Understanding My Network Places. What's Going on?

[W. eWatson]

I have a LAN with three XP Pro computers. Each one seems to have its own
way of displaying the results of using My Network Places.

The one in my den shows the other two, but it is broken into two
sections, The Internet and Unspecified. Unspecified shows Computers Near
Me, which will, if opened, show the other two, and sometimes my laptop
if I have it on the LAN.

The Internet shows three entries all related to the other two PCs. It
contains under the Comments header, items like \\ComputerB\Blah, Blah. A
column called Network Location shows The Internet for each entry. That's
troubling if this means they are open to the internet.

One PC shows little more than two items it's will to share, but one
section called Local Networks. This PC sees neither of the other two
machines, but they see it.

The third PC is somewhat like the one in the Den, but has a section
called Local Area Networks and Unspecified. Under Unspecified is Nearby
Networks.

There's definitely a lack of uniformity here. Comments?

 

[Anteaus]

Basically, the Network Places applet is never very reliable and I don't know
of any fix.

I would suggest either creating drive mappings
(net use driveletter: \\computer\share /user:username)
or else using UNC desktop shortcuts. To create the latter, just rightclick
the desktop and select New..Shortcut. Then type in \\computername\sharename
as the target.

Both of these methods are more reliable. I find that users prefer
driveletters as they can refer to these in programs' open/save dialogs
directly.

 

[Jack [MVP-Networking]]

Hi
Make sure that all the computer are configured with the same workgroup name,
and each one has its own unique name.
As for sharing.
Make sure that the Software Firewall on each computer allows free local
traffic. If you use 3rd party Firewall On, Vista/XP Native Firewall should
be Off, and the active Firewall has to adjusted to your Network IP numbers
on what is some time called the Trusted Zone (consult your 3rd Party
Firewall instructions.
General example, http://www.ezlan.net/faq#trusted
Windows XP File Sharing -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304040
Printer Sharing XP -
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/honeycutt_july2.mspx
Windows Native Firewall setting for Sharing XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875357
Windows XP patch for Sharing with Vista (Not need for XP-SP3) -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922120
When done hard reboot all network computers and the Router.
Jack (MS, MVP-Networking).

 

[W. eWatson]

Basically, the Network Places applet is never very reliable and I don't know
of any fix.

I would suggest either creating drive mappings
(net use driveletter: \\computer\share /user:username)
or else using UNC desktop shortcuts. To create the latter, just rightclick
the desktop and select New..Shortcut. Then type in \\computername\sharename
as the target.

Both of these methods are more reliable. I find that users prefer
driveletters as they can refer to these in programs' open/save dialogs
directly.

Let me call the three PCs Den, Met, and Astro. Den has the fullest My
Network places. Met the least, and Astro almost on a par with Den. I've
used **name** above to identify the descriptions.

I tried your shortcut method on Met, and happily I can log into Den. Net
Places is pretty esoteric. Uniformity would be a good goal for the
implementers.

I guess I'll use the shortcut approach on that PC, but it sure would be
nice if I could see Computers Near Me as part of My Net Places.

 

[W. eWatson]

Hi
Make sure that all the computer are configured with the same workgroup
name, and each one has its own unique name.
As for sharing.
Make sure that the Software Firewall on each computer allows free local
traffic. If you use 3rd party Firewall On, Vista/XP Native Firewall
should be Off, and the active Firewall has to adjusted to your Network
IP numbers on what is some time called the Trusted Zone (consult your
3rd Party Firewall instructions.
General example, http://www.ezlan.net/faq#trusted
Windows XP File Sharing -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304040
Printer Sharing XP -
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/honeycutt_july2.mspx

Windows Native Firewall setting for Sharing XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875357
Windows XP patch for Sharing with Vista (Not need for XP-SP3) -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922120
When done hard reboot all network computers and the Router.
Jack (MS, MVP-Networking).

Yes, all have the same workgroup name. My firewall is provided by McAfee
(possibly) and I suppose Windows. I'm pretty sure the Window firewall is
on for all three. I just looked at McAfee, and it seems to have one
firewall protection, which is lockdown firewall, which apparently means
for this Den PC.

Ah, they have something called security center. Yes, it seems to be on.
However, as I just posted moments ago, I now can get to the Den PC
from Met by using the shortcut idea. I'm pretty sure I can get here from
the Astro PC, as well. So what good is their firewall doing me?
Protecting from internet intruders? Actually, that's what a short note
on the on/off dialog says.

 

[Jack [MVP-Networking]]

Hi
Unfortunately most Hardware vendors tend to put trial version of security
software without any real explanation to its value (usually None) and how to
configure the new system.
Using more than one Firewall, or any other protection software, is a Gate to
Trouble Land, and probably also the reason for the multiple naming.
If you insist on using the 3rd party software disable all of its
counterparts.
Jack (MS, MVP-Networking).

 

[W. eWatson]

Hi
Unfortunately most Hardware vendors tend to put trial version of
security software without any real explanation to its value (usually
None) and how to configure the new system.
Using more than one Firewall, or any other protection software, is a
Gate to Trouble Land, and probably also the reason for the multiple naming.
If you insist on using the 3rd party software disable all of its
counterparts.
Jack (MS, MVP-Networking).

I just realized that Den does not get the internet directly and pass
things on to the others. It's tempting to think of the path from the
modem into the house as going right through the Den PC. The internet
line via the modem goes to a hub outside the house, and the signal is
sent to all three. However, I think the modem has some sort of firewall.
So where is McAfee in all this? It's only on the PC in the Den. I guess
I don't really need it, since it has the Win firewall.

 

[Jack [MVP-Networking]]

Hi
If the Modem is actually a Modem Router combo, then indeed the Router part
has a NAT Firewall. You still need a software Firewall on the computers
because the NAT Firewall is a one way firewall (see here,
http://www.ezlan.net/firewall.html ).
The Router's Part of the Modem would appear has a Network Device on the
Network map.
Jack (MS, MVP-Networking).

Hi
Unfortunately most Hardware vendors tend to put trial version of security
software without any real explanation to its value (usually None) and how
to configure the new system.
Using more than one Firewall, or any other protection software, is a Gate
to Trouble Land, and probably also the reason for the multiple naming.
If you insist on using the 3rd party software disable all of its
counterparts.
Jack (MS, MVP-Networking).

Jack [MVP-Networking] wrote:

Hi
Make sure that all the computer are configured with the same workgroup
name, and each one has its own unique name.
As for sharing.
Make sure that the Software Firewall on each computer allows free local
traffic. If you use 3rd party Firewall On, Vista/XP Native Firewall
should be Off, and the active Firewall has to adjusted to your Network
IP numbers on what is some time called the Trusted Zone (consult your
3rd Party Firewall instructions.
General example, http://www.ezlan.net/faq#trusted
Windows XP File Sharing -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304040
Printer Sharing XP -
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/honeycutt_july2.mspx
Windows Native Firewall setting for Sharing XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875357
Windows XP patch for Sharing with Vista (Not need for XP-SP3) -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922120
When done hard reboot all network computers and the Router.
Jack (MS, MVP-Networking).

...

There's definitely a lack of uniformity here. Comments?


Yes, all have the same workgroup name. My firewall is provided by McAfee
(possibly) and I suppose Windows. I'm pretty sure the Window firewall is
on for all three. I just looked at McAfee, and it seems to have one
firewall protection, which is lockdown firewall, which apparently means
for this Den PC.

Ah, they have something called security center. Yes, it seems to be on.
However, as I just posted moments ago, I now can get to the Den PC
from Met by using the shortcut idea. I'm pretty sure I can get here from
the Astro PC, as well. So what good is their firewall doing me?
Protecting from internet intruders? Actually, that's what a short note
on the on/off dialog says.

I just realized that Den does not get the internet directly and pass
things on to the others. It's tempting to think of the path from the modem
into the house as going right through the Den PC. The internet line via
the modem goes to a hub outside the house, and the signal is sent to all
three. However, I think the modem has some sort of firewall. So where is
McAfee in all this? It's only on the PC in the Den. I guess I don't really
need it, since it has the Win firewall.

 

[GTS]

I have a LAN with three XP Pro computers. Each one seems to have its own
way of displaying the results of using My Network Places.

The one in my den shows the other two, but it is broken into two sections,
The Internet and Unspecified. Unspecified shows Computers Near Me, which
will, if opened, show the other two, and sometimes my laptop if I have it
on the LAN.

The Internet shows three entries all related to the other two PCs. It
contains under the Comments header, items like \\ComputerB\Blah, Blah. A
column called Network Location shows The Internet for each entry. That's
troubling if this means they are open to the internet.

One PC shows little more than two items it's will to share, but one
section called Local Networks. This PC sees neither of the other two
machines, but they see it.

The third PC is somewhat like the one in the Den, but has a section called
Local Area Networks and Unspecified. Under Unspecified is Nearby Networks.

There's definitely a lack of uniformity here. Comments?

It might help to enable NetBIOS on all the machines.