I have networked two computers both running XP home. The main computer has
the modem (dial up) and the printers. The internet can be accessed from the
remote computer as well as the main, but I cannot get file or printer
sharing, even though I have selected both. On the main computer printer
sharing is enabled, but I cannot get access from the remorte computer. On
the remote computer file sharing is enabled, but I cannot get access from the
main computer.
Can anyone help please?
Thanks
Is this XP SP2, or pre-SP2?
Are you running both Client for Microsoft Networks, and File and Printer Sharing
for Microsoft Networks (Local Area Connection - Properties), on each computer?
Are you running NetBIOS Over TCP/IP (Local Area Connection - Properties - TCP/IP
- Properties - Advanced - WINS) on each computer?
Make sure the browser service is running on each computer. Control Panel -
Administrative Tools - Services. Verify that the Computer Browser, and the
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper, services both show with Status = Started.
On XP Home, make sure that the Guest account is enabled, on each computer.
Enable Guest with Start - Run - "cmd" - type "net user guest /active:yes" in the
command window.
Do any of the computers have a software firewall (ICF / WF, or third party)? If
so, you need to configure them for file sharing, by opening ports TCP 139, 445
and UDP 137, 138, 445, by enabling the File and Printer Sharing exception, and /
or by identifying the other computers as present in the Local (Trusted) zone.
Firewall configurations are a very common cause of (network) browser, and file
sharing, problems.
From each computer, test shares visibility (use actual name / address of each
computer as appropriate).
Start - Run - "cmd" then type into the command window:
1) net view ThisComputerByName
2) net view ThisComputerByIPAddress
3) net view OtherComputerByName
4) net view OtherComputerByIPAddress
Report visibility of shares / exact error displayed in each test (8 tests
total).
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.