Cannot see 2 PC's on home network

A

Asaf

Hi,
From time to time I encounter a problem with my home network (MSHOME1),
Click to expand...
that my two PC's can't see each other in the view workgroup computers.
Both are running XP SP2, one is a Desktop and one is a Laptop.
They're both connected via hub to the internet, via cable-modem.
I also have a personal firewall, in which I've trusted their IP's.

When pinging each other, I can see them both.
However, when running net view, I receive the following error :

System error 53 has occurred.

The network path was not found.

Here is the ipconfig /all of the Desktop :

Windows IP Configuration

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

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : SiS 900-Based PCI Fast
Ethernet Adap
ter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-11-2F-DA-23-99
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 85.64.208.117
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 85.64.208.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 213.57.35.2
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 212.150.48.169
206.49.94.234
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, October 18, 2005
8:28:13 PM

Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, October 20, 2005
11:08:29
PM

Here is the ipconfig /all of the Laptop :

Windows IP Configuration

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

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R)PRO/Wireless 2200BG
Network
Connection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0E-35-6F-8F-83

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom 440x 10/100
Integrated Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0A-E4-2A-24-75
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 85.64.218.93
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.128
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 85.64.218.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 213.57.35.2
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 212.150.48.169
206.49.94.234
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, October 18, 2005
11:17:55 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Friday, October 21, 2005
10:08:11 PM

I stopped the Computer Browser on the Laptop, thinking that the problem
might be in the Browser - But that didn't help.

I will be most grateful if anyone can try helping me.

Thanks,
Asaf
 
C

Chuck

Hi,

that my two PC's can't see each other in the view workgroup computers.
Both are running XP SP2, one is a Desktop and one is a Laptop.
They're both connected via hub to the internet, via cable-modem.
I also have a personal firewall, in which I've trusted their IP's.

When pinging each other, I can see them both.
However, when running net view, I receive the following error :

System error 53 has occurred.

The network path was not found.

Here is the ipconfig /all of the Desktop :

Windows IP Configuration

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

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : SiS 900-Based PCI Fast
Ethernet Adap
ter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-11-2F-DA-23-99
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 85.64.208.117
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 85.64.208.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 213.57.35.2
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 212.150.48.169
206.49.94.234
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, October 18, 2005
8:28:13 PM

Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, October 20, 2005
11:08:29
PM

Here is the ipconfig /all of the Laptop :

Windows IP Configuration

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

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R)PRO/Wireless 2200BG
Network
Connection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0E-35-6F-8F-83

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom 440x 10/100
Integrated Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0A-E4-2A-24-75
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 85.64.218.93
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.128
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 85.64.218.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 213.57.35.2
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 212.150.48.169
206.49.94.234
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, October 18, 2005
11:17:55 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Friday, October 21, 2005
10:08:11 PM

I stopped the Computer Browser on the Laptop, thinking that the problem
might be in the Browser - But that didn't help.

I will be most grateful if anyone can try helping me.

Thanks,
Asaf
Click to expand...

Asaf,

What type of Internet service do you have? How do you ping one from the other -
by name, or just by IP address?

Your problem - or first problem - is that the two are on different subnets. My
guess is 2 modems, and 2 cable broadband services?
STUDYROOM: 85.64.208.0/24.
OFRALAPTOP: 85.64.218.0/24.

This creates a segmented workgroup. With this setup, using NetBIOS Over TCP/IP,
you should expect browser problems.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/07/windows-networking.html>
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/browsing-across-subnets.html>

I have 2 alternative solutions for you:
1) Connect a NAT router to 1 cable modem, connect both computers to the router.
Cancel the other modem service. Elimination of 1 service for 2 months will pay
for the router.
2) Use IPX/SPX on both computers. Do this properly though.

My personal, and professional, choice would be #1. In a heartbeat.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/one-unique-case-where-ipxspx-may-help.html>
 
A

Asaf

Hi Chuck,

I took alternative 2 (Using IPX/SPX) as you've suggested - And it
worked !!

I couldn't choose your first recommended alternative, due to the fact
that both PC's are connected via hub on one modem.

I'd like to thank you very much for your help - The instructions in
your website were very clear and helpful.

Thanks again,

Asaf
 
C

Chuck

Hi Chuck,

I took alternative 2 (Using IPX/SPX) as you've suggested - And it
worked !!

I couldn't choose your first recommended alternative, due to the fact
that both PC's are connected via hub on one modem.

I'd like to thank you very much for your help - The instructions in
your website were very clear and helpful.

Thanks again,

Asaf
Click to expand...

Asaf,

Thanks for your feedback. I'm glad I was able to help, but sorry that IPX/SPX
was the best solution.

You sure you couldn't replace the hub with a router? You could still cancel the
second service. Why waste all that money paying the cable company?

Please don't forget - follow the instructions from Steve Winograd about removing
TCP/IP from file sharing. And use Layered Security.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/please-protect-yourself-layer-your.html>
 
A

Asaf

Hi Chuck,

I did indeed follow Steve Winograd's instructions regarding the TCP/IP
file sharing - Thanks.

As for replacing the hub with a router - I might be a bit confused with
the options that I have.

Allow me to demonstrate how I've connected my 2 PC's to the internet :

Laptop ---- (Ethernet cable) ----- [Hub Port 3]

Desktop -- (Ethernet cable) ----- [Hub Port 2]

[Hub Port 1] --- (Ethernet cable) --- Cable Modem
---- Cable

My Cable company provides the internet infrastructure (So I guess I
can't loose them...) and the ISP company provided the Cable Modem.

If I switch the Hub with a Router, is there anything that I can gain
(Perhaps from a security perspective) ?
I know that I needed a Router if I had a wireless network at home. But,
as I'm connected via ethernet cables, then I thought that a Router
wasn't necessary.

I'll be happy if you can recommend doing something different.

Thanks again for you time and patience.

Asaf
 
C

Chuck

Hi Chuck,

I did indeed follow Steve Winograd's instructions regarding the TCP/IP
file sharing - Thanks.

As for replacing the hub with a router - I might be a bit confused with
the options that I have.

Allow me to demonstrate how I've connected my 2 PC's to the internet :

Laptop ---- (Ethernet cable) ----- [Hub Port 3]

Desktop -- (Ethernet cable) ----- [Hub Port 2]

[Hub Port 1] --- (Ethernet cable) --- Cable Modem
---- Cable

My Cable company provides the internet infrastructure (So I guess I
can't loose them...) and the ISP company provided the Cable Modem.

If I switch the Hub with a Router, is there anything that I can gain
(Perhaps from a security perspective) ?
I know that I needed a Router if I had a wireless network at home. But,
as I'm connected via ethernet cables, then I thought that a Router
wasn't necessary.

I'll be happy if you can recommend doing something different.

Thanks again for you time and patience.

Asaf
Click to expand...

Asaf,

A NAT router costs the equivalent of 2 (maybe 3) months of cable Internet
service. Beyond that, the router is paid for, and you start saving money.

I've discussed the advantages and disadvantages of using IPX/SPX for file
sharing in my tutorial:
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/07/windows-networking-and-alternate.html>

Future supportability is another issue that you might consider. When you have a
problem, you'll have to explain that you're using IPX/SPX, and you'll probably
have to explain why. Some techs won't know how to support it.
 

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