Two issues - possibly related, possibly not.

[Guest]

This is essentially a repost, but I now believe these two problems may be
linked.

1) Recently my computer was not downloading or installing Windows Updates
and in the process of finally finding the solution I have apparently messed
up my daughter’s and son’s access to my computer. This computer (A Dell
Dimension 4500 uses Windows XP Home Edition and my son & daughter both have
limited access logons. Since I fixed the update issue they are now unable to
logon.
Even if I use Start->Run "control userpasswords2" and reset their passwords
to new passwords (or even none at all), they still cannot logon. The computer
always responds with the message "Did you forget your password?", or even a
black screen with the message (I think) "You may not logon to this computer"
If I make their accounts administrator accounts everything is OK again. All I
was doing prior to all this (as far as I can recall was making changes to
"msconfig", but I do not believe anything could have been left in a state to
do this if in the "General" tab the "Normal Startup" radio button is checked
- or am I mistaken?). I have also been trying to setup the network described
below. Even when I create new limited access logons the results are the same.

2) 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 don’t really
want 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 believe I 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.).
Computer One: The aforementioned Dimension 4500, is able to log onto and
browse my new computer (a Dell Dimension E510 running Windows XP Media
Edition).

Computer Two: The Dell Dimension E510 can ping everything on the network but
is unable to browse the local network (i.e. cannot view the 4500).

I can connect to the internet from both PCs without any problem.

I have struggled with both of these problems ever since I received the new
computer - a couple of weeks ago - and started trying to set up the network.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Doug Sherman [MVP]]

Re #1, try the password reset disk;

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;305478

Re #2, what happens if on the E510 you Start/Run \\<Nameof4500> ENTER?

If you get an error, try \\<IPaddressof4500

Also, check the firewall on the 4500.

Doug Sherman
MCSE, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

 

[Guest]

Might be worth adding that ICS is only necessary if you don't have a router
on your system - it makes one of the computers act as a very basic router.

Since you have a 'real' router, all you need (in most cases) is to ensure
that the computers' Default Gateway and DNS settings point to its IP address.
(and of course that the router's own IP address is in the same subnet as the
computers)

If the router has DHCP this may happen automatically.

 

[Guest]

#1 Unfortunately, I cannot find the password reset option on the computer,
perhaps it is because it is part of a workgroup; however, as I said, I have
already tried resetting the passwords from the "Start->Run->control
userpasswords2 window, which I suspect would do something very similar anyway?

#2 "\\<Nameof4500>" returns an error which can vary, recently it has been
"No more connections can be made to this remote computer at this time because
there are already as many as it can accept". The same error occurs with
"\\<IPaddressof4500>". However, only one computer is trying to access it.

 

[Doug Sherman [MVP]]

The error you are getting on #2 is not what you would expect on a 2 machine
network. Try unplugging the cable modem; reboot both machines; and try #2
again.

If it still doesn't work, on the 4500 go to Administrative tools/Event
Viewer/System and look for errors.

Doug Sherman
MCSE, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

 

[Guest]

#1 I found the password reset disk option, BUT in order to create one I had
to change the account to administrator and logon that way, create the disk,
then change back to a limited user (i.e. to where I could not logon) and then
the password recovery disk did not work.
I am still no closer to letting my kids back on in safety.

#2 Tried your suggestions, unfortunately to no avail. Sometimes, I can view
the workgroup (2 computers). Sometimes I get an error when I try to view the
workgroup. The only difference is in the initial part of the message which
says that either "<workgroupname>" or "<computername>" "is not accessible.
You might not have permission to use the network resource. Contact your
administrator to find out if you have access permission". The rest of the
message is as I said before about too many connections. The first part of
this message is what led me to consider that these two problems might be
interconnected, but I cannot think what the issue might be. In the event log
the only Failures I am getting suggest that I am unable to logon from the
E510 to the 4500 (Event ID 533), but I seem to be able to achieve it the
other way around.