Unable to access shared printers

[Phil Bixby]

We have three PCs (all running WinXP), and a Linksys router/ADSL modem,
which is connected to the broadband line.

My PC is wired to the router. I have two printers connected to the PC, both
set as shared.

The second PC (a laptop) is wired to the router. It connects to the internet
gateway fine, and can see and print to the two shared printers.

The third PC (a desktop) has a USB wireless adaptor. It connects to the
internet gateway fine, but it can't detect or connect to the two shared
printers (or shared folders on my PC, but that's not a problem).

I've run the Windows XP Network setup wizard on all of them. I've made sure
Windows File and Printer Sharing is enabled on all of them. I've turned off
Windows XP Firewall on all of them. When I look at "view workgroup
computers" on my PC I can see all three, so they're logging onto the
workgroup okay.

Can anyone suggest what the problem might be?

Many thanks for any help
Phil Bixby

 

[Chuck]

We have three PCs (all running WinXP), and a Linksys router/ADSL modem,
which is connected to the broadband line.

My PC is wired to the router. I have two printers connected to the PC, both
set as shared.

The second PC (a laptop) is wired to the router. It connects to the internet
gateway fine, and can see and print to the two shared printers.

The third PC (a desktop) has a USB wireless adaptor. It connects to the
internet gateway fine, but it can't detect or connect to the two shared
printers (or shared folders on my PC, but that's not a problem).

I've run the Windows XP Network setup wizard on all of them. I've made sure
Windows File and Printer Sharing is enabled on all of them. I've turned off
Windows XP Firewall on all of them. When I look at "view workgroup
computers" on my PC I can see all three, so they're logging onto the
workgroup okay.

Can anyone suggest what the problem might be?

Many thanks for any help
Phil Bixby

Phil,

If you have Internet connectivity, but not file sharing, One cause would be a
misconfigured or overlooked personal firewall, or other security component.
There are several other possibilities too. Read this article with an open mind.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html

For more direct help, provide "browstat status" and "ipconfig /all" from each
computer, so we can diagnose the problem. Read this article, and linked
articles, and follow instructions precisely (download browstat!):
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp

Please let us know if any of these suggestions are of any help. What you learn
may help others in the future, and that's the purpose of these forums.

 

[Phil Bixby]

Spot on, Chuck. I missed Norton Personal Firewall on the third computer - on
it when it was bought. Duly disabled, all now okay. Thanks for the help )

Phil B

 

[Chuck]

Spot on, Chuck. I missed Norton Personal Firewall on the third computer - on
it when it was bought. Duly disabled, all now okay. Thanks for the help )

Phil B

Thanks for the update, Phil. Come back any time. 8-}