[zmartha]

I have researched this problem for many many hours on the internet and have tried some suggestions, but so far, am at the same spot as before, but much better informed of what networking is about. :sayyes:

Situation:
I have 2 xp home sp2 PCs, one wired, and the new laptop is wireless. Using a 4 port linksys router--new.

Done many of the cmd runs suggested like ipconfig ipconfig /all, net view, pinging, and more. All, but one thing looks and runs well.

The wireless can't ping itself when I use its IP 192.168.2.101. It can ping the other PC 192.168.1.100 and the gateway 192.168.2.1 and localhost.

When I click View Work group computers, it shows both the other PC, Desk, and itself, Dell. But when I right click on the Desk it says that I don't have the appropriate access rights for this server.

I am the only one ever to use these 2 PCs, so have never set up other users or passwords.

Firewalls are configured to allow just the other's IP thru. The firewall on the laptop is Norton and on the desktop is Panda. (I even turned Panda off to see if that made a difference, but didn't like leaving it off for long.)

The desktop works just fine with the networking. Both access the internet just fine too.

One other thing I have noticed is that when I click on Dell on the Dell laptop, it shows its files that I have okayed for sharing, PLUS one file that is on the other PC that I had to share then took it off sharing in the other PC. Maybe that will give you a clue as to what is happening?

Of course Linksys does not help with networking so I feel like returning it because part of the reason I bought it was to be able to use each PC as a backup of the other. So far, no such luck.

The wireless Dell is able to use the printer on the wired Desk.

:4-dontkno

Help please!

 

[johnwill]

You don't have to worry about turning off your firewall for testing, since you have a hardware firewall with the router.

Checklist for networking Windows Machines with TCP/IP
-----------------------------------------------------
- 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.
- All 3rd party firewalls are disabled, uninstalled and deleted (until connection is working).
- PCs have the same workgroup.

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'.

 

[huntert]

the default ip address for the linksys is normally 192.168.1.1 did you change the ip address of the router instead of bridging the modem? are you using cable or dsl? i think that the 3rd octet of your ip address for each pc should be either one or two to be part of the same network. If you are using a cable modem than you are probably provisioned for dhcp which means that everything your pc and your modem should be set up to obtain an ip address automatically but if that is not the case maybe you can hardcode your wireless nic to have the same 3rd octet of the other pc. check the wired nic by going to the network connections and right clicking on your local area connection double clicking on ip tcp/ip and seeing what is in the nic is it set to obtain an ip address or is it hardcoded? if it is not hardcoded you can go through the same steps on the wireless but click on the use the following ip address and use the same ip address of the wired pc but change the 4th octet for example 101 on wired pc and 102 on wireless pc use the same subnet mask for both and same default gateway

 

[zmartha]

John,
OK. I checked off that list of stuff you gave me to do, minus one. The wireless still can't access the Desk's folders even tho it can use the Desk's shared printer.

When I looked for their node types. The Desk said "unknown." The wireless said "Hybrid."

I don't have netbios over tcp checked because these are two XPs sp2 home. Everything else checked out.

The one thing I haven't done is uninstall Norton on the wireless. My thinking is, and it could be all wrong, the wireless can't see the folders on the Desk, so that's why I uninstalled Panda on the Desk. Is my thinking wrong to not uninstall it? (I know there is a firewall on the router, but I still get nervous.)

The only service not shown is the Netbios Helper--the rest were started.

Hunter, I see your comments but am trying to understand some of them and how to do what you suggest. I am a female with 61 years, so it takes a while. I may ask you more questions later on how. The Linksys support walked me thru setting up the two PCs to the router. I am on DSL and the numbers were assigned by the router. This router's number is 192.168.2.1 Don't know the word hard coded. I have checked several places to make sure the wireless IP is what it is. The Desk sees it.

 

[johnwill]

Try enabling NETBIOS over TCP/IP anyway.

If you can share the printer, it sounds like you have a problem with the share specification on the folders you're sharing. Did you right click on a folder, select Sharing, and create a new share?

 

[zmartha]

John,
I appreciate your suggestions. I have tried netbios over tcp on both and same results: wireless still can't read Desk's folders.

I right clicked on the Desk's folders I wanted to share and chose sharing just like I did on the Dell's PC, which the Desk can read just fine.

1: My question in my last post was it necessary to uninstall Norton off the Dell PC as the Dell can be read and pinged by the Desk?

2: In your list of things to do, I noticed you said disable, uninstall and delete the 3rd party firewalls. Well, I disabled Windows Firewall in services on both PCs, I uninstalled Panda on the Desk. What is there to delete?

And, yes, it is strange that I can see/share the Printer, but not see/share the folders off the Desk. I wish I could get it fixed somehow. :4-dontkno

 

[zmartha]

BTW, ever since I disabled Windows Firewalls on both PCs, they now cannot see the WorkGroup name, but the wireless can still use the Desk Printer, and the Desk can still read the Wireless' Shared Folders. And when I use the Find a Computer (using search) on both of them, they both can find the other computer. The one just can't read the Desk's files. Go figure.

 

[johnwill]

Just gets weirder and weirder! :smile:

I can't imagine how turning off the Windows firewall would do that. Something else has to be going on there...

 

[zmartha]

SOLVED IT! I imagine I put 50 hours or more going on the net to get help from forums, and here is what I did.

Went to Windows Help and saw this on the Network troubleshooting pages:

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type:
\\computer\share\
where computer is the name of the computer where the network resource lives and share is the share name of the shared folder on that computer.
3. Click OK.

It opened up into a internet explorer window with all the files I asked for! And because I had recently configured my IE windows to open with the address bar visible and open, I saw its address as \\desk\music, so I erased music and typed in pictures, and voila!

They still don't show in My Network Places, but so what, if I have to do it this way? It works! I am relieved! And I thank you all :heartlove for your time.

Now, if it continues to work, I won't be bothering you again--I hope.