Network setup and file sharing Questions

[kevkap]

My wife an I used to share a pc with xp pro and office pro. I have set it up with a linksys wireless g router. I have set up a second pc with xp pro and office 2003 using a linksys wireles g pci card. I have the internet set up on both and working fine. Now do I run the Windows network wizard or wireless network wizard to enable file sharing and such?

Also I was wondering how to migrate "my" files over to the second pc such as e-mail ( I am sure I can just copy the backup dat file I guess), but documents and favs and such that I am going to remove from the first pc?

[acox65807]

If you have SP2 installed on the PC's (or another local firewall), Disable it. Then you need to have the same workgroup each PC and DIFFERENT computer names. That's networking absolute basics. This should get you what you want since you are both using pro. Of course you will have to share the directories you want and MAY have to use "pass-through authentication" same user id and password account on each machine. This is not to say that each user has to log into their respective machines with the same login, but the user account and permission levels should be on each machine.
Now, to migrat your pc settings. Very simple. If they are networked, or network them together back to back using a crossover cable and run the xp settings and file transfer.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro.../mgrtfset.mspx
I will be happy to help you further if you need it or if I've not been clear enough.

[kevkap]

Well, here is what I have accomplished so far. I turned off the firewall as suggested. I have pc1 connected modem-linksys broadband router. Access internet good. I have pc 2 connected via wireless pci card. Access to internet good. I have run the network setup wizard on both pc's. I have setup unique names on each-diff. from user name, and both to the same work group. I have set files on each to be shared as well as the printer which is hooked up to pc2. I can browse pc2 via pc1 but not the other way around. Pc2 is showing in my network places on pc2. Also cannot print from pc1 to printer.

Anyhow one thing at a time, what would be the next step to trouble shoot the connection problem from pc2 to pc1?

[acox65807]

The next step would be to "ping" each computer by IP and by name. Double check you don't have a firewall on the pc's (xp, norton, mcafee, ect.). Also, disable the firewall service(s) click start>run and type: services.msc and hit enter. Scroll down to windows firewall and stop it and then disable it.
While you are in there, check for other firewall services--norton, mcafee, ect.
Also, my network places is not ALWAYS reliable. Go to a command prompt and type: net view
see what you get. but first, check connectivity by going to command prompt and typing: ping <IP address of the other computer> (eg ping 192.168.1.5) see what you get. Then from pc2 type :ping pc1
Do this from each computer to see what your actual connectivity is looking like. If the pings fail but you can get to the internet, then the most likely cause is security. Anyway, I'm rambling....try the pings and check your antivirus to see if it also has a firewall.

[kevkap]

net view from pc2 : shows kevinpc kevins pc and paulapc paulaspc

pc1 shows the same thing.
Ping from pc1 to pc2 sent 4 pacets received 4 lost 0 and times and such.
Ping from pc2 to pc1 was the same ie good.

firewalls off and disabled, antivirus turned off on pc1. none on pc2.
when i go to my network on pc1 I see the router, shared files on pc1 and shared files on pc2, when I go to it on pc2 I see the router and shared files on pc2 but not on pc1.

Do I need to runt the "setup wireless network" wizard on pc2? I ran the "setup network" wizard on both pcs so far.

[kevkap]

Also does it matter that pc1 has two users on it?

[acox65807]

So do I understand you right that you can ping each computer from the other and can see both computers FROM either computer using net view? What about my network places? I don't know what you mean about the two users? you mean logged in? That wouldn't matter. However, you need to have something shared from either pc and you should have the user accounts and passwords on both pc's to avoid any permissions issues (this doesn't always have to be the case, but I have seen it). You can log into either account (kevin for example) but have paula's username and password the same on each. The same goes for kevin's username and password. This is called "pass-through authentication".
But right now you are "seeing" both computers in network places?

[kevkap]

Originally Posted by acox65807

So do I understand you right that you can ping each computer from the other and can see both computers FROM either computer using net view? What about my network places? I don't know what you mean about the two users? you mean logged in? That wouldn't matter. However, you need to have something shared from either pc and you should have the user accounts and passwords on both pc's to avoid any permissions issues (this doesn't always have to be the case, but I have seen it). You can log into either account (kevin for example) but have paula's username and password the same on each. The same goes for kevin's username and password. This is called "pass-through authentication".
But right now you are "seeing" both computers in network places?

Yes I can ping pc1 from pc2 and ping pc2 from pc1. Using net view on pc1 I see both pc's, using net view on pc2 I see both pc's.

Now, from "my network places" on pc1 I can see and connect to shared files on both pc1 and pc2. However on pc2 from "my network places" I can only see files on pc2 and nothing from pc1.

BUT when I click view "work group computers" on pc2 I can see both pc1 and pc2, but cannot access pc1. I get the "do not have permission. Logon failure" error.

As for the users on pc1 there are two but only logged in with one user. I do not have pwds set up on any account but I will try that.

[acox65807]

Yes, the owner of the pc can be logged. In other words, if you are trying to access "paulapc" you need permission and that is done by having your user account and password setup as a "user" on paula's pc and visa versa.

[acox65807]

oh and make sure the users are in the Administrator's group (in your case).

[kevkap]

Hello,

All users are admins on the pc's. I am still unable to connect to pc1 via pc2. I am almost done transferring my docs and I am going to remove myself as a user from pc1 so each pc will only have one user ( i do not know why that would matter).

I will be attempting to add another pc later today or tommorow, wireless. I hope it goes better than this.

[kevkap]

Originally Posted by acox65807

. Also, disable the firewall service(s) click start>run and type: services.msc and hit enter. Scroll down to windows firewall and stop it and then disable it.

I have finally gotten it to work, had to go to administrative settings and allow the connection from the other pc, anyhow I disable the firewall as stated here, but now when I go back in services.msc it shows to be active but when I go to control panel and windows firewall, it shows to be off and it is kind of grayed out so I cannot select to turn it on or off. How do I fix this?

[acox65807]

What you need to do is type services.msc from the run line, go to "windows firewall" and right click>properties and click stop, then from the "start up" drop down, click "disable". If that is what you are wanting to do. Otherwise, just stop and start the service.

[kevkap]

I did this previously to disable it. What I am trying to do now is re-enable it. When I go to services fromthe domand line I show it to be running, I have it set to automatic on start up. However in windows security console it shows to not be running and when I go to windows firewall from the control panel, I am not able to turn it on, both the on and off options are grayed out.

[acox65807]

check the Group Policy settings (Click Start - Run -

gpedit.msc). Expand Administrative Templates, then expand Network, then

Network Connections, then Windows Firewall, and click Standard Profile. Look

at "Windows Firewall: Protect all network connections", and ensure it's set

to "Not Configured". Double-click this settings, check Not Configured, and

then click "Apply" and then click "Ok"

[kevkap]

I checked this as you suggested and this was the settings that are configured.

[johnwill]

Checklist for networking Windows Machines with TCP/IP
-----------------------------------------------------
- PCs which are not XP must have TCP/IP installed.
- Each PC must have a unique computer name.
- Each PC must have a network share defined.
- ALL NICS must be on the same subnet (e.g. IP 192.168.0.* subnet mask 255.255.255.0).
- XP PCs must have Netbios over TCP/IP enabled (only essential for XP to talk to W9X PCs).
- MS Client and file & printer sharing must be enabled on each machine.
- All NICs must have their node type = anything except p-node (peer to peer, or point-point).
* To check, open a command prompt and type IPCONFIG /ALL.
- XP's ICF firewall is permanently disabled. (Only necessary for pre XP SP2).
- All 3rd party firewalls are disabled, uninstalled and deleted (until connection is working).
- PCs have the same workgroup (helps, but not essential for XP/2K, necessary for 9X/ME).

Allow 15 mins after rebooting a PC for that PC to appear in the workgroup, or
for it to see all other PCs. Or you can search for the PC by its computer name.


Additional things to check if you still have problems:
-----------------------------------------------------
- Check your Services are Started on all PCs: Workstation, Server, TCP/IP Netbios helper, Computer Browser.
- XP gives access to its shares via the Net Guest Account. (Note, not the same as the local guest account in user accounts which should be off). Net Guest Account is enabled by default in XP, but to check it, open a command prompt and type: NET USER GUEST
Should return a line with 'Account active yes'.


Check XP Security policies:
--------------------------
- Access this computer from the network: add guest
- Deny logon locally: remove guest
- Network access:Sharing and security model... -> Guest only
- Deny access to this computer from the network-> check Guest is not here.

[kevkap]

As I have said, the network is now working fine, I am trying to re-enable windows firewall on pc one which I dis-abled via services.msc earlier. I goto services.msc and it shows to be running but when I go to windows security panel it shows to not be running and when I go to windows firewall it shows not to be running and I do not have the option to turn it on as both itmes are grayed out.

[acox65807]

The fact that the firewall options are grayed out is caused by 1 of 2 things that I am aware of: 1. not logged in as Administrator or Admin group, 2. a group policy that has disabled it's use (regardless of Admin level).
I will check into it, but I will tell you that if your router is firewall enabled, the windows firewall should be disabled anyway.

[kevkap]

I am logged in as an admin. There is only one pc that is like this and it has only been since I initially disabled it to get the network functioning. Since my lynksys has a firewall, I should turn off my windows firewall on my pc's? Leave my antivirus running?