Please help with XP Home Network Setup

[revrora]

Having trouble setting up my home network.
Have a desktop connected via Ethernet cable and a laptop via wireless card to a modem/router.
I would also would like the laptop to be able to use the printer which is connected to the desktop with USB.
Both computers connect to the internet no problem and I have run the home network wizard on both computers.
I get an error message saying something like the server service is not started
when i try to share a file.
I have been going round in circles with this now for weeks.
What am i doing wrong?

[muggy]

what is the service name that is supposedly not started? please post the exact error message

see if this link helps
http://www.homenethelp.com/web/howto/net.asp

[revrora]

The error message i get when i try to share a file is;
"An error occurred while trying to share(file name). The server service is not started.The shared resource was not created at this time"

[revrora]

I can share files from the laptop to the desktop but not vice versa.Also the printer will not share,(This is plugged into desktop)
Can see Laptop when i view workgroup computers from the desktop and all files shared on it, i can see in my network places.

[muggy]

the server service is not enabled. click Start -> Run and type in services.msc and click OK. in the service list scroll down to Server. double-click on it and Start the service, also ensure that the startup type is Automatic. go to the Recovery tab and change First, Second and subsequent failures to 'Restart The Service' and then click OK.

go to control panel on both computer and make sure that the Guest Account is turned on

after doing this wait for sometime for windows to recognize the changes(give it a couple of minutes), you may also do a reboot

check this thread, it looks exactly like your issue

[revrora]

Already gone down this road. Its set to automatic and the server service still will not start. Changed the recovery tab to what you said and the guest account thing (I'm not sure why this would help) But I'm willing to try anything and still no joy.

I think it's something more deep rooted. I noticed that my computer description box on the computer name tab is empty, which would suggest that my desktop cannot be found on my network. Where is the description i gave it in the network wizard? ( which I have repeatedly run, again and again ).The laptop shows the description I gave it, and that works just fine.

Click Start, right click My Computer, Properties, Computer Name.

The full computer Name i gave it is there and also the network name but no computer description, and i can't enter anything in the box. It's grayed out.

I can't help thinking AOL are behind this.

[revrora]

I'm also able to ping both ways.

[johnwill]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/885859

[revrora]

Thanks for the reply.
With regard to your link;

Method 1: I've tried already and i get the error message i mentioned earlier.

Method 2: File and print sharing is not included in network server list.(only have service advertising protocol listed).

Method 3: System tools does not have local users and groups listed.

[revrora]

I need to get my desktop computer recognized on my home network before i can share files or the printer connected to it, and this i think is the problem.

Like I said earlier in the thread the computer description i gave it when running the home network wizard, does not show up in the computer name tab, and i don't have an option to change it.

Could this be something to do with my ISP?

[johnwill]

Your ISP has nothing to do with file/print sharing on your local network behind the router.

If you've installed AOL software, they may well be behind it.

[revrora]

Just had a lovely chat to AOL support over there in India and they assured me this problem is nothing to do with them.

Why do I not feel convinced?

[revrora]

C'mon john, help me out here...

[johnwill]

My total involvement with AOL software is to uninstall it whenever I see it. :) You might try a stack repair, just to see if that helps keep the server running.

TCP/IP stack repair options for use with Windows XP with SP2.

For these commands, Start, Run, CMD to open a command prompt.

Reset WINSOCK entries to installation defaults: netsh winsock reset catalog

Reset TCP/IP stack to installation defaults. netsh int ip reset reset.log

[revrora]

I've finally done it!
I just uninstalled "file and printer sharing for Microsoft networks" on the network connections/properties tab and then reinstalled it by right clicking a folder and ticking the allow sharing box.

It was something as simple as that.

As for the description thing maybe these two problems were not connected after all, but I would still like to know why I can't type anything in the box.

Thanks again to everyone who tried to help.

[revrora]

Looks like this has fixed the Computer description Problem as well because now I can see the description I gave it on my network and I have the option to edit.
So it looks as though the two problems were connected after all as I thought.
Anyway I'm happy now.
Thanks again to everyone

[johnwill]

Very strange.