network problem

[Brian]

I have to XP pro computers on home network. When I go to 'network
places/entire network/microsoft windows network' and click on MSHOME, I get
the error message that MSHOME is not accessible, the list of servers for
this workgroup is not currently available. If I click on 'Search' and enter
the other computer name, the computer is found and it's files are listed in
the explorer. The computers can ping each other.
Why is this happening?
Thanks, Brian

 

[Charlie Tame]

right click my computer, hit properties, hit the tab "Computer name".

The workgroup default for XP is MSHOME and if yours is not set to that you
should be able to set it by hitting the "Change" button.

When you become a member of MSHOME you may find this clears the problem.

Charlie

 

[Malke]

right click my computer, hit properties, hit the tab "Computer name".

The workgroup default for XP is MSHOME and if yours is not set to that
you should be able to set it by hitting the "Change" button.

When you become a member of MSHOME you may find this clears the
problem.

Charlie

Actually, Mr. Tame's information about Workgroups is not true.
Workgroups are simply a cosmetic/organizational device; Windows
machines do not have to be in the same Workgroup to share resources
with other Windows machines.

We don't have enough information about Brian's network to be sure, but
it might be a misconfigured firewall and/or computer browser issue.
Check that all firewalls are properly configured to allow lan traffic
as trusted and that only one firewall is running on a machine.

Frankly, I find Network Places problematic. I find it more effective to
not use Network Places at all, but rather to simply create shortcuts to
various network shares on the desktop using the Search/Find Computers
method. If there are a lot of shares, make a folder named something
useful like "Network" and put the shortcuts in it.

Malke

 

[Charlie Tame]

Actually, Mr. Tame's information about Workgroups is not true.

You say that then go on to say Network Places is problematic?

Workgroups are simply a cosmetic/organizational device; Windows
machines do not have to be in the same Workgroup to share resources
with other Windows machines.

Straw man, that is not what I said is it? Please provide a quote where I
said they have to be? He has already said he can do that!

We don't have enough information about Brian's network to be sure, but
it might be a misconfigured firewall and/or computer browser issue.
Check that all firewalls are properly configured to allow lan traffic
as trusted and that only one firewall is running on a machine.

Oh, we don't have enough information to be sure... odd that you seem to
already know the answer to what the problem "Isn't" then is it not?

Frankly, I find Network Places problematic. I find it more effective to
not use Network Places at all, but rather to simply create shortcuts to
various network shares on the desktop using the Search/Find Computers
method. If there are a lot of shares, make a folder named something
useful like "Network" and put the shortcuts in it.

Which he already says he can do, I find it problematic when I don't read
properly too.

 

[Malke]

Straw man, that is not what I said is it? Please provide a quote where
I said they have to be?

I am not sure what you mean by "straw man", but the above statement by
you is incorrect. Being a member of MSHOME or any particular Workgroup
will not impact the OP's ability to share files and folders at all.

I'm sorry you were upset that I said your information about Workgroups
was wrong. I'm also sorry that you seem to think that Network Places
not working very well has anything to do with Workgroups. It doesn't. I
stand by what I said - Network Places doesn't work very well and not
using can be a useful workaround.

Oh, we don't have enough information to be sure... odd that you seem
to already know the answer to what the problem "Isn't" then is it not?

I also don't see where I said that I had "the answer" to Brian's
problem. Perhaps if he had told us things like:

1. Service Pack level of all computers
2. Physical structure of network
3. Firewalls installed
4. If the issue always existed or if this is a sudden change
5. Ipconfig /all data

the answer would have been more apparent. I certainly did not mean to
hurt your feelings, but if it makes you feel better to write a nasty
post and call names then I hope it helped.

Malke

 

[Charlie Tame]

I am not sure what you mean by "straw man", but the above statement by
you is incorrect. Being a member of MSHOME or any particular Workgroup
will not impact the OP's ability to share files and folders at all.

I never said it would, but you have carefully snipped the relevant parts of
the post.

The original poster said his trouble was with the display in "Network
Places"... he did NOT say he was unable to find or share things, in fact he
said he could.

Here is the part you snipped...


My reply to that included the following.


Note I said "May" because I am more than familiar with Network Places and
the sometimes odd behaviour, from the original details given it was already
obvious that it was more to do with listing than connection.

I'm sorry you were upset that I said your information about Workgroups
was wrong. I'm also sorry that you seem to think that Network Places
not working very well has anything to do with Workgroups. It doesn't. I
stand by what I said - Network Places doesn't work very well and not
using can be a useful workaround.

Perhaps you need to get some more reading practice.

I also don't see where I said that I had "the answer" to Brian's
problem. Perhaps if he had told us things like:

1. Service Pack level of all computers
2. Physical structure of network
3. Firewalls installed
4. If the issue always existed or if this is a sudden change
5. Ipconfig /all data

the answer would have been more apparent. I certainly did not mean to
hurt your feelings, but if it makes you feel better to write a nasty
post and call names then I hope it helped.

Ah I see, so now it is all the OP's fault

Perhaps you should change you quote from the website to

"Besides, we have to fill up the website with something!"

Please explain what precisely was "Nasty" about my correction to your
incorrect observations and where precisely I called anybody any names?