Home Network Problem

[Guest]

I have two, wired network computers: An Office and a Loft. The office
computer came with XP Home, the Loft computer has XP Pro.

The network is a classic design: Modem; Firewall/Router/Switch/Access
Point; both computers are wired to the router.

Both computers have joined the workgroup successfully and the workgroup name
is consistant on both computers.

Both have simple file/printer sharing enabled.

Problem: From the Office computer (running XP Home) I can log into the
Loft computer (running XP Pro) from the Run prompt. I cannot connect from
the Loft computer to the Office computer.

On the Loft computer (XP Pro) I can add shared folders that appear under the
"My Network Places" both on the Office computer (Home Edition) in cannot add
folders to "My Network Places." (Reading these posts, I learned that My
Netowrk Places my not be the most reliable to use...)

Any suggestions? Are there any known problems shairng between XP Pro and XP
Home? Thanks!

Dan

 

[Chuck]

I have two, wired network computers: An Office and a Loft. The office
computer came with XP Home, the Loft computer has XP Pro.

The network is a classic design: Modem; Firewall/Router/Switch/Access
Point; both computers are wired to the router.

Both computers have joined the workgroup successfully and the workgroup name
is consistant on both computers.

Both have simple file/printer sharing enabled.

Problem: From the Office computer (running XP Home) I can log into the
Loft computer (running XP Pro) from the Run prompt. I cannot connect from
the Loft computer to the Office computer.

On the Loft computer (XP Pro) I can add shared folders that appear under the
"My Network Places" both on the Office computer (Home Edition) in cannot add
folders to "My Network Places." (Reading these posts, I learned that My
Netowrk Places my not be the most reliable to use...)

Any suggestions? Are there any known problems shairng between XP Pro and XP
Home? Thanks!

Dan

Dan,

My Network Places is quite reliable, if you know and understand the limitations.
Please define "cannot connect from the Loft computer to the Office computer",
and "cannot add folders to "My Network Places."". What exact symptoms, or error
messages, do you see?
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/background-information-useful-in.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/background-information-useful-in.html

One of the most common causes of the type of problem, that you're reporting,
would be a misconfigured or overlooked personal firewall, or other security
component. There are several other possibilities too, and any might be the cause
of your problem. Read this article with an open mind.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html

Or you could look at "browstat status", "ipconfig /all", "net config server",
and "net config workstation", from each computer, and diagnose the problem.
Read this article, and linked articles, and follow instructions precisely
(download browstat!):
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp

 

[Guest]

At the Run prompt from the Loft computer, I typed: \\Office and receive a
message similiar to "computer not found" or "resource not available."

When I try to add a shared folder to "My Network Places" I follow the wizard
to the prompt and type: \\office\<file name> and receive a message that is
similiar to "this is not a valid file name. please enter another name."

Additionally, I cannot see either computer in My Network Places from either
computer.

I have checked windows firewall which is configured for file and printer
sharing. I do need to check Norton SCS firewall to ensure it is configured
properly (I overlooked this). I will do this tonight.

 

[Chuck]

At the Run prompt from the Loft computer, I typed: \\Office and receive a
message similiar to "computer not found" or "resource not available."

When I try to add a shared folder to "My Network Places" I follow the wizard
to the prompt and type: \\office\<file name> and receive a message that is
similiar to "this is not a valid file name. please enter another name."

Additionally, I cannot see either computer in My Network Places from either
computer.

I have checked windows firewall which is configured for file and printer
sharing. I do need to check Norton SCS firewall to ensure it is configured
properly (I overlooked this). I will do this tonight.

That's a name resolution problem. It could be one of the known weaknesses in
MNP, but you can start with a smaller list of things to check.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/mysterious-error-53-aka-name-not-found.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/mysterious-error-53-aka-name-not-found.html

 

[Guest]

Chuck

You nailed it in your first email! For trouble-shooting, I disabled
Symantec Client Firewall on both machines and BAM! We're in business. Kinda
feel like a rookie making that mistake. Never even occured to me to disable
or add trusted IP's in symantec because the only prompt I was getting was to
check/set up windows firewall. Thanks for holding my hand!

Dan

 

[Chuck]

Chuck

You nailed it in your first email! For trouble-shooting, I disabled
Symantec Client Firewall on both machines and BAM! We're in business. Kinda
feel like a rookie making that mistake. Never even occured to me to disable
or add trusted IP's in symantec because the only prompt I was getting was to
check/set up windows firewall. Thanks for holding my hand!

Dan

All right, Dan! Now don't throw the baby out, learn to configure SCF properly.
And thanks for the feedback!
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/how-to-post-on-usenet-and-encourage.html#Followup>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/how-to-post-on-usenet-and-encourage.html#Followup