Home Network Sharing - Wits End

[jwgnle]

Help - At wits end with this issue.

Have read and tried just about every suggested solution/fix out there to no avail. Throwing in the towel on this one.

The Issue: All network computers as listed below can "see" each other and share files with each other via "My Network Places", "View Workgroup computers" and clicking into each one EXCEPT to the main office computer. None of the network computers can click into the main office computer (it's there, they see it) and instead are greeted with an "\\xxxxxxx is not accessable. You might not have permission.... The network path was not found" error. However, the office computer can access all of the other PC's and share files using the same access method noted above (via "My Network Places").

Home network consistis of the following:

(1) office computer running XP Pro SP3 which is wired to a LinkSys WNDR3300 Router and has an HP1115 printer connected to it via USB cable.

(3) laptops and (1) desktop connected via wireless adapters. All are running XP Pro SP2. At one point all of these could share and print files, etc. with the wired office PC / printer above.

All computers on this network are contained in the same workgroup [MSHOME]. All computers are assigned a specific IP address (i.e. 198.168.1.5, .10, .15, .20, etc.) and all have "Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP" selected (a recommended solution).

All firewalls have been turned off (temp. recommended solution to trouble-shoot). The "Computer Browser Srvc" is set to automatic and is on on all PC's (recommended solution). "Routing and Remote Access" set to manual and stopped on all PC's (recommended solution). A couple of Registry changes have been made as well dealing with Node Types.

At this point none of the wireless PC can access files on nor can they send print jobs to the main office computer. Used to, but no longer.

What else can I possibly do to remedy this problem? Thanks in advance for your assistance. Jim, Tucson, AZ

[johnwill]

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.

In the command prompt window that opens, type type 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.

[jwgnle]

Thank you for your post Johnwill...

As it currently stands... All computers on my home network [MSHOME] can ping each other with the exception of one PC. The main office PC that's wired to the WNDR3300 Router (with the HP1115 printer) cannot be pinged from any of the other network computers. It can ping all network computers successfully but cannot be pinged itself.

I have uninstalled BitDefender Internet Security Suite and turned off Windows Firewall... I have set all computers to "Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP".

I have checked and set all Services to Automatic and have Started...

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

What else could be blocking inbound traffic to this one PC? I have attached a JPG file of my IPCONFIG /ALL read out if this might help.

Regards, Jim, Tucson, AZ

[johnwill]

A firewall is almost always the issue with failure to ping.

One thing you might want to do, enable NETBIOS over TCP/IP on that connection.

Enable NETBIOS over TCP/IP for 2K/XP

1. Right click Network Places (Network Neighborhood for W98).
2. Select Properties
3. Right click your Internet Connection (ex. Local Area Connection)
4. Select Properties
5. Make sure Client for Microsoft Networks, and File and Print Sharing for Microsoft Networks are SELECTED.
   • Highlight Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
   • Click Properties
   • Click Advanced
   • Select the WINS Tab Above
   • Make sure Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP is SELECTED
6. Click OK and Close Network Connections Window.

[jwgnle]

Johnwill...

As noted in previous post...

"I have uninstalled BitDefender Internet Security Suite and turned off Windows Firewall... I have set all computers to "Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP".

Hence my frustration... On the computer that no other computer on the network can access or print to... There are no firewalls and NetBIOS over TCP/IP is set. Every PC can "see" this computer on the network, none of them can access it and/or ping it.

Jim, Tucson, AZ

[TxTazDad]

John, do you think it could be a security setting on the router itself? All the other PCs are wireless & the one they can't hit is the ONLY wired one

[jwgnle]

Taz - Thank you for your added comment...

I failed to mention earlier... To test that very thing, I just happen to have a desktop temporarily in the office cleaning it up, etc. It's usually on a wireless connect up stairs. Initially had this one connected via wireless but since have plugged it directly into the router.

Either way - wireless or wired, this computer cannot ping my problematic office desk top. It "should" be open and vulnerable to a pinging attack. Just for fun I pinged its own IP... It found itself and received the packets. Otherwise, it's still lost yet visible on the network.

Can attach screen shots of router settings if you'd like to persue this path.

Appreciate all the help. Jim

[johnwill]

The office desktop sounds like it has a firewall that is blocking the pings.

[TxTazDad]

hmmmmm, remember the nvidia firewall issue, John?

[jwgnle]

Any way to trouble shoot this as at present I do not have a firewall or anti-virus program loaded. I use BitDefender Internet Security 2008 which has been completely uninstalled from the system. Windows XP firewall is also deactivated.

Yes - I agree, it sounds like the office desktop has a firewall that's blocking the pings. Honestly, BitDefender was uninstalled using their uninstall program and has been rebooted a number of times since.

Similar issues encountered in the past (other systems) I've always been able to resolve. There's something there that's blocking the ping, and any print traffic, etc. but for the life of me, I can't figure it out.

It's probably some stupid nit, "well duh" thing... But right now, I'm stumped.

[johnwill]

OTScanIt will show all processes, services and drivers that might give a clue as well as a lot of other useful information.

Download http://download.bleepingcomputer.com...r/OTScanIt.exe to your Desktop and double-click on it to extract the files. It will create a folder named OTScanIt on your desktop.

• Close any open browsers.
• Disconnect from the Internet.
• Close/disable all anti-virus and anti-malware programs so they do not interfere with the running of OTScanIt.
• Open the OTScanIt folder and double-click on OTScanIt.exe to start the program.
• Check the box that says Scan All User Accounts
• Under Drivers select the radio button for All
• Check the Radio buttons for Files/Folders Created Within 60 Days and Files/Folders Modified Within 60 Days
• Under Additional Scans check the following:
  • Reg - BotCheck
  • Reg - Desktop Components
  • Reg - Disabled MS Config Items
  • Reg - Security Settings
  • Reg - Session Manager Settings
  • Reg - Software Policy Settings
  • Reg - Uninstall List
  • Evnt - EventViewer Errors/Warnings (last 7 days)
• Now click the Run Scan button on the toolbar.
• The program will be scanning huge amounts of data so depending on your system it could take a long time to complete. Let it run unhindered until it finishes.
• When the scan is complete Notepad will open with the report file loaded in it automatically.
• Save that Notepad file. Click the Format menu and make sure that Word wrap is not checked. If it is then click on it to uncheck it.

Use the Reply button and upload Notepad file here as an attachment please.[/list]

[jwgnle]

Oh well... Broke down last night and just restored the system from the Restore Partition that I originally created when I built the system a couple of months ago. Getting all the little things reloaded and am back in business....

Everything is working fine... Will save the last post and file "OTScanIt" for future use.

And thank you TxTaz for your "out of the box" thoughts and attempted prodding.

Best regards.... Jim, Tucson, AZ