One of network computers can't see the other one

[Bijan Molayi]

I have set up a small network with 1 desktop and 1 laptop (both running on
WIN XP SP2), and a Linksys router. Both computers work fine with the
Internet.
File sharing is enabled on both of them.
The laptop can see the whole workgroup (both PCs) and can access the shared
files on the desktop.
The desktop can only show the workgroup, but not the PC's in it (not even
itself), and obviously can't access shared files on the laptop. I tried to
ping the laptop from the desktop, but even the ping fails. I confirmed that
the desktop can ping itself okay.
I have exactly the same symptoms if I turn the Windows Firewall off on both
computers.

Could anyone tell me what may be the cause of this problem?

Bijan

 

[Carey Holzman]

www.careyholzman.com/net1.htm

Carey

 

[Guest]

I will agree with Carey on this one, chances are you are running another
firewall, Norton Internet security or something along that line. If you are,
I and others agree would disable or uninstall that second Firewall
application. It is unnessary to have both the windows XP FW and a third
party app FW running on the system. If you must have both, look through the
third party app's documentation to see how you can set up/enable access from
computers on the same subnet as your system. Norton Internet Security has a
Home Networking Wizard that you can run, basicly it scans your system for an
IP address and adds that network address range to the allowed access range.

 

[Bijan Molayi]

Turned out I had the McAfee firewall running on the laptop, that I had
completely forgotten about.
Thanks a lot Carey and david. I followed Carey's XP networking guide, and
that solved a password problem that I had, after I had solved the first
problem. Your networking guide is quite accurate and easy to use.

 

[Carey Holzman]

Thank you! Please sign my guestbook at www.careyholzman.com (the link is in
the lower left corner).

Carey