Windows update disabled my LAN

[Les Rose]

I have a PC running XP Home Edition as internet gateway, connected to cable
broadband. Another (client) PC runs 98 SE. I have set up a LAN using the XP
CD on both PCs, as instructed. I am using McAfee for virus scan and
firewall, so XP firewall was turned off. Over the last few months there have
been various Windows security updates which I have installed. On several
occasions these have disabled the gateway and I have had to re-run the
network setup wizard on the XP host, but not on the 98 client which remains
working OK. The last update pack on 15th Nov which included KB828035 turned
on the XP firewall so there was no LAN connection. I turned this off - LAN
connection came on. Re-booted - no LAN again. Re-ran setup wizard -
connection came on. XP firewall remains turned off. But now I have to re-run
the wizard every time I boot up or there is no LAN. What has this update
done? I have uninstalled the update but it makes no difference - I still
have to re-run the wizard at every boot-up. I have been through the MS
knowledge base and can't find anything to explain this. Is the only solution
to reinstall XP?

 

[Kent_dieGo]

I fixed a similar problem by creating a folder on C: drive (\public) and
allowing sharing to this folder. It seems unless you actually have something
shared, this computer is not seen.

-Kent

 

[Les Rose]

I fixed a similar problem by creating a folder on C: drive (\public) and
allowing sharing to this folder. It seems unless you actually have something
shared, this computer is not seen.

-Kent

I already have shared folders. I think I will have to reinstall XP.

 

[Rob Schneider]

I already have shared folders. I think I will have to reinstall XP.

Re-installing won't necessarily fix this ... unless it's fixed
accidently. Way way way way to drastic. It's a config flaw.

Recommend you re-read the instructions about how to set all this up in
"help" and go through it one more time. also check any inadvertent
settings you have in the firewall. Sometimes simply running the network
setup wizard will show up the configuration flaw.

Very hard to debug without look at things.