Networking help

[spartanrob]

I have 3 PC's on a wireless network. One is running XP home, one has XP pro and one has Media Center. When any of the machines try to access the other, they can see the shared drive, but cannot add them as a network place. Each PC can see it's own shared drive but Can't map to the others.

I've redone the network setup wizard many times and restarted file sharing. I am running Zone Alarm, but the problem persists even after uninstalling.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[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.

[spartanrob]

Originally Posted by 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.

Thanks, I'm working through the list, how do you check the node type? I did and ipconfig /all but don't see it.

[johnwill]

IPCONFIG /ALL is required to see it.

The node type here is Unknown, the only one that's a problem is Peer.

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : MAIN
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : home

[spartanrob]

OK, now we are getting somewhere (I hope). Mine says peer-peer, is that the problem? if so, how do i change it.

[johnwill]

Create a file in notepad named NODETYPE.REG with the following contents:

------------------- Use text after this line -------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NetBT\Parameters]

"NodeType"=dword:00000001
------------------- Use text before this line -----------------

Double click on the file and say Yes to the merge into registry question.

[spartanrob]

You Guys Rock! Thank You for ending weeks of misery!

[johnwill]

Glad we could help.

[spartanrob]

Well, nothing has changed on my system, but the fix has all of a sudden stopped working??? I just checked the Node type and it is set to Broadcast

[johnwill]

This is probably a different issue, can we see the output of the IPCONFIG again?

[spartanrob]

Thanks, here is a complete dump of the info...

Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : OFFICEEMACH
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcast
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 5:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : TAP-Win32 Adapter V8
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-FF-C5-A9-C1-8A

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast Eth
ernet NIC
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-13-D3-90-5B-09
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.169.12
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.169.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.169.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.169.1
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, December 03, 2006 9:35:50 AM

Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Monday, December 04, 2006 9:35:50 AM


Ethernet adapter Bluetooth Network Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Netw
ork)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-50-F2-7D-81-5B

Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : FF-FF-FF-FF-FF-FF-FF-FF
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : fe80::ffff:ffff:fffd%5
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

Tunnel adapter Automatic Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Automatic Tunneling Pseudo-Interface

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : C0-A8-A9-0C
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : fe80::5efe:192.168.169.12%2
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : fec0:0:0:ffff::1%1
fec0:0:0:ffff::2%1
fec0:0:0:ffff::3%1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

[johnwill]

You appear to be connected to the router, what are the exact symptoms? Can you ping 192.168.169.1? If so, can you ping yahoo.com?

Please post your responses to those commands.

[spartanrob]

Originally Posted by johnwill

You appear to be connected to the router, what are the exact symptoms? Can you ping 192.168.169.1? If so, can you ping yahoo.com?

Please post your responses to those commands.

Yes, I am using a netgear router. I can see other computers but not access their shared drives. Other computers can see this computer but not access the shared drives.

Yes, I can ping both successfully

[johnwill]

What happens when you attempt to access the shared drives?

[spartanrob]

I can see the computer when I try to add a network share, but when I click on it, it thinks for a minute and then nothing, it won't expand to show the shared drives. Everything was working when you gave me the first tip about NODETYPE.REG, but stopped working after a few days. No changes to the system. I am running Zonealarm internet security but the problem exists even if i uninstall it.

[spartanrob]

Anyone??? Please!

[johnwill]

Did you look in the Event log to see if there are any errors logged when the failure to connect occurs?

[spartanrob]

Originally Posted by johnwill

Did you look in the Event log to see if there are any errors logged when the failure to connect occurs?

No, where would I look?

[spartanrob]

Well, all of a sudden, i can see this computer again from others on the net, crazy. But this computer still can't see others. I think it's haunted.

[spartanrob]

Update: I came home today, and nothing, now the computer can't be seen anymore