Sharing Drives and Folders on Home Network problem

[byroncheng]

Hi,

I'm trying to share a couple of folders from one computer to another on a
home network. Currently, the two computers and connected to a router which
connects to the internet.

My question is, when i enabled the folders to be shared, why do those
folders show up under "The Internet" instead of "Local Network" in "My
Network Places" on the other computer?

Did I do something wrong? How do I get them to be under "Local Network"? or
does it even matter?

 

[smlunatick]

Hi,

I'm trying to share a couple of folders from one computer to another on a
home network. Currently, the two computers and connected to a router which
connects to the internet.

My question is, when i enabled the folders to be shared, why do those
folders show up under "The Internet" instead of "Local Network" in "My
Network Places" on the other computer?

Did I do something wrong? How do I get them to be under "Local Network"? or
does it even matter?

Are both computers part of the same Microsoft Workgroup.

 

[Chuck [MVP]]

Hi,

I'm trying to share a couple of folders from one computer to another on a
home network. Currently, the two computers and connected to a router which
connects to the internet.

My question is, when i enabled the folders to be shared, why do those
folders show up under "The Internet" instead of "Local Network" in "My
Network Places" on the other computer?

Did I do something wrong? How do I get them to be under "Local Network"? or
does it even matter?

Byron,

Check your personal firewalls, and make sure that all local computers are
properly filtered. And check Internet Explorer (really!).
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2007/09/changes-in-internet-explorer-security.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2007/09/changes-in-internet-explorer-security.html

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.

 

[byroncheng]

yes they are in the same work group

Are both computers part of the same Microsoft Workgroup.

 

[byroncheng]

yes they are in the same work group

Are both computers part of the same Microsoft Workgroup.

 

[byroncheng]

Thanks for the link, i'll try it out.

what should the proper firewall settings be to avoid this problem? It was
previously set to OFF before i set up the network using the network wizard.
After the wizard completed the set up process, it was automatically turned on
and i haven't touched it since.

Hi,

I'm trying to share a couple of folders from one computer to another on a
home network. Currently, the two computers and connected to a router which
connects to the internet.

My question is, when i enabled the folders to be shared, why do those
folders show up under "The Internet" instead of "Local Network" in "My
Network Places" on the other computer?

Did I do something wrong? How do I get them to be under "Local Network"? or
does it even matter?

Byron,

Check your personal firewalls, and make sure that all local computers are
properly filtered. And check Internet Explorer (really!).
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2007/09/changes-in-internet-explorer-security.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2007/09/changes-in-internet-explorer-security.html

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.

 

[Lem]

Thanks for the link, i'll try it out.

what should the proper firewall settings be to avoid this problem? It was
previously set to OFF before i set up the network using the network wizard.
After the wizard completed the set up process, it was automatically turned on
and i haven't touched it since.

The Network Wizard *should* have configured the Windows firewall to
allow file and printer sharing. Go to Control Panel > Windows Firewall
and check the "Exceptions" tab. File and Printer Sharing should be one
of the first items listed, and it should be checked.
--
Lem -- MS-MVP - Networking

To the moon and back with 2K words of RAM and 36K words of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer
http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm

 

[Chuck [MVP]]

Thanks for the link, i'll try it out.

what should the proper firewall settings be to avoid this problem? It was
previously set to OFF before i set up the network using the network wizard.
After the wizard completed the set up process, it was automatically turned on
and i haven't touched it since.

If you're talking about the Windows Firewall, you'll have an exception for "File
and Printer Sharing" on each computer. Generally reported here, though, there
will be another firewall, or an anti-worm component like Norton AntiVirus (rka
Symantec Endpoint Protection). Zone Alarm, in its recent versions, has been
reported to have a gotcha in it too.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html

But your symptom sounds exactly like the IE change that popped up a few months
ago.

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.

 

[byroncheng]

hi, the internet explorer fixed the problem and moved the shared folders to
the local Network section. HOWEVER, the bottom section, where it usually
says: "Internet" now says "unspecified" on one computer, while on another
that section doesn't seem to show up at all in My Network Places. What am I
doing wrong??

Thanks for the link, i'll try it out.

what should the proper firewall settings be to avoid this problem? It was
previously set to OFF before i set up the network using the network wizard.
After the wizard completed the set up process, it was automatically turned on
and i haven't touched it since.

If you're talking about the Windows Firewall, you'll have an exception for "File
and Printer Sharing" on each computer. Generally reported here, though, there
will be another firewall, or an anti-worm component like Norton AntiVirus (rka
Symantec Endpoint Protection). Zone Alarm, in its recent versions, has been
reported to have a gotcha in it too.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html

But your symptom sounds exactly like the IE change that popped up a few months
ago.

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.

 

[Chuck [MVP]]

hi, the internet explorer fixed the problem and moved the shared folders to
the local Network section. HOWEVER, the bottom section, where it usually
says: "Internet" now says "unspecified" on one computer, while on another
that section doesn't seem to show up at all in My Network Places. What am I
doing wrong??

Well, the process can be reversed. How many computers did you have to change
the setting on?

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.

 

[byroncheng]

I had to do the IE change on 2 computers. Seems like the network itself
works, but it just doesn't properly identify the Internet part in My Network
Places, on one computer, and doesn't show up at all on the other. Is there
any way to get it show up properly?

hi, the internet explorer fixed the problem and moved the shared folders to
the local Network section. HOWEVER, the bottom section, where it usually
says: "Internet" now says "unspecified" on one computer, while on another
that section doesn't seem to show up at all in My Network Places. What am I
doing wrong??

Well, the process can be reversed. How many computers did you have to change
the setting on?

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.

 

[Chuck [MVP]]

I had to do the IE change on 2 computers. Seems like the network itself
works, but it just doesn't properly identify the Internet part in My Network
Places, on one computer, and doesn't show up at all on the other. Is there
any way to get it show up properly?

Byron,

The problem that you reported started in September 2007, apparently from one of
the security updates to Internet Explorer. It appears to involve Norton
Internet Security and Zone Alarm. What antivirus and firewalls do you use?

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.

 

[byroncheng]

I had to do the IE change on 2 computers. Seems like the network itself
works, but it just doesn't properly identify the Internet part in My Network
Places, on one computer, and doesn't show up at all on the other. Is there
any way to get it show up properly?

Byron,

The problem that you reported started in September 2007, apparently from one of
the security updates to Internet Explorer. It appears to involve Norton
Internet Security and Zone Alarm. What antivirus and firewalls do you use?

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.

Hi Chuck,

I use McAfee Anti-Virus and the Windows XP Firewall. Sorry about the
confusion, the IE fix did infact solve the problem reported earlier. Now, the
only problem is, on one of my computers in My Network Places where it should
say "The Internet" it now says "Unspecified", and on the other computer, that
section isn't showing up at all.

thanks

 

[Chuck [MVP]]

Hi Chuck,

I use McAfee Anti-Virus and the Windows XP Firewall. Sorry about the
confusion, the IE fix did infact solve the problem reported earlier. Now, the
only problem is, on one of my computers in My Network Places where it should
say "The Internet" it now says "Unspecified", and on the other computer, that
section isn't showing up at all.

Byron,

My Network Places is a Windows GUI display that depends upon the NT browser (and
I'm not discussing Internet Explorer here). The NT browser uses Server Message
Blocks (aka SMBs) transported over NetBIOS Over TCP (aka NetBT). Anything that
interferes with NetBT can disrupt browser functionality, and affect MNP.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/04/nt-browser-or-why-cant-i-always-see.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/04/nt-browser-or-why-cant-i-always-see.html

Whatever Microsoft did, in the change to Internet Explorer and its zone oriented
security (here we are discussing a Internet browser) also affected the zones
displayed in MNP (and the NT browser). The change also affected the displays on
computers that use zone oriented firewalls (such as Symantec and Zone Alarm).
I'm not sure whether McAfee has an anti-worm component that could also be
involved.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html

To further complicate things, with Windows XP (and probably Vista), visibility
of a given computer in MNP requires that computer to advertise availability of a
sharepoint through the browser. A computer with no sharepoints is invisible. A
zone with no computers populating that zone (or being visible) will, itself, be
invisible.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#Browser>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#Browser

All of the above issues prompt one MVP here to frequently post
"In my experience, network browsing through My Network Places is inherently
unreliable. I don't think it's worth the time and effort to troubleshoot it and
try to make it work.".

I personally disagree with that opinion, though this issue with IE affecting MNP
certainly doesn't make me secure in my disagreement. YMMV.

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.

 

[byroncheng]

Hi Chuck,

Thanks for all that info.. that's some heavy reading... anyways, for the
time being, i guess this did solve the initial problem, not perfectly, but at
least its working...

 

[Chuck [MVP]]

Hi Chuck,

Thanks for all that info.. that's some heavy reading... anyways, for the
time being, i guess this did solve the initial problem, not perfectly, but at
least its working...

Byron,

It is indeed heavy reading. Windows Networking is pretty simple when it works,
but when something breaks, look out.

Much of what we know here comes from people like you; that's the reason for this
forum. If you find any other changes that are relevant, please let us know so
you can help others.

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.