A simple home networking question

[Guest]

Hi

There are five computers in the house, and they are all networked. A few are
using a splitter and the rest are all using a router, and everyone can access
the internet via the broadband modem. However, when trying to share files, we
can see everyone's computer (Start>My Network Places), but only some
computers are accessible. Presently only 2 computers including my own are
accessible, one of them is using the splitter. When trying to access another
two computers, the message "\\computername is not accessible. Contact your
system administrator...". On the third computer, also using the splitter, a
prompt for a password appears, although neither the owner nor anyone else has
knowingly set a password.

It'd be appreciated if someone could help with this problem, so we can share
files and printers quickly and easily! Thanks

Chris

P.S Very few computers have firewalls.

 

[Chuck]

Hi

There are five computers in the house, and they are all networked. A few are
using a splitter and the rest are all using a router, and everyone can access
the internet via the broadband modem. However, when trying to share files, we
can see everyone's computer (Start>My Network Places), but only some
computers are accessible. Presently only 2 computers including my own are
accessible, one of them is using the splitter. When trying to access another
two computers, the message "\\computername is not accessible. Contact your
system administrator...". On the third computer, also using the splitter, a
prompt for a password appears, although neither the owner nor anyone else has
knowingly set a password.

It'd be appreciated if someone could help with this problem, so we can share
files and printers quickly and easily! Thanks

Chris

P.S Very few computers have firewalls.

Chris,

What is a splitter? Do you mean a hub?

If any of the computers are using firewalls, you might want to start there.
Firewall misconfigurations are the most common cause of problems posted here.

Please provide ipconfig and OS information for each computer, so we can start
systematically to identify your problems.
Start - Run - "cmd". Type "ipconfig /all >c:\ipconfig.txt" into the command
window - Open c:\ipconfig.txt in Notepad, make sure that Format - Word Wrap is
NOT checked!, copy and paste entire contents into your next post. Identify
operating system (by name, version, and SP level) with each ipconfig listing.

 

[Guest]

Hi

Thanks for the initial feedback. As we're living in rented accommodation,
the letting agency installed the networking system themselves via an
engineer. When he installed it, he identified one as a splitter (or
alternatively a 'switch'), and the other as a hub. We actually have 1 of
each, a switch and a hub. Two feeds run into the switch, which then feeds
into one line. This line joins the others downstairs in the hub, connected to
the modem.

Here is the ipconfig.txt:
Error: unrecongnized or incomplete command line.USAGE: ipconfig [/? |
/all | /renew [adapter] | /release [adapter] | /flushdns |
/displaydns | /registerdns | /showclassid adapter |
/setclassid adapter [classid] ]where adapter Connection name
(wildcard characters * and ? allowed, see examples) Options:
/? Display this help message /all Display full
configuration information. /release Release the IP address for the
specified adapter. /renew Renew the IP address for the specified
adapter. /flushdns Purges the DNS Resolver cache. /registerdns
Refreshes all DHCP leases and re-registers DNS names /displaydns
Display the contents of the DNS Resolver Cache. /showclassid Displays
all the dhcp class IDs allowed for adapter. /setclassid Modifies the
dhcp class id. The default is to display only the IP address, subnet mask
anddefault gateway for each adapter bound to TCP/IP.For Release and Renew, if
no adapter name is specified, then the IP addressleases for all adapters
bound to TCP/IP will be released or renewed.For Setclassid, if no ClassId is
specified, then the ClassId is removed.Examples: > ipconfig
... Show information. > ipconfig /all ... Show detailed
information > ipconfig /renew ... renew all adapters >
ipconfig /renew EL* ... renew any connection that has its
name starting with EL > ipconfig /release *Con*
.... release all matching connections, eg.
"Local Area Connection 1" or "Local
Area Connection 2"

All operating systems are Windows XP. All computers are running XP SP2.
No-one has a firewall built in except myself, all others have windows xp-only
firewalls resulting from Service Pack 2. Even when I totally disable my
firewall the problems for all involved do not change.

Thanks

Chris

 

[Chuck]

Hi

Thanks for the initial feedback. As we're living in rented accommodation,
the letting agency installed the networking system themselves via an
engineer. When he installed it, he identified one as a splitter (or
alternatively a 'switch'), and the other as a hub. We actually have 1 of
each, a switch and a hub. Two feeds run into the switch, which then feeds
into one line. This line joins the others downstairs in the hub, connected to
the modem.

Here is the ipconfig.txt:
Error: unrecongnized or incomplete command line.USAGE: ipconfig [/? |
/all | /renew [adapter] | /release [adapter] | /flushdns |
/displaydns | /registerdns | /showclassid adapter |
/setclassid adapter [classid] ]where adapter Connection name
(wildcard characters * and ? allowed, see examples) Options:
/? Display this help message /all Display full
configuration information. /release Release the IP address for the
specified adapter. /renew Renew the IP address for the specified
adapter. /flushdns Purges the DNS Resolver cache. /registerdns
Refreshes all DHCP leases and re-registers DNS names /displaydns
Display the contents of the DNS Resolver Cache. /showclassid Displays
all the dhcp class IDs allowed for adapter. /setclassid Modifies the
dhcp class id. The default is to display only the IP address, subnet mask
anddefault gateway for each adapter bound to TCP/IP.For Release and Renew, if
no adapter name is specified, then the IP addressleases for all adapters
bound to TCP/IP will be released or renewed.For Setclassid, if no ClassId is
specified, then the ClassId is removed.Examples: > ipconfig
... Show information. > ipconfig /all ... Show detailed
information > ipconfig /renew ... renew all adapters >
ipconfig /renew EL* ... renew any connection that has its
name starting with EL > ipconfig /release *Con*
... release all matching connections, eg.
"Local Area Connection 1" or "Local
Area Connection 2"

All operating systems are Windows XP. All computers are running XP SP2.
No-one has a firewall built in except myself, all others have windows xp-only
firewalls resulting from Service Pack 2. Even when I totally disable my
firewall the problems for all involved do not change.

Thanks

Chris

Chris,

Please try again. Try first "ipconfig /all", and see if the output resembles
this example:
Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : MyComp
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcast
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : myhome.net

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : 3Com EtherLink XL 10/100 PCI For
Complete PC Management NIC (3C905C-TX)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-04-76-D7-E2-BA
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.001.50
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.001.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.001.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.201.99.11
10.201.99.33
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, April 16, 2003 11:53:45
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, April 23, 2003 11:53:45

Once you see output similar to my example, try "ipconfig /all >c:\ipconfig.txt".
When you get this to work, the more computers that you can provide this
information for, the better. Once we have some IPConfigs to look at, the
problem may be visible.

And provide the make and model of both switch and hub.

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

 

[Chuck]

Hi

Thanks for the initial feedback. As we're living in rented accommodation,
the letting agency installed the networking system themselves via an
engineer. When he installed it, he identified one as a splitter (or
alternatively a 'switch'), and the other as a hub. We actually have 1 of
each, a switch and a hub. Two feeds run into the switch, which then feeds
into one line. This line joins the others downstairs in the hub, connected to
the modem.

Here is the ipconfig.txt:
Error: unrecongnized or incomplete command line.USAGE: ipconfig [/? |
/all | /renew [adapter] | /release [adapter] | /flushdns |
/displaydns | /registerdns | /showclassid adapter |
/setclassid adapter [classid] ]where adapter Connection name
(wildcard characters * and ? allowed, see examples) Options:
/? Display this help message /all Display full
configuration information. /release Release the IP address for the
specified adapter. /renew Renew the IP address for the specified
adapter. /flushdns Purges the DNS Resolver cache. /registerdns
Refreshes all DHCP leases and re-registers DNS names /displaydns
Display the contents of the DNS Resolver Cache. /showclassid Displays
all the dhcp class IDs allowed for adapter. /setclassid Modifies the
dhcp class id. The default is to display only the IP address, subnet mask
anddefault gateway for each adapter bound to TCP/IP.For Release and Renew, if
no adapter name is specified, then the IP addressleases for all adapters
bound to TCP/IP will be released or renewed.For Setclassid, if no ClassId is
specified, then the ClassId is removed.Examples: > ipconfig
... Show information. > ipconfig /all ... Show detailed
information > ipconfig /renew ... renew all adapters >
ipconfig /renew EL* ... renew any connection that has its
name starting with EL > ipconfig /release *Con*
... release all matching connections, eg.
"Local Area Connection 1" or "Local
Area Connection 2"

All operating systems are Windows XP. All computers are running XP SP2.
No-one has a firewall built in except myself, all others have windows xp-only
firewalls resulting from Service Pack 2. Even when I totally disable my
firewall the problems for all involved do not change.

Thanks

Chris

Chris,

Please try again. Try first "ipconfig /all", and see if the output resembles
this example:
Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : MyComp
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcast
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : myhome.net

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : 3Com EtherLink XL 10/100 PCI For
Complete PC Management NIC (3C905C-TX)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-04-76-D7-E2-BA
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.001.50
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.001.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.001.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.201.99.11
10.201.99.33
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, April 16, 2003 11:53:45
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, April 23, 2003 11:53:45

Once you see output similar to my example, try "ipconfig /all >c:\ipconfig.txt".
When you get this to work, the more computers that you can provide this
information for, the better. Once we have some IPConfigs to look at, the
problem may be visible.

Oh yes, when you have Notepad open, check the Notepad menu setting for Format -
Word Wrap, and reverse it (if it's unchecked, check it, and vice-versa). What
you have above is pretty unreadable, even if it is ipconfig "unrecognised
command".

And provide the make and model of both switch and hub.

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

 

[Carey Holzman]

www.careyholzman.com/net1.htm

Carey