1 wireless laptop & 1 ethernet wired desktop connect to modem rout

[Guest]

Problem:

I have a wireless connection from my laptop (Windows XP Pro SP2) to a
BTVOYAGER 2100 modem (ADSL 1MBPS) router & a desktop (Windows XP Pro SP2)
attached via wired ethernet to the same router; I get great internet
connections from both and I can print, using the printer connected to my
desktop, from my laptop, so I have managed to connect both the laptop and the
desktop, using a 1394 connection from my laptop.

A few days ago, I managed to see the desktop's shared file folder on the
laptop and vice versa, but now it has disappeared.

Basically, I did the following to set up my network:

1) Created a wireless network from my laptop, using WPA-PSK security
2) Created a home network on my desktop, using the Network Wizard; I named
the workgroup MSHOME.
3) I set the IP address for the laptop in the TCP/IP properties to
192.168.1.2 & 192.168.1.3 on my desktop; the mask was 255.255.255.0 on both
and the rest was 192.168.1.1
4) I made 'print & file sharing' exceptions in both my firewall programs;
turned print sharing on in the printer properties.

I have perfect internet connections on both machines and I can print on a
network, but I cannot see the shared folders or workgroups (MSHOME) on either
machine.

Can someone help...

Charlie

 

[Doug Sherman [MVP]]

Need more info on this one:

1. On the laptop, Start/Run \\192.168.1.3 ENTER. What happens?

2. What is this for: "I have managed to connect both the laptop and the
desktop, using a 1394 connection from my laptop." If you have an ethernet
connection to the router from the desktop, and a wireless connection to the
router from the laptop, you should not need firewire.

3. Is MSHOME the workgroup name for both machines?

Doug Sherman
MCSE Win2k/NT4.0, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

 

[Guest]

Doug, thanks for the prompt reply:

First of all, when I type //192.168.1.3 into Run on my laptop, it opens up a
list of all my shared folders on my desktop! This is fantastic!!!

OK, let me try and explain my set-up more specifically:

I have the following equipment:

1) Laptop Dell Inspiron 9100 3GHZ; 1GB RAM; Dell Wireless 1350 802.11 a/b/g
mini PCI Card; Windows XP Pro SP2
2) Desktop Dell Dimension 8300 2.6GHZ; 768MB RAM; Windows XP Pro SP2
3) BTVOYAGER 2100 modem/router

1) I have attached the desktop to the router via an ethernet cable
2) I have created a secure WPA-PSK wireless connection from the laptop to
the router; when I created this it automatically made another connection
called a 1394 Connection, which is of type LAN or High Speed Internet. This
connection is nothing to do with Firewire and is just a description of a
connection made by the computer. I think I have read that when a wireless
network is created, a 1394 connection is created aswell to join different
types of connections together, like wireless & ethernet.

1) I created an IP address of 192.168.1.3 for the desktop in the TCP/IP
properties of the LAN connection
2) I created an IP address of 192.168.1.2 for the laptop in the TCP/IP
properties of the Wireless connection

1) I made 'Printer & File Sharing' an exception in the Norton's Firewall
software on the desktop
2) I made 'Printer & File Sharing' an exception in the McAfee Firewall
software on the laptop

1) I turned on Printer Sharing in the printer properties of my HP DeskJet
450, which is attached to my desktop; I named the printer 'hpdeskjet'...

Although I still cannot see the MSHOME (workgroup name for both computers)
workgroup yet on either computer, I can now access the shared folders by
typing in the relevant IP address.

However if you have any idea how I can set up the network correctly I would
be much obliged...

Thanks very much...

Charlie

 

[Doug Sherman [MVP]]

OK, your network is working fine - ie. you can access and share files. The
issue is solely one of browsing through the My Network Places interface; and
we'll try to address that in a minute, but first:

1. I thought maybe you had connected these machines with 1394 (firewire)
connections in addition to the ethernet and wireless connections. This is
obviously not the case; the 1394 connection icon is harmless; and it results
because the the computer has a 1394 port even though nothing is connected to
it - See:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307736

2. Standard browsing has inherent latency and is not an efficient way to
find and connect to available resources. It's primary use is for clients
who are not familiar with the local network resources. See:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;188001

Many people like to shortcut the browsing process. Try this:

On the laptop, go to \\192.168.1.3. When the Explorer window opens, right
click on the computer icon (left side of window) and select Create Shortcut.
You will be prompted to put the shortcut on your Desktop - say Yes. Right
click on the new desktop icon and select Rename. You can give this the icon
name of your Desktop computer, and henceforth you can access the Desktop
machine by double clicking on this icon instead of drilling down through My
Network Places.

3. To resolve the browsing issue, try:

a. In Local Area Connection properties (where you set the IP address) click
the Advanced button then the WINS tab. Make sure that Enable NetBIOS over
TCP/IP is selected.

b. On the Laptop, go to Control Panel/Performance and
Maintenance/Administrative Tools/Services. Double click on Computer Browser
and change the setting from Automatic to Manual. Shut down the laptop.
Reboot the Desktop. After the Desktop is started, start the laptop. Wait
several minutes (see above) and try My Network Places.

Doug Sherman
MCSE Win2k/NT4.0, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

 

[Guest]

Thanks again Doug; you are obviously some sort of expert at this; I am just a
lowly Coldfusion MX developer and my networking skill is limited to say the
least.

I will try out your suggestions and let you know the results soon...

Charlie

 

[Doug Sherman [MVP]]

Go get 'em, Charlie - ColdFusion is way cool.

Doug Sherman
MCSE Win2k/NT4.0, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

 

[Guest]

OK Doug

I have done everything you asked me to do:

1) Changed both TCP/IP Advanced WINS options to Enable NetBios over TCP/IP
2) Changed Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Services -> Computer
Browser to manual on the laptop
3) Turned off laptop
4) Rebooted desktop
5) Rebooted laptop

I then waited at least 12 minutes as stated in the article you suggest I
read...

And...nothing; no change I am afraid; I still cannot see the other computer
in either of 'My Network Places'...

I am stumped; actually, what I forgot to tell you is that when I had an
unsecured or open wireless connection, I did see the computers in 'My
Network Places'; when I secured the connection, using WPA-PSK, which is
supported by my modem/router and OS, I lost this display.

Charlie

 

[Guest]

One other thing, I set the IP address for the laptop in the TCP/IP settings
in the 1349 Connection, rather than the Wireless Connection; will this make
any difference?

Charlie

 

[Doug Sherman [MVP]]

Hmmm - wouldn't expect this to work at all, but it does - except for
browsing.

1. On the laptop Start/Run cmd ENTER

ipconfig /all > c:\config.txt

exit ENTER

2. Open Notepad and open c:\config.txt.

3. Paste the results into a reply to this post.

Doug Sherman
MCSE Win2k/NT4.0, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

 

[Guest]

Here goes Doug:

Windows IP Configuration



Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : DJXPXD1J

Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :

Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown

IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : home



Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:



Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated
Controller

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0F-1F-2B-73-B0



Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:



Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : home

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Dell Wireless 1350 WLAN Mini-PCI
Card

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0B-7D-10-70-28

Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes

Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.2

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 04 January 2005 17:42:39

Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 05 January 2005 17:42:39

 

[Doug Sherman [MVP]]

OK, let's try a few things. If they don't work, I'm going to conclude that
the problem is WAP related and requires troubleshooting the router or may
not be resolvable at all. The wiireless connection configuration appears
correct, except I am bothered by the node type and the DNS connection
suffix:

1. I don't know where 'home' comes from - perhaps the router. But just to
be sure, on both computers right click My Computer and select Properties.
Click the Computer Name button and click the Change button. Make sure both
computers are members of the same workgroup - probably MSHOME - doesn't
matter as long as they are exactly the same.

2. We want to change the node type from unknown to broadcast. On the
laptop - Start/Run regedit ENTER. Navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Netbt\Parameters

Right click on Parameters and select New - DWORD value. A new entry will
appear in the right pane called New Value #1. Change this to "NodeType".
This is one word - there are no spaces. Double click on NodeType and change
the value to 1. Close registry editor and reboot the computer. Run
ipconfig /all and see if the node type is changed to broadcast.

Wait and see if browsing works. If not, you could try resetting Computer
Browser back to automatic and rebooting.

3. If 1 and 2 do not solve the problem, go to Control Panel/Performance and
Maintenance/Administrative Tools/Event Viewer. Check System and Application
and report any errors.

4. If the above do not resolve the problem, see if you can configure the
router and client for WEP instead of WAP. This will be less secure, but if
it works; it confirms my suspicion that this is a WAP issue.

Doug Sherman
MCSE Win2k/NT4.0, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

 

[Guest]

Thanks Doug; I will try your suggestions...

I am going on holiday to Cuba early in the morning, so I may do this when I
get back as I would like to carry out your changes in a relaxed mood, without
rushing, so you may not here from me for a couple of weeks (what bliss - you
are saying to yourself!!)...

I really appreciate all your help so far; it has given me a real insight
into how networks work and how complicated and in depth this field is. Now I
know why you guys get paid a premium.

I am also now determined to sort this problem out, as I think I may have
caught the networking bug; I am quite like this, when it comes to solving
problems in Coldfusion; very persistent!

Anyway, thanks again...

Charlie

 

[Guest]

OK; I did the tests you asked me to do...

config.txt now shows Node Type = Broadcast

But still no joy even after changing Computer Browser back to Automatic.

I have saved both the Application & System event logs for you to look at;
there are plenty of errors in System, involving DCOM.

How can I send these to you?

Charlie