Autistic computer: MSHOME is not accessible

B

Burton L. Alperson

I have a situation that is driving me crazy. I hope someone can help.


I have four computers in the house. My main computer (call it #1) is
direct-connected to the router (Linksys WRT54GS). My son's computer
(#2) is also direct-connected to the router. My wife's computer (#3)
and my notebook (#4) are connected to the router through a wireless
network. All four computers are running XP Professional and they are
all in the MSHOME workgroup. All four computers can connect to the
Internet with no problems.


Here's the problem: #2, #3, and #4 can all see each other and share
files and printers. (This is a good thing.) #1 is autistic. It can't
see any of the other computers, and it can't be seen by the other
computers. It can't share files or printers with any other computer.


#2, #3, and #4 can successfully ping each other. They can all
successfully ping #1. They all show up for each other under the Net
View command. (#1 does not appear on Net View on any computer.)


#1 can't ping any of the other computers. The command results in
"Request timed out." The Net View command produces, "List of servers
for this workgroup is not currently available." Any attempt to address
MSHOME on #1 produces the message, "Mshome is not accessible. You
might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the
administrator of this server to find out if you have access
permissions."


If it is any diagnostic help, here is the output from ipconfig /all on
#1:


Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : PRIMARY
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/1000 MT
Desktop Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-07-E9-0F-F3-2E
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.100
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 207.69.188.186
207.69.188.185
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, October 16, 2005
3:12:34 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Monday, October 17, 2005
3:12:34 PM
Ethernet adapter Bluetooth Network:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Bluetooth LAN Access Server
Driver
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0C-55-F9-FC-B5



This thing is driving me nuts. I've spent four days combing the
Internet. Lot's of messages cite the MSHOME error, but none of them
seems to have a solution that helps.
 
C

Chuck

I have a situation that is driving me crazy. I hope someone can help.


I have four computers in the house. My main computer (call it #1) is
direct-connected to the router (Linksys WRT54GS). My son's computer
(#2) is also direct-connected to the router. My wife's computer (#3)
and my notebook (#4) are connected to the router through a wireless
network. All four computers are running XP Professional and they are
all in the MSHOME workgroup. All four computers can connect to the
Internet with no problems.


Here's the problem: #2, #3, and #4 can all see each other and share
files and printers. (This is a good thing.) #1 is autistic. It can't
see any of the other computers, and it can't be seen by the other
computers. It can't share files or printers with any other computer.


#2, #3, and #4 can successfully ping each other. They can all
successfully ping #1. They all show up for each other under the Net
View command. (#1 does not appear on Net View on any computer.)


#1 can't ping any of the other computers. The command results in
"Request timed out." The Net View command produces, "List of servers
for this workgroup is not currently available." Any attempt to address
MSHOME on #1 produces the message, "Mshome is not accessible. You
might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the
administrator of this server to find out if you have access
permissions."


If it is any diagnostic help, here is the output from ipconfig /all on
#1:


Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : PRIMARY
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/1000 MT
Desktop Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-07-E9-0F-F3-2E
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.100
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 207.69.188.186
207.69.188.185
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, October 16, 2005
3:12:34 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Monday, October 17, 2005
3:12:34 PM
Ethernet adapter Bluetooth Network:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Bluetooth LAN Access Server
Driver
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0C-55-F9-FC-B5



This thing is driving me nuts. I've spent four days combing the
Internet. Lot's of messages cite the MSHOME error, but none of them
seems to have a solution that helps.
Click to expand...

Burton,

Start by checking for misconfigured / overlooked firewalls, and for registry
setting restrictanonymous, on each computer.
Misconfigured / overlooked firewalls:
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html>
Registry setting restrictanonymous:
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/07/restrictanonymous-and-your-server.html>

If no help yet, provide both "browstat status" AND "ipconfig /all" from EACH
computer. Read this article, and linked articles, and follow instructions
precisely:
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>

Please let us know if any of these suggestions are of any help. What you learn
may help others in the future, and that's the purpose of these forums.
 
B

balperson

Chuck,

Thank you!

That's a lot of homework. I will work on it tonight and tomorrow. I'll
report back here regardless of outcome.

Burt
 
B

balperson

Chuck,

I ran browstat and ipconfig on all four machines. Here are the results:

Browstat From 1

Status for domain MSHOME on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{F1540022-B14A-46E2-92D2-119EC85B4A18}
Browsing is NOT active on domain.
Master name cannot be determined from GetAdapterStatus.


Browstat From 2

Status for domain MSHOME on transport \Device\NwlnkNb
Browsing is active on domain.
Master name cannot be determined from GetAdapterStatus. Using
\\COUNTY
Master browser is running build 2600
1 backup servers retrieved from master COUNTY
\\COUNTY
There are 1 servers in domain MSHOME on transport \Device\NwlnkNb
There are 1 domains in domain MSHOME on transport \Device\NwlnkNb

Status for domain MSHOME on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{AC5E0638-E77A-483B-B6D5-334D1908A383}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: COUNTY
Master browser is running build 2600
1 backup servers retrieved from master COUNTY
\\COUNTY
There are 3 servers in domain MSHOME on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{AC5E0638-E77A-483B-B6D5-334D1908A383}
There are 1 domains in domain MSHOME on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{AC5E0638-E77A-483B-B6D5-334D1908A383}

Status for domain MSHOME on transport \Device\NwlnkIpx
Browsing is active on domain.
Master name cannot be determined from GetAdapterStatus. Using
\\COUNTY
Master browser is running build 2600
1 backup servers retrieved from master COUNTY
\\COUNTY
There are 3 servers in domain MSHOME on transport \Device\NwlnkIpx
There are 1 domains in domain MSHOME on transport \Device\NwlnkIpx


Browstat From 3

Status for domain MSHOME on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{45028E60-4220-40CE-8F0E-35FD39428008}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: COUNTY
Could not open key in registry, error = 5 Unable to determine
build of browser master: 5
\\\\COUNTY . Version:05.01 Flags: 51003 NT POTENTIAL
MASTER
1 backup servers retrieved from master COUNTY
\\COUNTY
There are 3 servers in domain MSHOME on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{45028E60-4220-40CE-8F0E-35FD39428008}
There are 1 domains in domain MSHOME on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{45028E60-4220-40CE-8F0E-35FD39428008}


Browstat From 4

Status for domain MSHOME on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{DB591875-8E53-4FE8-8DFC-0335684F941C}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: COUNTY
Could not open key in registry, error = 5 Unable to determine
build of browser master: 5
\\\\COUNTY . Version:05.01 Flags: 51003 NT POTENTIAL
MASTER
1 backup servers retrieved from master COUNTY
\\COUNTY
There are 3 servers in domain MSHOME on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{DB591875-8E53-4FE8-8DFC-0335684F941C}
There are 1 domains in domain MSHOME on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{DB591875-8E53-4FE8-8DFC-0335684F941C}


Ipconfig From 1

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : PRIMARY
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/1000 MT
Desktop Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-07-E9-0F-F3-2E
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.100
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 207.69.188.186
207.69.188.185
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, October 16, 2005
8:20:36 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Monday, October 17, 2005
8:20:36 PM

Ethernet adapter Bluetooth Network:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Bluetooth LAN Access Server
Driver
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0C-55-F9-FC-B5


Ipconfig From 2

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : COUNTY
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/Wireless
2200BG Network Connection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-13-CE-0C-24-25
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.101
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 207.69.188.186
207.69.188.185
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, October 16, 2005
8:23:12 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Monday, October 17, 2005
8:23:12 PM

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit
Ethernet
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-E0-B8-81-EC-29

Ethernet adapter Bluetooth Network:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Bluetooth LAN Access Server
Driver
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-02-72-81-40-D9


Ipconfig From 3

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Glenda
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection 3:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Linksys Wireless-G PCI
Network Adapter with SpeedBooster
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-12-17-9D-C2-51
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.102
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 207.69.188.186
207.69.188.185
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, October 16, 2005
8:23:47 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Monday, October 17, 2005
8:23:47 PM


Ipconfig From 4

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : OLIVER_VI
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI
Fast Ethernet NIC
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-05-5D-52-EA-EA
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.103
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 207.69.188.186
207.69.188.185
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, October 16, 2005
9:07:57 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Monday, October 17, 2005
9:07:57 PM

I'll have to get to your other suggestions tomorrow.

Thank you for your help.

Burt
 
C

Chuck

Chuck,

I ran browstat and ipconfig on all four machines. Here are the results:
Click to expand...

I'll have to get to your other suggestions tomorrow.

Thank you for your help.

Burt
Click to expand...

Burt,

OK, Computer #1 ("PRIMARY") claims "Browsing is NOT active". In addition to
checking for firewalls and the mentioned registry setting, check Primary for
components and services.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#Components>

Specifically, ensure that NBT is set to Enabled, not Default.

Does County need IPX/SPX and NetBEUI? With no other computer of the 4 running
either, both transports may be redundant and certainly don't help matters.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/fix-network-problems-but-clean-up.html>

You need to get browstats from Primary and County looking like Glenda and
OLIVER_VI:
Status for domain MSHOME on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{XXXXXXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXXXXXXXXX}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: COUNTY
Not as it is now:
Status for domain MSHOME on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{F1540022-B14A-46E2-92D2-119EC85B4A18}
Browsing is NOT active on domain.
Master name cannot be determined from GetAdapterStatus.

Once browstat looks better, you will be far closer (if not all the way) towards
your solution.
 
B

balperson

AHA!

It was a firewall problem. I had assumed that since all the problems
were with #1, it was only necessary to turn off the firewall on #1. Not
so simple.

I turned off the software firewalls on all four computers. All
computers are fat and happy.

I have a few other questions, if you have the time.

What do I lose by enabling only the hardware firewall? Just how
necessary is a software firewall if you are protected by the hardware
firewall?

If I do re-enable the software firewall, is there any advantage to
using Norton Internet Security (2003) vs. Windows XP firewall, or vice
versa?

I am very grateful for your help. Thank you.

Burt
 
C

Chuck

AHA!

It was a firewall problem. I had assumed that since all the problems
were with #1, it was only necessary to turn off the firewall on #1. Not
so simple.

I turned off the software firewalls on all four computers. All
computers are fat and happy.

I have a few other questions, if you have the time.

What do I lose by enabling only the hardware firewall? Just how
necessary is a software firewall if you are protected by the hardware
firewall?

If I do re-enable the software firewall, is there any advantage to
using Norton Internet Security (2003) vs. Windows XP firewall, or vice
versa?

I am very grateful for your help. Thank you.

Burt
Click to expand...

Burt,

That's great news! And a good start.

The thing about hardware firewalls (which you do NOT have, and please don't
mention hardware firewalls in the same post with NAT routers, in
comp.security.firewalls) and software firewalls is that they are complementary
parts of a layered defense. As are NAT routers, which you DO have.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/please-protect-yourself-layer-your.html>
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/better-protection-hardware-or-software.html>

I am ambivalent about NPF (Norton Personal Firewall, the relevant component in
NIS) vs WF (Windows Firewall - XP SP2). Both give equal protection against
incoming threats. If it's a question of NPF vs ICF (Internet Connection
Firewall - XP SP1 or SP0), though, I'd go with NPF in a second.

NPF protects you against malevolent outgoing traffic - like keyloggers or
browser spies. WF provides no outgoing protection. Obviously, that makes NPF a
better choice.

But read my Layered Security article please. If you permit malware to get on
your computer - and get as far as generating outgoing traffic that gets detected
by NPF - you have just lost half the battle! You absolutely have to protect
yourself, and not allow malware on your computer.

Seeing as how NPF is a bit more granular (offers more choices in configuration)
than WF, I'd still go with NPF, if I had purchased NPF. If NPF is part of a
bundle with a trial period, I'd say save your money, and use WF and fortify your
computer otherwise.

I don't care for Symantec packaging and licensing, but I won't start that rant
here. You can do as well with WF and a decently chosen suite of free protective
software. If you've already purchased NPF / NIS, you might as well use it, if
you can set it up properly.

You absolutely need a properly set up software firewall on each computer. If
one computer gets infected, the others will be protected. And if one infected
computer sets off an alarm on another, protected computer, you could detect your
problem sooner than without.

It's your dime. I believe in redundant protection - chosen wisely.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/please-protect-yourself-layer-your.html#Overall>
 

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