Network Computer browser not working - networking problem

[Atul Godbole]

I have a laptop and a desktop both running WinXP SP2. They are connected
over a wireless network using a wireless router which gives them address in
the 192.168.1.x range
No matter what I cannot get the computers to see each other in "My Network
places". I can browse ( and ping) shared resources using the IP address but
I cannot do it using the computer name.

- I have temporrarily uninstalled both Zone Alarm and Norton Antivirus.
- Instead the Windows Firewall is enabled and "File and Print sharing"
exception is enabled.
- The Computer Browser service and the TCP/IP NetBios helper services are
runing
- The 'Enable NetBios over TCP/IP' setting is checked.
- Simple File Sharing is disabled and the guest account is inactive but this
should not be a problem becuase the username and password on both computers
are the same.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Atul

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

I have a laptop and a desktop both running WinXP SP2. They are connected
over a wireless network using a wireless router which gives them address in
the 192.168.1.x range
No matter what I cannot get the computers to see each other in "My Network
places". I can browse ( and ping) shared resources using the IP address but
I cannot do it using the computer name.

- I have temporrarily uninstalled both Zone Alarm and Norton Antivirus.
- Instead the Windows Firewall is enabled and "File and Print sharing"
exception is enabled.
- The Computer Browser service and the TCP/IP NetBios helper services are
runing
- The 'Enable NetBios over TCP/IP' setting is checked.
- Simple File Sharing is disabled and the guest account is inactive but this
should not be a problem becuase the username and password on both computers
are the same.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Atul

On each computer, try to access the other computer by typing the other
computer's IP address in the Start | Run box in this format:

\\192.168.1.x

Then, try to access the other computer by typing the other computer's
name in this format:

\\computer

What are the results?

If access by IP address works but computer name doesn't, run "ipconfig
/all" on both computers and look at the "Node Type" at the beginning
of the output. If it says "Peer-to-Peer" (which should actually be
"Point-to-Point") that's the problem. It means that the computer only
uses a WINS server, which isn't available on a peer-to-peer network,
for NetBIOS name resolution.

If that's the case, run the registry editor, open this key:

HLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Netbt\Parameters

and delete these values if they're present:

NodeType
DhcpNodeType

Reboot, then try network access again.

If that doesn't fix it, open that registry key again, create a DWORD
value called "NodeType", and set it to 1 for "Broadcast" or 4 for
"Mixed".

For details, see these Microsoft Knowledge Base articles:

Default Node Type for Microsoft Clients
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;160177

TCP/IP and NBT Configuration Parameters for Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314053
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Atul Godbole]

Thank you for your help.

The network started working on its own overnight!!!

Atul

 

[TC]

Steve,

Like Atul, I was unable to get my computers to find each other in "My
Network Places". Your solution -- Deleting the DhcpNodeType value in the
registry -- worked like a charm.

I have now spent a little more than eight hours working on this problem.
I've been through countless checklists and well-meaning how-to websites, but
your message is the first place I've seen a reference to this Peer-to-Peer
bug. If not for your post, I might have been doomed to spend another eight
hours struggling through this. Thank you very much.

-TC

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Steve,

Like Atul, I was unable to get my computers to find each other in "My
Network Places". Your solution -- Deleting the DhcpNodeType value in the
registry -- worked like a charm.

I have now spent a little more than eight hours working on this problem.
I've been through countless checklists and well-meaning how-to websites, but
your message is the first place I've seen a reference to this Peer-to-Peer
bug. If not for your post, I might have been doomed to spend another eight
hours struggling through this. Thank you very much.

-TC

You're welcome, TC. I'm glad that my suggestion helped you solve the
problem.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com