WXP Network works in only one direction.

[Paul Brady]

I am trying to build a LAN for a local food pantry. All their
computers are donated (and thus their operating systems are in unknown
condition). They all run Windows XP.
I bought a wired Linksys router and connected two of the
computers with Ethernet cable to the router. The Ethernet cards were
already installed in each computer.
I followed the procedure in "Home Networking for Dummies",
which matched the questions asked by the network wizard in each
computer. I connected the router to computer A, following the Linksys
directions. When I ran the network wizard in A, it asked if I wanted
to make a floppy disk to use with other XP computer, and I did that
and ran that floppy disk on computer B. So, I have:

Computer_A--------------------Router-------------------Computer_B
Network Places: Ntwk Places:
Lists CompB shared Lists CompB shared
files only. files only.

The result is that both computers list the shared files on CompB in
their network places, and neither computer lists shared files on
CompA. That is, they both can "see" CompB, and neither can see CompA.
Questions:
1. When you share files, your own computer should add those files to
its own network places, as it does on CompB. I did check the "share"
option on one directory in CompA, but it doesn't appear in A's network
places.
2. CompB fails to see the Ethernet; it says that hardware is missing,
and when I look at hardware, it lists the card but says it is
disabled. Perhaps it is, and it should be enabled (I don't know how
to do that), but if it weren't working, how come I can use CompA to
work on CompB's files?

I've plowed thru Google and Microsoft's website, and all I get is the
"sunny day" scenario of how to add a computer to a network. Can
anyone suggest a more detailed source of help?
Thanks. Pete Brady

 

[Phil Cartwright]

Computer_A--------------------Router-------------------Computer_B
Network Places: Ntwk Places:
Lists CompB shared Lists CompB shared
files only. files only.

I've observed exactly the same thing with a network I've recently set
up. I asked about it here and in some other Windows newsgroups a few
weeks ago and never received any useful response, so don't expect much.

 

[Paul Brady]

I've observed exactly the same thing with a network I've recently set
up. I asked about it here and in some other Windows newsgroups a few
weeks ago and never received any useful response, so don't expect much.

Phil, I've talked with several "experts" in the past 2 weeks, and they
are all stumped. Most of them thought it was a firewall problem, but
I looked at the firewall options and they are all correct, and are the
same on both computers. I have not completely run out of ideas, and
will post any solutions I find. Pete