4 on network, 3 can see each other

[Guest]

We have 4 computers networked using a wired Linksys BEF41 router, using Win
XP Pro. Three are identical AMD XP 3000 and one is AMD 64 2800. The first
three can see each other on the network and share files. The latter only
sees itself. The workgroups are identical, and we have installed and
reinstalled the network from each computer. Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Chuck]

We have 4 computers networked using a wired Linksys BEF41 router, using Win
XP Pro. Three are identical AMD XP 3000 and one is AMD 64 2800. The first
three can see each other on the network and share files. The latter only
sees itself. The workgroups are identical, and we have installed and
reinstalled the network from each computer. Thanks for any suggestions.

Alur,

Do any of the computers have a personal (software) firewall? That would be the
first possible source of your problem.

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. With a LAN of 4 computers, only 2 need to be
running the browser service.

Identify the 2 computers that stay online and connected the most consistently,
and designate them the browsers. Make sure the browser service is running on
the browser computers. Control Panel - Administrative Tools - Services. Verify
that the Computer Browser, and the TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper, services both show
with Status = Started. Disable the Browser Service (only that) on the other 2
computers.

After checking / disabling / enabling as above, power all computers off to reset
the browser settings on each. Once ALL computers have been powered off, power
them back on.

The Microsoft Browstat program will show us what browsers (I'm not talking about
Internet Explorer here) 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>

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.

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

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the detailed information. We will use it. Before starting, the
browser conflict may be the culprit. I will post back after working on your
suggestions. Thanks again.

 

[Guest]

Alur, I recently had a simiar problem and spent several weeks, part time,
trying to resolve. It happened as part of a motherboard upgrade. The
problem PC was an upgrade to an ASUS K8N-E Deluxe motherboard with an AMD
3000. The problem occured with the onboard LAN port. When I got fed up and
installed my old NIC card everything work as it had before the upgrade. I
suspect the onboard LAN drivers but have not been able to pursue my idea.
Good luck!

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the reply. Since I kept my first hard drive free of essential
programs, I reinstalled windows xp ... a clean install by reformatting. When
I reinstalled the various drivers from the mobo disk for the K8N, I noticed
that there is a FIREWALL included as one of the options. This time I didn't
install the Asus firewall. (I don't remember installing it the last time).
After going through the network wizard, all computers can see each other.

I will try to find out how to select and deselect the firewall option
without taking the drastic option of reformatting. Anyway, I'm happy with
the results.

 

[Guest]

Chuck, the problem is solved. After reinstalling Windows including the
reformat option (clean install), I loaded various drivers from the mobo disk
that came with the K8N mobo. There is a firewall option in the utilities
from the Asus disk...I didn't use it this time. I must have selected it the
first time around. Now, all computers can see each other after going through
the network wizard.

I am going to find out how to turn on and turn off the motherboard firewall
option just for my piece of mind. I really don't remember selecting the
option the first time.

Thanks again for your help.

 

[Chuck]

Chuck, the problem is solved. After reinstalling Windows including the
reformat option (clean install), I loaded various drivers from the mobo disk
that came with the K8N mobo. There is a firewall option in the utilities
from the Asus disk...I didn't use it this time. I must have selected it the
first time around. Now, all computers can see each other after going through
the network wizard.

I am going to find out how to turn on and turn off the motherboard firewall
option just for my piece of mind. I really don't remember selecting the
option the first time.

Thanks again for your help.

Excellent. 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.