Can't see laptop on MSHOME workgroup

[Guest]

Hi guys...I have 2 desktop PCs, and one laptop all connected to my router. I
have setup all three machines to be a member of the default MSHOME workgroup.
Additionally, I have turned on file-sharing for different drives on all three
machines. The 2 desktops work flawlessly...I can easily transfer files from
one to the other. The laptop, however, is the problem. Although the two
desktops show that the laptop is available as a worgroup computer, when I try
to access the laptop from either of the PCs, I get an error message stating
that I apparently do not have permissions to access the laptop. I went back
in the laptop to doublecheck that I indeed was sharing several folders, but
they are not accessible from the PCs. Is there some sort of permissions that
I should be checking on the laptop.????

 

[Jerry]

For security reasons you should not be using the default MSHOME as your
workgroup - the whole world knows this and many willing to do you harm will
exploit your use of MSHOME.

Is the firewall on all three setup to recognize the workgroup correctly?

 

[Guest]

Hi Chris D.
You are having the same exact problem that I am currently having with one of
our laptops. I will keep an eye on your thread and hopefully someone can
help us both.

Chris are you able to ping between the two machines. I can ping between
both the server and then back to the laptop but just as you desribed I get
the following error:
------
"Companygroup is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this
network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if
you have access permissions.

The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available."

 

[Guest]

Bob:

I just tried to ping the server from the laptop using the workgroup
name...the ping failed. However, when I try to ping the server using it's IP
address, the ping from the laptop is successful.

I also went upstairs and tried pinging the laptop from the two
differentservers. One of the pings worked, the other failed, which makes this
even more confusing.

-cd

 

[Guest]

Ok, I had the same problem, It all occoured after i installed SP2 on my
computers.
I used the following solution,
You need to use you Registry editor, which may sound a bit scary, but is
quite easy to use if you follow these instructions:

Click START,
Click on RUN
In the text box enter REGEDIT, and click OK,
The registry editor should open,
Click on the cross next to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Then go to SYSTEM
Then go to CONTROL
Then Select LSA
In the right hand screen you should see some icons appear,
Find the two that say restrict anonymous, and double click on them both.
You need to change both their value datas to 0
Once you have done this, Exit the registry editor, by clicking the cross,
and then RESTART your computer!

You should find that this solves the problem, Whatever the outcome, let me
know!!

Good Luck

 

[Guest]

I tried your suggestion, Robbie. THe laptop is still doing the same thing (it
can see the server as a workgroup computer, but none of the shared files are
available and I get the same error message as Bob.

I now have a new problem, as after using the regedit methos, my workgroup on
the server no longer works at all.

-cd

 

[Guest]

How do I check the firewall, Jerry???

-cd

For security reasons you should not be using the default MSHOME as your
workgroup - the whole world knows this and many willing to do you harm will
exploit your use of MSHOME.

Is the firewall on all three setup to recognize the workgroup correctly?

 

[Chuck]

For security reasons you should not be using the default MSHOME as your
workgroup - the whole world knows this and many willing to do you harm will
exploit your use of MSHOME.

Is the firewall on all three setup to recognize the workgroup correctly?

Jerry,

The workgroup name just controls what computers get displayed in the root of
Network Neighborhood. From any given computer, all computers in the same
workgroup (domain) as that computer will display there. Any computer in a
different domain (workgroup) will be visible under Entire Network - Microsoft
Windows Network.

Since the computers are inside a NAT router, the workgroup isn't visible to the
outside world anyway.

You do need to ensure that all computers are in the same workgroup, though.

Besides a firewall configuration, which is a valid concern in addition to the
restrictanonymous setting (even though the firewall is NOT sensitive to
workgroup), a third possibility would be a browser conflict. Use browstat, run
from each computer, to diagnose a browser conflict.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/browstat-utility-from-microsoft.html>

 

[Guest]

Here is browstat of the server:

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

C:\Documents and Settings\Chris D>cd Desktop

C:\Documents and Settings\Chris D\Desktop>browstat status


Status for domain MSHOME on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{DD2A07A4-EC9D-4BD1-88
05-BFA47D12F4EF}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: OLDFAITHFUL
Could not open key in registry, error = 5 Unable to determine build
of br
owser master: 5
\\\\OLDFAITHFUL . Version:05.01 Flags: 51203 NT POTENTIAL MASTER
1 backup servers retrieved from master OLDFAITHFUL
\\OLDFAITHFUL
There are 3 servers in domain MSHOME on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{DD2A0
7A4-EC9D-4BD1-8805-BFA47D12F4EF}
There are 1 domains in domain MSHOME on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{DD2A0
7A4-EC9D-4BD1-8805-BFA47D12F4EF}

 

[Guest]

Thanks Robbie,
But no luck I am still having problems getting access to the server. I am
going to give Chuck's suggestion a go in the morning.

 

[Chuck]

Here is browstat of the server:

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

C:\Documents and Settings\Chris D>cd Desktop

C:\Documents and Settings\Chris D\Desktop>browstat status


Status for domain MSHOME on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{DD2A07A4-EC9D-4BD1-88
05-BFA47D12F4EF}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: OLDFAITHFUL
Could not open key in registry, error = 5 Unable to determine build
of br
owser master: 5
\\\\OLDFAITHFUL . Version:05.01 Flags: 51203 NT POTENTIAL MASTER
1 backup servers retrieved from master OLDFAITHFUL
\\OLDFAITHFUL
There are 3 servers in domain MSHOME on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{DD2A0
7A4-EC9D-4BD1-8805-BFA47D12F4EF}
There are 1 domains in domain MSHOME on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{DD2A0
7A4-EC9D-4BD1-8805-BFA47D12F4EF}

Chris,

Browstat is most useful when run from 2 or more computers, and the results
compared.

Is OldFaithful the server, or one of the clients?

The "error = 5" is a possible problem. Since you say you checked (changed?)
restrictanonymous, did you check (change?) it on OldFaithful, or on the other
computer(s)? Or is there maybe another problem? You may have to solve multiple
problems.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/07/restrictanonymous-and-your-server.html>

Please provide "browstat status" and "ipconfig /all" for all 3 computers, and
list details about the devices (computers and router). Diagnosis of your
problem will be more successful with the necessary details known, so we don't
have to guess.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/background-information-useful-in.html>
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>

 

[Chuck]

Thanks Robbie,
But no luck I am still having problems getting access to the server. I am
going to give Chuck's suggestion a go in the morning.

Bob,

Please remember that even though your symptoms may sound the same as Chris's, to
you, they may not be from the same problem.

It's to everybody's benefit if you start a new thread, with a more descriptive
Subject than "Can't see laptop on MSHOME workgroup", and when asking for further
help, please state in detail which of my suggestions you tried, and what results
you observed. And provide details about your network too.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/how-to-post-on-usenet-and-encourage.html#Hijacking>
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/background-information-useful-in.html>

 

[Guest]

Thanks for all the help guys. I ended up re-installing XP on my laptop.
Everything works fine now.

-cd

Here is browstat of the server:

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

C:\Documents and Settings\Chris D>cd Desktop

C:\Documents and Settings\Chris D\Desktop>browstat status


Status for domain MSHOME on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{DD2A07A4-EC9D-4BD1-88
05-BFA47D12F4EF}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: OLDFAITHFUL
Could not open key in registry, error = 5 Unable to determine build
of br
owser master: 5
\\\\OLDFAITHFUL . Version:05.01 Flags: 51203 NT POTENTIAL MASTER
1 backup servers retrieved from master OLDFAITHFUL
\\OLDFAITHFUL
There are 3 servers in domain MSHOME on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{DD2A0
7A4-EC9D-4BD1-8805-BFA47D12F4EF}
There are 1 domains in domain MSHOME on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{DD2A0
7A4-EC9D-4BD1-8805-BFA47D12F4EF}

Chris,

Browstat is most useful when run from 2 or more computers, and the results
compared.

Is OldFaithful the server, or one of the clients?

The "error = 5" is a possible problem. Since you say you checked (changed?)
restrictanonymous, did you check (change?) it on OldFaithful, or on the other
computer(s)? Or is there maybe another problem? You may have to solve multiple
problems.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/07/restrictanonymous-and-your-server.html>

Please provide "browstat status" and "ipconfig /all" for all 3 computers, and
list details about the devices (computers and router). Diagnosis of your
problem will be more successful with the necessary details known, so we don't
have to guess.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/background-information-useful-in.html>
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>

 

[Chuck]

:


Hi guys...I have 2 desktop PCs, and one laptop all connected to my router.
I
have setup all three machines to be a member of the default MSHOME
workgroup.
Additionally, I have turned on file-sharing for different drives on all
three
machines. The 2 desktops work flawlessly...I can easily transfer files
from
one to the other. The laptop, however, is the problem. Although the two
desktops show that the laptop is available as a worgroup computer, when I
try
to access the laptop from either of the PCs, I get an error message
stating
that I apparently do not have permissions to access the laptop. I went
back
in the laptop to doublecheck that I indeed was sharing several folders,
but
they are not accessible from the PCs. Is there some sort of permissions
that
I should be checking on the laptop.????

For security reasons you should not be using the default MSHOME as your
workgroup - the whole world knows this and many willing to do you harm will
exploit your use of MSHOME.

Is the firewall on all three setup to recognize the workgroup correctly?

Jerry,

The workgroup name just controls what computers get displayed in the root of
Network Neighborhood. From any given computer, all computers in the same
workgroup (domain) as that computer will display there. Any computer in a
different domain (workgroup) will be visible under Entire Network - Microsoft
Windows Network.

Since the computers are inside a NAT router, the workgroup isn't visible to the
outside world anyway.

You do need to ensure that all computers are in the same workgroup, though.

Besides a firewall configuration, which is a valid concern in addition to the
restrictanonymous setting (even though the firewall is NOT sensitive to
workgroup), a third possibility would be a browser conflict. Use browstat, run
from each computer, to diagnose a browser conflict.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/browstat-utility-from-microsoft.html>

Here is browstat of the server:

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

C:\Documents and Settings\Chris D>cd Desktop

C:\Documents and Settings\Chris D\Desktop>browstat status


Status for domain MSHOME on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{DD2A07A4-EC9D-4BD1-88
05-BFA47D12F4EF}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: OLDFAITHFUL
Could not open key in registry, error = 5 Unable to determine build
of br
owser master: 5
\\\\OLDFAITHFUL . Version:05.01 Flags: 51203 NT POTENTIAL MASTER
1 backup servers retrieved from master OLDFAITHFUL
\\OLDFAITHFUL
There are 3 servers in domain MSHOME on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{DD2A0
7A4-EC9D-4BD1-8805-BFA47D12F4EF}
There are 1 domains in domain MSHOME on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{DD2A0
7A4-EC9D-4BD1-8805-BFA47D12F4EF}

Chris,

Browstat is most useful when run from 2 or more computers, and the results
compared.

Is OldFaithful the server, or one of the clients?

The "error = 5" is a possible problem. Since you say you checked (changed?)
restrictanonymous, did you check (change?) it on OldFaithful, or on the other
computer(s)? Or is there maybe another problem? You may have to solve multiple
problems.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/07/restrictanonymous-and-your-server.html>

Please provide "browstat status" and "ipconfig /all" for all 3 computers, and
list details about the devices (computers and router). Diagnosis of your
problem will be more successful with the necessary details known, so we don't
have to guess.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/background-information-useful-in.html>
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>

Thanks for all the help guys. I ended up re-installing XP on my laptop.
Everything works fine now.

-cd

Thanks for updating the thread, Chris.