XP SP2 cannot see the workgroup. Why?

[Guest]

Dealing with a small workgroup, (2 PCs, 1 Laptop, and 1 networked printer.)
all running Windows XP 1 PC is still at SP1A the other is SP2 as is the
Laptop. All machines are running Norton Internet Security 2005 and have had
automatic updating and the Windows firewall deactivated.

The Problem: The PC running SP2 does not see the workgroup, when I try to
access the workgroup I receive an error that says that I may not have
permission to access the workgroup and to contact the administrator. It also
says the servers could not be found. I am signed into the system as the
administrator, the IP setup is identical to the other machines in the
workgroup. The other machines can see the SP2 PC in their workgroup computers
dialog but cannot access it, they receive the same message about contacting
the administrator, but the SP2 machine cannot see or access them

Now here's the weird part; this SP2 machine CAN access the internet over the
LAN connection despite not communicating with the rest of the workgroup!

I have been over and over the settings and can find nothing that is out of
place. I have disabled the on-board NIC and installed a PCI NIC in it's place
but have not had any success. I have rebuilt the network connection from the
ground up, altered the workgroup name for all devices on the workgroup,
changed IP configurations, used DHCP, reactivated and the Windows Firewall,
altered the security settings in the Norton firewall software. Quite frankly
I am very frustrated and do not have any more ideas.

Can anyone help me?

-Michael
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Robert L [MS-MVP]]

what doo you receive if uisng net view \\remoteip? this step by step troubleshooting may help, http://howtonetworking.com/Troubleshooting/notaccessibale0.htm

Don't send e-mail or reply to me except you need consulting services. Posting on MS newsgroup will benefit all readers and you may get more help.

Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
How to Setup Windows, Network, Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties.
I recommend Brinkster for web hosting!

Dealing with a small workgroup, (2 PCs, 1 Laptop, and 1 networked printer.)
all running Windows XP 1 PC is still at SP1A the other is SP2 as is the
Laptop. All machines are running Norton Internet Security 2005 and have had
automatic updating and the Windows firewall deactivated.

The Problem: The PC running SP2 does not see the workgroup, when I try to
access the workgroup I receive an error that says that I may not have
permission to access the workgroup and to contact the administrator. It also
says the servers could not be found. I am signed into the system as the
administrator, the IP setup is identical to the other machines in the
workgroup. The other machines can see the SP2 PC in their workgroup computers
dialog but cannot access it, they receive the same message about contacting
the administrator, but the SP2 machine cannot see or access them

Now here's the weird part; this SP2 machine CAN access the internet over the
LAN connection despite not communicating with the rest of the workgroup!

I have been over and over the settings and can find nothing that is out of
place. I have disabled the on-board NIC and installed a PCI NIC in it's place
but have not had any success. I have rebuilt the network connection from the
ground up, altered the workgroup name for all devices on the workgroup,
changed IP configurations, used DHCP, reactivated and the Windows Firewall,
altered the security settings in the Norton firewall software. Quite frankly
I am very frustrated and do not have any more ideas.

Can anyone help me?

-Michael
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Chuck]

Dealing with a small workgroup, (2 PCs, 1 Laptop, and 1 networked printer.)
all running Windows XP 1 PC is still at SP1A the other is SP2 as is the
Laptop. All machines are running Norton Internet Security 2005 and have had
automatic updating and the Windows firewall deactivated.

The Problem: The PC running SP2 does not see the workgroup, when I try to
access the workgroup I receive an error that says that I may not have
permission to access the workgroup and to contact the administrator. It also
says the servers could not be found. I am signed into the system as the
administrator, the IP setup is identical to the other machines in the
workgroup. The other machines can see the SP2 PC in their workgroup computers
dialog but cannot access it, they receive the same message about contacting
the administrator, but the SP2 machine cannot see or access them

Now here's the weird part; this SP2 machine CAN access the internet over the
LAN connection despite not communicating with the rest of the workgroup!

I have been over and over the settings and can find nothing that is out of
place. I have disabled the on-board NIC and installed a PCI NIC in it's place
but have not had any success. I have rebuilt the network connection from the
ground up, altered the workgroup name for all devices on the workgroup,
changed IP configurations, used DHCP, reactivated and the Windows Firewall,
altered the security settings in the Norton firewall software. Quite frankly
I am very frustrated and do not have any more ideas.

Can anyone help me?

-Michael
*email_address_deleted*

Michael,

Norton Internet Security includes Norton Personal Firewall. You have to
configure NPF to allow file sharing, by identifying each computer as Local
(Trusted). You may also have to specify that file sharing is enabled in the
Local (Trusted) Zone.

Check for a browser conflict between the computers. I"m not talking about
Internet Explorer here. The browser is the program that allows any computer to
see any other computer on the LAN.on.

The Microsoft Browstat program will show us what browsers you have in your
domain / workgroup, at any time.
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188305

You can download Browstat from either:
<http://www.dynawell.com/reskit/microsoft/win2000/browstat.zip>
<http://rescomp.stanford.edu/staff/manual/rcc/tools/browstat.zip>

Browstat is very small (40K), and needs no install. Just unzip the downloaded
file, copy browstat.exe to any folder in the Path, and run it from a command
window, by "browstat status". Make sure all computers list the same master
browser.
For more information about the browser subsystem (very intricate), see:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188001
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188305
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=231312
<http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winntas/deploy/prodspecs/ntbrowse.mspx>
<http://www.microsoft.com/technet/archive/win95/w95brows.mspx>

The browser requires anonymous access, so look at registry key
[HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa], value restrictanonymous, on each
computer.
<http://www.microsoft.com/windows200...2000/techinfo/reskit/en-us/regentry/46688.asp>
<http://www.jsifaq.com/subf/tip2600/rh2625.htm>
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=246261
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=296403

The above articles refer to Windows 2000. Remember WinXP is NT V5.1, and Win2K
is NT V5.0.

Have you used the Registry Editor before? If not, it's a scary tool, but it's
pretty simple once you get used to it. Here are a couple articles that might
help:
<http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...home/using/productdoc/en/tools_regeditors.asp>
<http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/registry>

Just remember to backup the key (create a registry patch) for
[HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa] before making any changes, if
appropriate.

If no help yet, provide ipconfig information for each computer, and we'll
diagnose the problem.
Start - Run - "cmd" - Type "ipconfig /all >c:\ipconfig.txt" into the command
window. Open Notepad, make sure that Format - Word Wrap is NOT checked!, open
file c:\ipconfig.txt, copy and paste entire contents into your next post.
Identify operating system (by name, version, and SP level) with each ipconfig
listing.

And Michael, posting your email address openly will get you more unwanted email,
than wanted email. Learn to munge your email address properly, to keep yourself
a bit safer when posting to open forums. Protect yourself and the rest of the
internet - read this article.
http://www.mailmsg.com/SPAM_munging.htm

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.

 

[Chuck]

Thanks Chuck, you'd think after doing this for 8 years I would have thought
to add the IP range into the firewall. Feel dumb but am thrilled to be done
with this job! Thanks again.

-Michael

Michael,

What I've learned about this job is if you don't feel dumb a couple times /
month, you aren't really learning. I'm learning all the time.

Thanks for the update.

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.

 

[Guest]

Chuck, YOU DA MAN. This fixed my problem also.

randy

Dealing with a small workgroup, (2 PCs, 1 Laptop, and 1 networked printer.)
all running Windows XP 1 PC is still at SP1A the other is SP2 as is the
Laptop. All machines are running Norton Internet Security 2005 and have had
automatic updating and the Windows firewall deactivated.

The Problem: The PC running SP2 does not see the workgroup, when I try to
access the workgroup I receive an error that says that I may not have
permission to access the workgroup and to contact the administrator. It also
says the servers could not be found. I am signed into the system as the
administrator, the IP setup is identical to the other machines in the
workgroup. The other machines can see the SP2 PC in their workgroup computers
dialog but cannot access it, they receive the same message about contacting
the administrator, but the SP2 machine cannot see or access them

Now here's the weird part; this SP2 machine CAN access the internet over the
LAN connection despite not communicating with the rest of the workgroup!

I have been over and over the settings and can find nothing that is out of
place. I have disabled the on-board NIC and installed a PCI NIC in it's place
but have not had any success. I have rebuilt the network connection from the
ground up, altered the workgroup name for all devices on the workgroup,
changed IP configurations, used DHCP, reactivated and the Windows Firewall,
altered the security settings in the Norton firewall software. Quite frankly
I am very frustrated and do not have any more ideas.

Can anyone help me?

-Michael
*email_address_deleted*

Michael,

Norton Internet Security includes Norton Personal Firewall. You have to
configure NPF to allow file sharing, by identifying each computer as Local
(Trusted). You may also have to specify that file sharing is enabled in the
Local (Trusted) Zone.

Check for a browser conflict between the computers. I"m not talking about
Internet Explorer here. The browser is the program that allows any computer to
see any other computer on the LAN.on.

The Microsoft Browstat program will show us what browsers you have in your
domain / workgroup, at any time.
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188305

You can download Browstat from either:
<http://www.dynawell.com/reskit/microsoft/win2000/browstat.zip>
<http://rescomp.stanford.edu/staff/manual/rcc/tools/browstat.zip>

Browstat is very small (40K), and needs no install. Just unzip the downloaded
file, copy browstat.exe to any folder in the Path, and run it from a command
window, by "browstat status". Make sure all computers list the same master
browser.
For more information about the browser subsystem (very intricate), see:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188001
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188305
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=231312
<http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winntas/deploy/prodspecs/ntbrowse.mspx>
<http://www.microsoft.com/technet/archive/win95/w95brows.mspx>

The browser requires anonymous access, so look at registry key
[HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa], value restrictanonymous, on each
computer.
<http://www.microsoft.com/windows200...2000/techinfo/reskit/en-us/regentry/46688.asp>
<http://www.jsifaq.com/subf/tip2600/rh2625.htm>
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=246261
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=296403

The above articles refer to Windows 2000. Remember WinXP is NT V5.1, and Win2K
is NT V5.0.

Have you used the Registry Editor before? If not, it's a scary tool, but it's
pretty simple once you get used to it. Here are a couple articles that might
help:
<http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...home/using/productdoc/en/tools_regeditors.asp>
<http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/registry>

Just remember to backup the key (create a registry patch) for
[HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa] before making any changes, if
appropriate.

If no help yet, provide ipconfig information for each computer, and we'll
diagnose the problem.
Start - Run - "cmd" - Type "ipconfig /all >c:\ipconfig.txt" into the command
window. Open Notepad, make sure that Format - Word Wrap is NOT checked!, open
file c:\ipconfig.txt, copy and paste entire contents into your next post.
Identify operating system (by name, version, and SP level) with each ipconfig
listing.

And Michael, posting your email address openly will get you more unwanted email,
than wanted email. Learn to munge your email address properly, to keep yourself
a bit safer when posting to open forums. Protect yourself and the rest of the
internet - read this article.
http://www.mailmsg.com/SPAM_munging.htm

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.

 

[Chuck]

Chuck, YOU DA MAN. This fixed my problem also.

randy

Thank you for the feedback, Randy. Details always appreciated - what symptoms
did you have, and which solution worked for you?

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.