I have a Dell PC (Windows XP Pro) and a Compaq laptop (Windows XP Home)
connected through a WGR614v4. I ran the Network Setup Wizard on both machines
and created a workgroup named WKGRP for both. From the Dell, I can ping by IP
address the Compaq but cannot ping by name. From the Compaq I cannot ping the
Dell either way. In both machines, I can ping the router and both machines
can reach the Internet. The Compaq lists the Dell when I look at the Network
however when I try to reach it, it returns an error message that I don't have
permission to see the Dell (I'm Admin on both machines). The Dell lists only
the workgroup WKGRP and does not list the Compaq.
I've talked with Microsoft who told me to talk with Compaq who told me to
talk to NETGEAR... you know, the usual run around!
How do I get both machines connected through the router where they can see
each other and I can transfer files back and forth?
Many thanks in advance!!
Gene
Gene,
Make sure the browser service is running on one computer only. Control Panel -
Administrative Tools - Services. Verify that the Computer Browser, and the
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper, services both show with Status = Started. Stop, then
Disable, the browser service on the other computer.
On any XP Pro computer, check to see if Simple File Sharing (Control Panel -
Folder Options - View - Advanced settings) is enabled or disabled. With XP Pro
and XP Home together, you need to have SFS enabled.
On XP Home, and on XP Pro with Simple File Sharing enabled, make sure that the
Guest account is enabled, on each computer. Enable Guest, with Start - Run -
"cmd", then type "net user guest /active:yes" in the command window. Ensure
that the password for Guest is blank, with Start - Run - "control
userpasswords2"; select Guest, click Reset Password, click OK without entering a
new password.
On XP Pro, if you're going to use Guest authentication, check your Local
Security Policy (Control Panel - Administrative Tools) - User Rights Assignment,
on the XP Pro computer, and look at "Deny access to this computer from the
network". Make sure Guest is not in the list. Look at "Access this computer
from the network", and make sure that Everyone is in this list.
Do any of the computers have a software firewall (ICF / WF, or third party)? If
so, you need to configure them for file sharing. Firewall configurations are a
very common cause of (network) browser, and file sharing, problems.
The browser requires anonymous access, so look at registry key
[HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa], value restrictanonymous, on both
computers.
<
http://www.microsoft.com/windows200...2000/techinfo/reskit/en-us/regentry/46688.asp>
<
http://www.jsifaq.com/subf/tip2600/rh2625.htm>
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=246261
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=296403
The above articles refer to Windows 2000. Remember WinXP is NT V5.1, and Win2K
is NT V5.0.
Have you used the Registry Editor before? If not, it's a scary tool, but it's
pretty simple once you get used to it. Here are a couple articles that might
help:
<
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...home/using/productdoc/en/tools_regeditors.asp>
<
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/registry>
Just remember to backup the key (create a registry patch) for
[HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa] before making any changes, if
appropriate.
From the Annoyances article:
You can create a Registry patch by opening the Registry Editor, selecting a
branch, and choosing Export from the File menu. Then, specify a filename, and
press OK. You can then view the Registry patch file by opening it in Notepad
(right-click on it and select Edit). Again, just double-click on a Registry
patch file (or use Import in the Registry Editor's File menu) to apply it to the
registry.
--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.
