File sharing problems

2027 Views 18 Replies 8 Participants Last post by McNinja, Jun 25, 2008

rostafarian

Discussion Starter · May 26, 2008

Hi guys, hope you can help with this, it's been bugging me for ages and I can't seem to fix it with the help that's already out there.

I've got a desktop with a cable connection to my router and a laptop with a wireless connection to the router. Both can access the internet, and the laptop can access the desktop occasionally (although it's pretty temperamental). My trouble is getting the desktop to connect to the laptop. Not only can I not connect to the laptop, I can't even access the workgroup for some reason - I keep getting a message saying that I may not have the required permissions.

I use Zonealarm (free version) on the desktop and Windows FW on the laptop and have managed to add the IP range in ZA to allow the laptop to access the desktop but I can't figure out how to get the desktop to connect to the laptop.

The laptop can ping the desktop but not viceversa.

Any help would be much appreciated.

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1 - 19 of 19 Posts

Cellus

· #2 · May 27, 2008

If you are trying to access files on your laptop from your desktop, you may need to add File and Print Sharing as an exception under Windows Firewall, or if you are trying to remotely connect to the laptop add the exception for Remote Desktop.

By the way, I highly recommend if using your laptop outside of your home network to install a better software firewall, such as ZoneAlarm.

rostafarian

Discussion Starter · #3 · May 27, 2008

File and print sharing is already enabled. I got a firewall package free with my broadband package and I keep meaning to switch both systems over to it but never get around to it

I'm pretty sure the problem is with the desktop rather than the laptop as the laptop can see the workgroup and ping the desktop but the desktop can't even see the workgroup. Surely it should be able to see something by way of a workgroup, even if the desktop is the only thing there and everything else is hidden?

Wrench97

· #4 · May 27, 2008

Are both on the same workgroup? I.E. Mshome or workgroup

rostafarian

Discussion Starter · #5 · May 27, 2008

They are both on the workgroup "home". The laptop can see both itself and the desktop in the workgroup, but the desktop can't even see the workgroup, never mind what computers are in it.

johnwill

· #6 · May 27, 2008

Turn off any firewalls for debugging. If the firewall is the problem, you'll have to configure it to allow access to "trusted zone" addresses. Note that some firewalls must be completely uninstalled to stop them from affecting your networking.

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:

PING each remote computer by IP address, and if successful, PING by name. Open a command prompt as described above and type.

PING <ip address>
or
PING <computer name>

Where:
<ip address> - is the x.x.x.x IP address
<computer name> - is the computer name

A failure to PING is almost always a firewall configuration issue. Any failure to PING needs to be corrected before you go any farther.

Note: You can obtain the IP address and computer name of a computer by opening a command prompt (DOS window) and typing IPCONFIG /ALL. This should work for any Windows version. The IPCONFIG /ALL display will provide a wealth of useful information for debugging your network connection.

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.

All computers should be in the same workgroup for computer browsing to function properly. File & Print Sharing has to be enabled on any computer you wish to share files or printers from. You also need to actually share the resource in question from My Computer, right click on the drive/printer/folder, and select sharing.

If you encounter difficulties accessing computers that are visible in Network Neighborhood, make sure the computer being accessed has an account with the same name/password as the system connecting to it uses to login.

While the default NetBIOS setting is correct for normal network configurations, it's possible for it to be altered, and it costs nothing to make sure it's correct. NETBIOS over TCP/IP must be enabled for normal network browsing.

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SGANESH

· #7 · May 29, 2008

Hi Use the following Start-->Run--> type "\\ip-address of your Laptop"

rostafarian

Discussion Starter · #8 · May 30, 2008

johnwill: I've checked my settings and they were all correct - I've made no changes to them.

sganesh: this is coming up with "network path not found".

Oddly enough, my desktop has suddenly started seeing the workgroup but still cannot access the laptop (no permissions apparently) but now the laptop has stopped seeing the workgroup, although I can still access the desktop's shared folders through the method sganesh mentioned above, although network places is classing these as "on the internet" rather than "local network".

Any more suggestions?

johnwill

· #9 · May 30, 2008

Can you ping by name between the two computers?

Let's see this for each of the computers.

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.

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SGANESH

· #10 · May 31, 2008

1.Check the Following
a. Ethernet Cables connected with Pcs.
b.IP Address and Ping with the Router
c.Disable the Firewall Setting in (Windows XP) for both the PC's
d.Ping between both the Pc's
2.Check whether you have enabled a sharing folder on the Destination ?
3. Open the "Internet Explorer"
type in the Addressbar "\\IP_of_Destination_PC"

rostafarian

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jun 1, 2008

Laptop info:

C:\>ping amd3000

Pinging amd3000.lan [192.168.1.64] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 192.168.1.64: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.64: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.64: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.64: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=128

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.64:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 1ms, Maximum = 1ms, Average = 1ms

C:\>nbtstat -n

Wireless Network Connection:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.1.65] Scope Id: []

NetBIOS Local Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
LAPTOP <00> UNIQUE Registered
LAPTOP <20> UNIQUE Registered
HOME <00> GROUP Registered
HOME <1E> GROUP Registered

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

No names in cache

C:\>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : LAPTOP
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : lan
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : 3Com OfficeConnect Wireless 11g PC C
ard (3CRWE154G72)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0F-CB-A7-80-C1
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.65
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 01 June 2008 21:46:26
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 02 June 2008 21:46:26

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : SiS 900 PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-A0-CC-C3-FF-45

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rostafarian

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jun 1, 2008

Desktop info:

C:\>ping 192.168.1.65

Pinging 192.168.1.65 with 32 bytes of data:

Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.65:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

C:\>ping laptop

Pinging laptop.lan [192.168.1.65] with 32 bytes of data:

Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.65:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

C:\>nbtstat -n

Local Area Connection:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.1.64] Scope Id: []

NetBIOS Local Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
AMD3000 <00> UNIQUE Registered
HOME <00> GROUP Registered
AMD3000 <20> UNIQUE Registered
HOME <1E> GROUP Registered
HOME <1D> UNIQUE Registered
..__MSBROWSE__.<01> GROUP Registered

C:\>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : AMD3000
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : lan

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : lan
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : VIA Rhine II Fast Ethernet Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0C-76-36-2B-5B
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.64
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 01 June 2008 21:36:20
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 02 June 2008 21:36:20

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djaburg

· #13 · Jun 3, 2008

Sounds like the laptop firewall is blocking connectivity.

rostafarian

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jun 4, 2008

I'm not sure the laptop firewall is the problem, as it was the desktop which couldn't even see itself in the workgroup...

If it's the laptop firewall, which options do I need to have selected to enable network sharing? This link shows the options automatically enabled options and the other available options in the firewall settings: http://img221.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=07333_screen_122_538lo.JPG

tnreefguy

· #15 · Jun 7, 2008

Make sure that any usernames and passwords for any accounts on both machines are the same for all machines on your network. I about pulled my hair out over that one. It is especially true if you have a vista pc file sharing with an xp laptop.

Example
Your vista machine has a user account under your name make sure the laptop has an account with the same username and password.

rostafarian

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jun 9, 2008

Both computers are using the same username and password.

McNinja

· #17 · Jun 22, 2008

My girlfriend used to have a xp laptop and I have home premium vista 64 and we tried direct connecting through my desktop and she had to reinstall her wireless/lan network card

P.S - XP Home hates network sharing, it only enabled in XP PRO

johnwill

· #18 · Jun 25, 2008

Actually, XP-Home works fine with file/print sharing.

McNinja

· #19 · Jun 25, 2008

really well if I ever figured that out that would've been cool

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

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