Help Requested: Computer in Workgroup Acting Passively?

[MalcolmDC]

(I looked for a sticky on the procedure for posting for help, but may have overlooked it. I'll quickly edit this post if there is something I left out or I've posted in the wrong place)

I have 4 computers on a home network.

Computer A- wired connection; Windows XP SP2
Computer B- wired connection; Windows XP SP2
Computer C- wireless connection; Windows Vista SP1
Computer X- wireless connection; Windows XP SP2

I use a Verizon Fios Wireless Router.

I have created a workgroup to network all of the computers together. I joined it by both running the network wizard on all the computers and also by changing the workgroup name through the Properties of My Computer (I did this second method on my second attempt to resolve my problem).

The situation on computers A, B, C:

All 4 computers are visible under "My Network Places". I can go into the shared files and do everything that I want to do. Move files in and out, copy files, etc. There is no issue with any file sharing on these 3 computers.

This includes access of the shared files of computer X!!!


The situation on computer X:

Under My Network Places-->Entire Network--->Microsoft Windows Network... Nowhere in any of these folders do any of computers A,B,C appear.

In the command prompt of computer X, I can successfully ping Computers A,B,C by both using the IP and the computer name. (I can also successfully ping computer X from the other 3 computers).

However, neither in the command prompt or in "My Network Places" can I access the shared files of computer A,B,C. It says that no network provider accepted the given path.

When I right-click My Computer, I am unable to map a network drive since \\computername\sharefoldername always comes up invalid on computer X.

When I use the Network Setup Wizard and select the workgroup name of the other 3 computers, everything appears to work. HOWEVER, I do have to select "Ignore disconnected network hardware" as it says my LAN card is disconnected. On computer X I have installed a Ralink Wireless PCI Card that runs fine through my router.

I also note that I did download that Windows XP update (LTTP? something like that- the name escapes me) that allows my Windows Vista computer (Computer C) to see it on the network.

***I did NOT have to install this update on Computers A or B in order to see them on Computer C. ---> Computer X was the only one of the Windows XP computers that required that update to show up ***


Summary:

I've tried other workgroups as well. Including workgroups that only contain Computer X and one other computer. Same problem.

Computer X's files are accessed and shared with no problem by the other 3. Computer X can also ping the other three computers. however, I cannot access the other computers shared files nor even have computers show up on Computer X.

I also have disabled Computer X's Window's firewall while doing this. Computers A,B,C are all running AVAST. Computer X is not.

I don't know if this is relevant, but I've made it so Computer C and Computer X both have the same exact user names and passwords. Also note that I am using an "admin" account on all 4 computers to work on the network.

So Computer X is acting passively. It's allowing its files to be accessed but can't do the same.


Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[johnwill]

On the problem computer, please do the following.

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 (or perhaps manual).




I'd also like to see this.

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, one at a time, followed by the Enter key:

Note that there is a space before the -n or the /ALL, but there is NOT a space after the - or / in the following 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.

[MalcolmDC]

On the problem computer:

Workstation is not Started. It is set to "Disabled"
Computer Browser is not Started. The Startup type is set as "Automatic."

Here is the information gathered from the command prompt instructions you gave. Note, however, that currently only Computer C and Computer X are in the same workgroup. (The Vista computer and the problem computer). Since I posted I have decided to test this configuration but I am still having the same problem (Computer C can access Computer X, but not the other way around)


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

C:\Documents and Settings\Top Grade>NBTSTAT -n

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

No names in cache

Wireless Network Connection 4:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.1.4] Scope Id: []

NetBIOS Local Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
TOPGRADE <20> UNIQUE Registered

C:\Documents and Settings\Top Grade>IPCONFIG /ALL

Windows IP Configuration

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

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network Connecti
on
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-11-11-B5-BF-5B

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection 4:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : home
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Ralink Turbo Wireless LAN Card
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1F-1F-0B-0D-55
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.4
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, August 20, 2008 4:11:58 P
M
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, August 21, 2008 4:11:57 PM


C:\Documents and Settings\Top Grade>

[MalcolmDC]

Well I went ahead and enabled Work Station and started it up. Next I started up Computer Browser (it wouldn't start up unless Work Station was on).

Problem solved! I can now see the other computers in the workgroup.

Thank you for your help! I am curious to know why this computer in particular would have that disabled. Could a piece of software have done it for some purpose?

Thank you!

[johnwill]

No real way to know, but it happens enough for me to have that convenient paste section to post.