Workgroup networking frustrations between windows 2000 and XP computers.

[TyphoonTycoon]

I have a home network (or I used too) between 3 computers set up to MSHOME
as the workgroup name.

1. All 3 of them can ping between them Okay.

2. windows 2000 machine is able to see all computers under
"Computers near me" and is able to access all the shares successfully on
the 2 windows XP computers.
3. On the Windows XP computers, when I attempt to go "view
workgroup computers" they will just turn around and complain...

"MShome is not accesible, You might now have permission to use this
network resource. COntact the administrator of this server to find out if
you have access permissions.
Windows cannot find the network path. Verfity that the network path is
correc and the destination computer is not busy or turned off. If windows
still cannot find the network path, contact your network administratr"

4. the 2 XP computers however can access each other's shares okay if I
type in the full network path in explorer.

5. The 2 XP computers CAN NOT access any shares on the windows 2000
computer, even though I've set up the permissions.

6. This problem comes about randomly and intermittent. Sometimes both the
windows XP computers can go "view workgroup computers" fine, are see all
the computers on the workgroup and can access the windows 2000 shares Okay
as well.

7. Each Computer has 4 accounts for each family member. (identically
named, with the same passwords over all the machines)

If more information is required, please don't hesitate to ask.

Any ideas to this rather annoying problem?

 

[GUTB]

Any ideas to this rather annoying problem?

Browser issue.

Go download the XP Support Tools to the computer experiencing the
problem, and after installing, go to the support tools command prompt
and type "browstat status". This will tell you which of your computers
is acting as the master browser or you will just get garbage
characters. Don't knock yourself out figuring out which computer is
winning the browser election if its just garbage, just disable the
computer browser service on all computers except the one you would like
to be the master. Restarting the service will force an election. Try it
out and find a master that works with everyone. be patient with browser
lists updating.

Browsing is old, sucks, and is worthless.

 

[Andrei Ungureanu [MVP]]

Indeed it seems a browser issue but why to bother to troubleshoot browser
issues for such a small network.
I would just create network shortcuts or map drives based on the IP address.

--
Regards,
Andrei Ungureanu
www.eventid.net
Test our new EventReader!
http://www.altairtech.ca/eventreader/default2.asp?ref=au

 

[TyphoonTycoon]

Browser issue.

Go download the XP Support Tools to the computer experiencing the
problem, and after installing, go to the support tools command prompt
and type "browstat status". This will tell you which of your computers
is acting as the master browser or you will just get garbage
characters. Don't knock yourself out figuring out which computer is
winning the browser election if its just garbage, just disable the
computer browser service on all computers except the one you would like
to be the master. Restarting the service will force an election. Try it
out and find a master that works with everyone. be patient with browser
lists updating.

Browsing is old, sucks, and is worthless.

Thanks, turns out that disabling the windows 2000 system from ever
becomming a master browser, it appears to resolve the problem of not being
able to view the workgroup and not being able to access shares. I've
noticed that problems come about If the windows 2000 machine is the first
to start up (and subsequently gets elected "Master browser"), however, the
reason why the windows 2000 system is not playing ball when it is the
master browser still remains a mystery.