Home networking with XP Home

[Guest]

I have been trying to get answers to this question for several days now but
so far I have yet to find the right answer.

I want to setup my two computers on a home network on a wireless link
(mostly so I can use a printer on a single computer, on a local network and
print from one computer via the network to the other), but I bought a router
so that I don't have to use ICS if I can help it. As far as I can tell this
can be done, but so far I have been unable to achieve it. I knowI have the
necessary hardware (a Cable Modem, a Wireless Router, and a Wireless Card in
each PC). I have setup a workgroup - which each computer appears to be a
member of (under system information computer name etc.). I am able to ping
each one from the other and I am able to ping the gateway. Each computer is
able to ping itself using "localhost" and the ip address "127.0.0.1".
However, I can only browse from one computer to the other but not the other
way around. I can connect to the internet from both PCs without any problem.

I have just discovered that if I boot up the "problem" computer that cannot
be browsed in "Safe mode with Networking" the browsing will work.

I should add that I have tried with all firewalls on both computers
disabled. The "problem" computer (which cannot share its files), a Dell
Dimension 4500 has Windows Firewall and McAfee VirusScan. The other computer,
a Dell Dimension E510, has Windows Firewall, McAfee Personal Firewall and
McAfee VirusScan.

Please help me before I lose all my hair and my mind!!

 

[Chuck]

I have been trying to get answers to this question for several days now but
so far I have yet to find the right answer.

I want to setup my two computers on a home network on a wireless link
(mostly so I can use a printer on a single computer, on a local network and
print from one computer via the network to the other), but I bought a router
so that I don't have to use ICS if I can help it. As far as I can tell this
can be done, but so far I have been unable to achieve it. I knowI have the
necessary hardware (a Cable Modem, a Wireless Router, and a Wireless Card in
each PC). I have setup a workgroup - which each computer appears to be a
member of (under system information computer name etc.). I am able to ping
each one from the other and I am able to ping the gateway. Each computer is
able to ping itself using "localhost" and the ip address "127.0.0.1".
However, I can only browse from one computer to the other but not the other
way around. I can connect to the internet from both PCs without any problem.

I have just discovered that if I boot up the "problem" computer that cannot
be browsed in "Safe mode with Networking" the browsing will work.

I should add that I have tried with all firewalls on both computers
disabled. The "problem" computer (which cannot share its files), a Dell
Dimension 4500 has Windows Firewall and McAfee VirusScan. The other computer,
a Dell Dimension E510, has Windows Firewall, McAfee Personal Firewall and
McAfee VirusScan.

Please help me before I lose all my hair and my mind!!

Russell,

If you have each computer able to ping the other (by name, or just by ip address
- and this could be a key question), you have 1/2 the work done. Access /
visibility problems like yours are well known here, and are most frequently
caused by a misconfigured or overlooked personal firewall - but there can be
other causes too.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html

If no help from the above, provide "browstat status" and "ipconfig /all" from
each computer, and we can objectively diagnose the problem. Read this article,
and linked articles, and follow instructions precisely:
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp