printer sharing/networking problem

ffj1980 · 07-28-2005, 10:07 PM

I have a problem over my network with file and printer sharing between my laptop (which runs WinXP) and my desktop (which runs Win2K). I have set up the connection on both computers, which share a workgroup, and the username and password is the same on both. I have disable all my firewalls.

However, the two computers cannot access each other over the network. When I look in my workgroup, the computers show that they can "see" each other. However, when I try to access one from the other, it gives me an error message, saying the network path was not found, and that the computer is not accessible.

The strange part is, when I type in the IP address of the other computer directly in the address bar, it shows the computer and all the shared files/printers. There must be some problem in recognizing the names.

I would be satisfied with merely typing in the IP address rather than trying to access the other computer through Network Places / Network Neighborhood, however, this makes it so that I cannot share printers, since the computers don't recognize each other by name.

Is there something I haven't done, or something I can do to fix this problem?

**johnwill** · 07-29-2005, 04:44 PM

Can you ping the computers by name? The fact that they show up in Network Places seems to indicate that browsing is working.

Look in the event log and see if there are any errors relating to the networking.

ffj1980 · 07-29-2005, 08:42 PM

I can ping the computers by IP address... I'm not sure what you mean by pinging them by name.

I don't see any major network-related errors in the event log, either, although that it could be that I'm not seeing something.

ffj1980 · 07-30-2005, 09:41 AM

I also tried typing "ping \\computername" in the command prompt, and it says that it cannot find host \\computername - is this what you mean by pinging by name?

**johnwill** · 07-30-2005, 11:35 AM

The syntax is:

PING MAIN

Where "MAIN" is the computer name. No \\ involved.

ffj1980 · 07-30-2005, 01:45 PM

Thanks.

I tried that also, and it stated that it couldn't find the computer. It seems as if the computers cannot recognize each other by name. What can I do to fix this?

**johnwill** · 07-30-2005, 02:34 PM

I'd check in Network Properties, TCP/IP properties, WINS and see if NETBIOS over TCP/IP is enabled for both machines.

ffj1980 · 07-31-2005, 04:39 PM

NETBIOS over TCP/IP is enabled for both computers.

**johnwill** · 07-31-2005, 06:27 PM

Additional things to check:
-----------------------------------------------------
- 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.

ffj1980 · 07-31-2005, 09:01 PM

Yep, I checked all of those, and everything is as you said it should be, but the machines still aren't recognizing each other by name.

**johnwill** · 08-01-2005, 05:52 PM

You could give these a try, there's one that works with XP, and a generic one.

Automated WINSOCK Fix for XP

Automated WINSOCK Fix all Windows Versions

07-28-2005, 10:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
ffj1980 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 11 OS: WinXP	printer sharing/networking problem I have a problem over my network with file and printer sharing between my laptop (which runs WinXP) and my desktop (which runs Win2K). I have set up the connection on both computers, which share a workgroup, and the username and password is the same on both. I have disable all my firewalls. However, the two computers cannot access each other over the network. When I look in my workgroup, the computers show that they can "see" each other. However, when I try to access one from the other, it gives me an error message, saying the network path was not found, and that the computer is not accessible. The strange part is, when I type in the IP address of the other computer directly in the address bar, it shows the computer and all the shared files/printers. There must be some problem in recognizing the names. I would be satisfied with merely typing in the IP address rather than trying to access the other computer through Network Places / Network Neighborhood, however, this makes it so that I cannot share printers, since the computers don't recognize each other by name. Is there something I haven't done, or something I can do to fix this problem?

07-29-2005, 04:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,720 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Can you ping the computers by name? The fact that they show up in Network Places seems to indicate that browsing is working. Look in the event log and see if there are any errors relating to the networking. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

07-30-2005, 11:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,720 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	The syntax is: PING MAIN Where "MAIN" is the computer name. No \\ involved. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

07-30-2005, 02:34 PM	#7 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,720 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	I'd check in Network Properties, TCP/IP properties, WINS and see if NETBIOS over TCP/IP is enabled for both machines. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

07-31-2005, 06:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,720 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Additional things to check: ----------------------------------------------------- - 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. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

07-29-2005, 08:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
ffj1980 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 11 OS: WinXP	I can ping the computers by IP address... I'm not sure what you mean by pinging them by name. I don't see any major network-related errors in the event log, either, although that it could be that I'm not seeing something.

07-30-2005, 09:41 AM	#4 (permalink)
ffj1980 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 11 OS: WinXP	I also tried typing "ping \\computername" in the command prompt, and it says that it cannot find host \\computername - is this what you mean by pinging by name?

07-30-2005, 01:45 PM	#6 (permalink)
ffj1980 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 11 OS: WinXP	Thanks. I tried that also, and it stated that it couldn't find the computer. It seems as if the computers cannot recognize each other by name. What can I do to fix this?

07-31-2005, 04:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
ffj1980 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 11 OS: WinXP	NETBIOS over TCP/IP is enabled for both computers.

07-31-2005, 09:01 PM	#10 (permalink)
ffj1980 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 11 OS: WinXP	Yep, I checked all of those, and everything is as you said it should be, but the machines still aren't recognizing each other by name.

08-01-2005, 05:52 PM	#11 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,720 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	You could give these a try, there's one that works with XP, and a generic one. Automated WINSOCK Fix for XP Automated WINSOCK Fix all Windows Versions __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience