Vista/XP Networking Fustrations has become Vista/XP Networking HEL

[Sid]

I gotta say, no computer problem has ever caused me this much grief or caused
me to cuss so much in my life, so hopefully someone can help me...

I have been trying for the good part of a month to set up a network between
ONE Vista machine and ONE XP Machine, and have been told to go screw myself
by my Vista machine at every turn, everyday...

I've realized I posted about this awhile ago but here is my problem again in
a nutshell:

*The XP Machine cannot see the Vista Machine, ever.
*The Vista Machine will occassionally show the XP machine in the Network
Folder, about 25% of the time.
*I am sometimes able to access the XP machine using \\ip address. When this
is successful, sometimes I am able to actually read/write to folders, other
times access is denied.
*If the XP machine shows up in the Network Folder, it is almost guaranteed
that I won't be able to access it via \\ip address. If the XP machine does
not show up in the Network forlder, then I have a better chance of using \\ip
address.
*The XP machine always comes out in the Network Map.

I have a Linksys WRT350N wireless router. The Vista box is connected with a
cable, and the XP brick is connected wirelessly.

I have determined the following, beyond a doubt:
*The problem lies with the Vista box and not the XP brick because I have a
Archos portable media player (its OS is Linux based I believe), and both the
player and the brick can see each other and interact just fine.
*It maybe a problem with NetBios Over TCP/IP, as ipconfig.txt says it is
disabled on all my adapters (even thoe it is clearly enabled in WINS tab).
*It maybe a problem with the NT Browser Service, as browstat.txt says
browsing is not active on the domain, I cannot find it in the service list.

(I've tried everything in PChuck articles and all Mick Murphy suggestions,
the standard stuff I guess)
(the output of the ipconfig.txt and browstat.txt is included in a reply)

Thanks in advance for any help, sorry if I sound rude.

 

[Sid]

Sorry don't know why it posted twice, the window crashed and I thought I had
to resend the post. Anyway, here is my ipconfig.txt and browstat.txt:

Vista box is Cybertron, MOTHERSCOMPUTER is the XP brick: PHOENIX311 is the
workgroup for both puters.

ipconfig.txt-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Cybertron
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network Connection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-13-20-9A-DA-25
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::85bf:6e7d:c2ec:fe06%8(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.101(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 6:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 02-00-54-55-4E-01
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . :
2001:0:4137:9e66:3050:107d:b4e0:47b7(Preferred)
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::3050:107d:b4e0:47b7%9(Preferred)
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : ::
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 7:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . :
isatap.{6728EBF0-8BB6-42F3-B54F-83908CBC704C}
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::5efe:192.168.1.101%14(Preferred)
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled
ipconfig.txt-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------


browstat.txt-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Status for domain PHOENIX311 on transport
\Device\Nbf_{6728EBF0-8BB6-42F3-B54F-83908CBC704C}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: MOTHERSCOMPUTER
Could not connect to registry, error = 53 Unable to determine build
of browser master: 53
Unable to determine server information for browser master: 59
1 backup servers retrieved from master MOTHERSCOMPUTER
\\MOTHERSCOMPUTER
Unable to retrieve server list from MOTHERSCOMPUTER: 59


Status for domain PHOENIX311 on transport
\Device\Nbf_NdisWanNbfOut{A51D56CB-3B7D-44EC-B690-651382409BE0}
Browsing is NOT active on domain.
Master name cannot be determined from GetAdapterStatus.


Status for domain PHOENIX311 on transport
\Device\Nbf_{D1DB7276-C4FE-4CD4-BC66-8263B9A9BA24}
Browsing is NOT active on domain.
Master name cannot be determined from GetAdapterStatus.
browstat.txt-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks again!

 

[RalfG]

You should run ipconfig /all separately on the XP computer.

Errors here:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network
Connection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-13-20-9A-DA-25
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . :
fe80::85bf:6e7d:c2ec:fe06%8(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.101(Preferred) ***** cannot
communicate with 192.168.0.xxx
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1****** >>> there's only
one router, which IP does it actually have?
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1******
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

and here:


Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 7:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . :
isatap.{6728EBF0-8BB6-42F3-B54F-83908CBC704C}
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . :
fe80::5efe:192.168.1.101%14(Preferred)
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1 ************** same
situation as above
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled



There is no domain in a peer to peer lan, just a workgroup which should be
the same on all computers. Browsing is integral provided there is actual
communication between the computers and one or the other will become the
master browser... it doesn't really matter which. First you have to fix the
TCP/IP configuration so that gateway, DHCP and DNS servers are all the same
address. Devices on different subnets should not be able to communicate with
each other.. i.e. 192.168.1.x doesn't talk to 192.168.0.x. Either set the
router's IP to be 192.168.1.1 or change your TCP/IP settings in the
computers to match what it really is (DHCP and DNS). Check that DNS relay is
enabled in the router. Neither computer can have the same IP as the router.
If ICS happens to be activated on either computer turn it off.

Third party software firewalls can block LAN communications. If you're using
any it may help to disable or uninstall the firewall before configuring your
LAN. Once the LAN is working properly you can reinstall the firewall and
debug any networking problems it creates.

 

[Sid]

RalfG,

Thanks. I set the router ip to 192.168.1.1 and the XP computer is set to
static ip 192.168.1.102.

The XP Machine can now see the Vista puter, but the Vista Machine still
cannot see the XP brick in the Network Folder, although it does show up in
the Network Map. I can also ping both puters both ways and access each
computers files both ways.

I know its possible to see the XP brick in the Network Folder because, even
with the errors you pointed out, it happens occasionally, now not being one
of those better moments. Why does it only work sometimes? :|

Also I tried looking for a DNS relay option in the routers settings, but
couldn't find anything, is there anything equivalent to this on a Linksys
WRT350N?

Netbios over TCP/Ip is still disabled.

I have Bitdefender on the Vista machine and Zone Alarm on the XP machine,
both are disabled, as are both Windows firewalls.

Here are the ipconfigs for both machines:

Vista--------------------------------------------

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Cybertron
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Bluetooth Network Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Bluetooth Device (Personal Area
Network)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-12-5A-5F-6E-B7
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network Connection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-13-20-9A-DA-25
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.101(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 6:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 02-00-54-55-4E-01
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 7:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 10:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Vista--------------------------------------------


XP-----------------------------------------------

Windows IP Configuration



Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : MothersComputer

Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :

Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid

IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No



Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:



Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast
Ethernet NIC

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-11-09-73-17-A6



Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:



Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Linksys Wireless-N PCI Adapter
WMP300N

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-18-F8-A6-2B-1D

Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes

Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.100

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

192.168.0.1

Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Saturday, March 15, 2008 1:01:30
PM

Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, March 16, 2008 1:01:30 PM
XP-----------------------------------------------

I have no idea why the vista box ahs so many adapters, I only see the
bluetooth and intel adapters in the network connections :|

Thanks again.

 

[RalfG]

MothersComputer still has one DNS entry pointing to 192.168.0.1 but that
shouldn't block anything as there is nothing at that address. In your Vista
computer the network connection type should be set to Private (Network and
Sharing Center-Customize).

I looked through the manual for the router online and also didn't see
anything pertaining to DNS relaying. It will either handle that as expected
if you set TCP/IP in the computers to Obtain DNS servers automatically, or
if you find you cannot surf enter the DNS server addresses manually. They
are the same as the ones you entered into the router's internet setup page
(IPs provided by your ISP in any case).

Sometimes software firewalls block netbios broadcasts. It can be by design,
which usually means there is a setting somewhere to allow it, or it can be
an unwanted side effect of how the firewall detects intrusions. Some
firewalls do it consistently but it can also be a very intermittent symptom.
Disabling the firewall doesn't always equate to turning it off completely
and some things that were blocked while it was running may remain blocked
after the firewall is disabled. This is where uninstalling the firewall can
sometimes become necessary. You might be able to work around it by opening
ports 137, 138, 139 in the safe or trusted zones ONLY.