XP Home Network Question

[Mark Test]

I am wondering if anyone knows if it's possible to
tell XP the exact IP address of a computer on the network?

I ask because I have a home network, (2 computers) both computers running
XP Home, and whenever I have to re-boot one of the computers, it's
a crap shoot if the two will see each other.

I think what happens is that when I re-start one of the computers
the wireless access point randomly assigns an IP address, which of
course doesn't match the previous one and the computers don't
talk.

I have had success getting the two to work, internet share, exchange
files, etc., but I recently had to replace a power supply and I restarted
the computer and of course, XP says invalid network path and neither
computer can see each other. I have in the past re-run the network
wizard, but this too is a crap shoot, sometimes it corrects the problem,
most of the time it doesn't.

Here's the kicker, my wireless network connection status on both machines
shows that data packs are being sent and received. So WTF?

That's why I suspect XP is holding on to only 1 assigned IP address and
when that changes (upon a re-start) it's impossible for the two machines
to see each other. So, is it possible to manually input the IP address
into XP so it can find the other computer? Or has MS in their
wisdom deemed this "beyond the average joe's ability" and thus,
it's not possible?

Any help would be appreciated.

Mark

 

[Mark Test]

Oh yeah, I am able to connect the 2 computers via
computer game software, but XP will not connect the two
machines or allow internet share. Anyone see this before?

Thanks in advance,
Mark

 

[Walter Clayton]

Yes, XP does support direct IP addressing. However it's not required on a
LAN as long as things are setup correctly. DHCP is easier to implement and
maintain.

Are both machines wireless?

On both machines, launch a command prompt. In the command prompt enter

ipconfig /all

and hit enter. Copy and paste the results back here even if you have to use
sneakernet. I have to see exactly what's returned without any attempt at
interpretation. Literally, I have to see *exactly* what they return.

On both machines hit winkey-pause. Go to the Computer name tab. What is the
"full computer name" and "Workgroup"?

On both machines, go into control panel-network connections and bring up
properties sheet on the LAN connections. Is "File and Printer Sharing.."
enabled?

Finally, have you attempted any kind of tweaking with regard services and if
so exactly what?

--
Walter Clayton - MS MVP(WinXP)
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
http://www.dts-l.org

 

[Mark Test]

Yes, XP does support direct IP addressing. However it's not required on a
LAN as long as things are setup correctly. DHCP is easier to implement and
maintain.

Are both machines wireless?

Yes both are wireless. D-Link PCI cards and a D-Link Acess Point,
802.11b, both Desktops PC's no notebooks.

On both machines, launch a command prompt. In the command prompt enter

ipconfig /all

On both computers IPCONFIG/ALL results:
" 'IPCONFIG' is not recognized as an nternal or external command, operable
program, or batch file."

and hit enter. Copy and paste the results back here even if you have to use
sneakernet. I have to see exactly what's returned without any attempt at
interpretation. Literally, I have to see *exactly* what they return.

On both machines hit winkey-pause. Go to the Computer name tab. What is the
"full computer name" and "Workgroup"?

I have no idea what a "winkey-pause" is, but I do know where
to find computer name and workgroup name. Here they are:
Worgroup name: MSHOME
Computer name 1): Dad / Family Computer
Computer name 2): Brandon / Brandon's Room

On both machines, go into control panel-network connections and bring up
properties sheet on the LAN connections. Is "File and Printer Sharing.."
enabled?
Yes


Finally, have you attempted any kind of tweaking with regard services and if
so exactly what?

No, I did re-run Network wizard, but did not change a thing. Successfully
ran
a DOOM2 network game, but XP refuses to recognize that it's attached
to a network.

Thanks for the timely reply, hopefully the info I provided helps, I know
I'm scratching my head here.

Mark

 

[Walter Clayton]

Look for ipconfig in c:\windows\system32. It it's not there, that's a whole
different issue.

The forward slashes in the computer names may be causing issues. Local
network names resolve the same as internet names. Literally, the system is
attempting to address the one machine as "//Dad / Family Computer" and the
other as "//Brandon / Brandon's Room". Since the name between the // and the
first / refer to the computer name and everything after the single slash is
considered a network share.

First shot out of the hopper is to rename the computers simply. Do not use
anything other than letters or numbers. That means no spaces either.

--
Walter Clayton - MS MVP(WinXP)
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
http://www.dts-l.org