Workgroup is not accessible. You may not have permission to use this network resource

[Andrew]

I have two computers as follows:

Desktop, XP Pro SP2 with all updates, ethernet connection to Netgear router
Laptop, XP Pro SP2 with all updates, wireless connection to Netgear router

Followed all instructions in
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;318030 on both
systems
Both systems have same workgroup name, user name and password
User is adminstrator
Both systems can ping each other
Neither system can see the workgroup in My Network Places/View Workgroup
computers

Any ideas?

TIA
Andrew

 

[Andrew]

More information ...

The laptop displays its own shared folders - e.g. \\LAPTOP\Shared Docs.
There is no error message but the PC is not listed.
The PC displays the error message "Workgroup is not accessible etc..." and
nothing at all is listed, not even its own shared folders.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

I have two computers as follows:

Desktop, XP Pro SP2 with all updates, ethernet connection to Netgear router
Laptop, XP Pro SP2 with all updates, wireless connection to Netgear router

Followed all instructions in
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;318030 on both
systems
Both systems have same workgroup name, user name and password
User is adminstrator
Both systems can ping each other
Neither system can see the workgroup in My Network Places/View Workgroup
computers

Any ideas?

TIA
Andrew

As you can see from reading this news group, lots of people have
trouble with network browsing through My Network Places. In my
opinion, My Network Places is inherently unreliable, and I recommend
not using it. You can spend a lot of time troubleshooting it, but I
don't think it's worth the effort.

Instead try accessing the other computer directly, by typing the other
computer's name in the Start > Run box in this format:

\\computer

You can also create a desktop shortcut to the other computer,
specifying the location of the item as:

\\computer

If those methods don't work either, something else is wrong.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Andrew]

Perfect. Worked first time in both directions. Thank you.

Which sort of raises the question - obviously it isn't that hard to network
if you press the right keys - so why hasn't Microsoft fixed the "My Network
Places" problem? It's a bad sad when an MVP recommends not using it.

Andrew

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Perfect. Worked first time in both directions. Thank you.

You're welcome, Andrew.

Which sort of raises the question - obviously it isn't that hard to network
if you press the right keys - so why hasn't Microsoft fixed the "My Network
Places" problem? It's a bad sad when an MVP recommends not using it.

I think that Microsoft's network development and testing efforts are
focused on domains (which they use internally and their biggest
customers use), not workgroups.

Andrew

--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Rich Olson]

Steve-

I tried your recommendation (\\"computer-name") in both directions, but it
popped up an error: "The network path was not found."

RCLO

 

[Guest]

Now there is nothing in my workgroup either. I am getting farther and
farther from restoring the capability I once had with 3 computers able to
share files, to 2 not longer seeing each other and now an empty workgroup. I
have already posted multiple times greater details of my troubles, so no need
to here, except to say that the wrorsened situation is a result of trying to
follow general suggestion to go to links for help rather than anything
specific to the case at hand.

 

[Guest]

I tried the //computer name but I received the message "The network path was
not found". How do I fixed this. It sure is hard using Windows XP!!!