM <00> UNIQUE Registered
BASEMENT <00> GROUP Registered
BEDROOM <20> UNIQUE Registered
BASEMENT <1E> GROUP Registered
BASEMENT <1D> UNIQUE Registered
..__MSBROWSE__.<01> GROUP Registered

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>IPCONFIG/ALL

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : BEDROOM
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : hsd1.mn.comcast.net.

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Cont
roller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-E0-B8-90-D5-82

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : hsd1.mn.comcast.net.
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200BG Network
Connection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-12-F0-07-FB-DF
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.101
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 68.87.77.130
68.87.72.130
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Monday, February 11, 2008 10:55:43 A
M
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, February 12, 2008 10:55:43
AM

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 15:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Windows Mobile-based Device #14
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 80-00-60-0F-E8-00
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 169.254.2.2
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 169.254.2.1
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Monday, February 11, 2008 3:10:45 PM

Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, March 12, 2008 3:10:45 PM


C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>

[SDODOM]

This computer is one of the desktops (not the one that the modem & router are directly connected to). It has a wireless connection via a wireless card. It is an E-Machine running Windows Vista (not sure how to check version or service pack on this computer, if applicable. I believe that it is Vista Home). Here is the report:



Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6000]
Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\OWNER>NBTSTAT -n

Local Area Connection:
Node IpAddress: [0.0.0.0] Scope Id: []

No names in cache

Wireless Network Connection:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.1.104] Scope Id: []

NetBIOS Local Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
JB-MUSICMACHINE<00> UNIQUE Registered
WORKGROUP <00> GROUP Registered
JB-MUSICMACHINE<20> UNIQUE Registered
WORKGROUP <1E> GROUP Registered
WORKGROUP <1D> UNIQUE Registered
..__MSBROWSE__.<01> GROUP Registered

C:\Users\OWNER>IPCONFIG/ALL

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : JB-MusicMachine
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : hsd1.mn.comcast.net.

Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : hsd1.mn.comcast.net.
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Linksys Wireless-G USB Network Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-14-BF-75-F7-11
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::9899:10ee:380b:d515%9(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.104(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Monday, February 11, 2008 4:31:02 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, February 12, 2008 4:31:02 PM
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 218109119
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 68.87.77.130
68.87.72.130
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network Connection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-19-D1-56-F0-FE
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 6:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : isatap.{656CB449-5716-41BE-8B33-BA485694B
2A1}
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 7:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : hsd1.mn.comcast.net.
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : isatap.hsd1.mn.comcast.net.
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::5efe:192.168.1.104%22(Preferred)
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 68.87.77.130
68.87.72.130
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 9:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 02-00-54-55-4E-01
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2001:0:4137:9e66:c8:25e4:3f57:fe97(Prefer
red)
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::c8:25e4:3f57:fe97%10(Preferred)
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : ::
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

C:\Users\OWNER>

[SDODOM]

This is the last computer (desktop) on this network (other than my son's PSP, and until I add his computer (HP desktop) back to it). This computer is an HP, and is the computer that the network is directly connected to. The Linksys router and Arris broadband modem connects to this computer. It runs Windows Vista Home Premium. Here is the report for this computer:


Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6000]
Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\OWNER>NBTSTAT -n

Local Area Connection:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.1.100] Scope Id: []

NetBIOS Local Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
BASEMENT <00> UNIQUE Registered
WORKGROUP <00> GROUP Registered
WORKGROUP <1E> GROUP Registered
BASEMENT <20> UNIQUE Registered

C:\Users\OWNER>IPCONFIG/ALL

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : BASEMENT
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : hsd1.mn.comcast.net.

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : hsd1.mn.comcast.net.
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1E-90-02-17-1A
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::c43d:ea0:df1a:4660%8(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.100(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Monday, February 11, 2008 5:09:03 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, February 12, 2008 5:09:03 PM
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 201333689
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 68.87.77.130
68.87.72.130
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 6:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : hsd1.mn.comcast.net.
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::5efe:192.168.1.100%13(Preferred)
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 68.87.77.130
68.87.72.130
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 11:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 02-00-54-55-4E-01
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2001:0:4137:9e66:348b:299a:3f57:fe9b(Pref
erred)
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::348b:299a:3f57:fe9b%12(Preferred)
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : ::
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

C:\Users\OWNER>

[SDODOM]

The second cumputer mentioned (E-Machine desktop #1) runs off of Windows Vista Home Basic, and it has a Shared WEP wireless connection via the wireless card. The 1st mentioned computer (Gateway laptop) has a Shared WEP connection to the network, and connects wirelessly via an internal wireless modem. Also, there is an XBOX 360 which shares a connection with this network, it is wired. I forgot about that one.

[johnwill]

OK, you have two master browsers, which normally occurs when the machines can't see each other on the network.

The top suspect here is firewall configurations.

Turn off any firewalls for debugging. If the firewall is the problem, you'll have to configure it to allow access to "trusted zone" addresses. Note that some firewalls must be completely uninstalled to stop them from affecting your networking.

Hold the Windows key and press R, then type CMD to open a command prompt for the following commands:

PING each remote computer by IP address, and if successful, PING by name. Open a command prompt as described above and type.

PING <ip address>
or
PING <computer name>

Where:
<ip address> - is the x.x.x.x IP address
<computer name> - is the computer name

A failure to PING is almost always a firewall configuration issue. Any failure to PING needs to be corrected before you go any farther.

Note: You can obtain the IP address and computer name of a computer by opening a command prompt (DOS window) and typing IPCONFIG /ALL. This should work for any Windows version. The IPCONFIG /ALL display will provide a wealth of useful information for debugging your network connection.

Check your Services are Started on all PCs:

• Computer Browser
• DHCP Client
• DNS Client
• Network Connections
• Network Location Awareness
• Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
• Server
• TCP/IP Netbios helper
• Workstation

Note: You can check the services in Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Services.

All of these services should be started, and their startup type should be automatic.

All computers should be in the same workgroup for computer browsing to function properly. File & Print Sharing has to be enabled on any computer you wish to share files or printers from. You also need to actually share the resource in question from My Computer, right click on the drive/printer/folder, and select sharing.

If you encounter difficulties accessing computers that are visible in Network Neighborhood, make sure the computer being accessed has an account with the same name/password as the system connecting to it uses to login.

While the default NetBIOS setting is correct for normal network configurations, it's possible for it to be altered, and it costs nothing to make sure it's correct. NETBIOS over TCP/IP must be enabled for normal network browsing.

[SDODOM]

I may need some step by step info, in laymen terms. The language almost sounds foreign to me, and I am not following along as easily as I would like. I'll let you know what happens when I attempt what I think that you are saying.

[SDODOM]

I was able to PING from my Gateway notebook my E-Machine, but not the HP which the router & modem are attached to.

[SDODOM]

From my HP computer which has the networks modem & router attached, I was able to PING the E-Machine by IP address and name, but I was only able to PING the IP address, not the name, with my notebook (Gateway).

[SDODOM]

From My E-machine Computer, I Am Able To Ping My Hp Via Both The Ip Address And The Name, But With The Notebook (gateway), I Am Only Able To Ping Via Ip Address (not Name).

[SDODOM]

I have changed the workgroup name on my notebook (Gateway), and now I am able to PING both the IP address and the name for both of my other desktop computers. I will try tomorrow to see if those computers now recognizes this computer, and are able to share the files and programs.

[SDODOM]

I have been able to PING all computers on each computer, via both IP address and name.

[johnwill]

What's the current status of file sharing?

[SDODOM]

I am able to see all computers on the network, but I am not able to share all files. Even when I mark them as shared on the network, the are not accessible from the other computers on the network. For instance, I want to share the office program from my laptop with the other two desktop computers, but it doesn't allow. I also want to share a game that's on my desktop computer that the network connects directly to, but it doesn't allow me to share the files, it gives a message that the file".exe is not a valid Win32 application." I am not where I began on this (I have made much progress), but I am not where I yearn to be. I would like to be able to share "all" files on each computer within the network.

[johnwill]

You're not trying to run programs from the remote computer, are you? You can't really do that, they have to be installed on the local computer. Sounds like you're trying to execute the applications, not share data files.