Can't See Computers in Workgroup

[FirstBassman]

I'm trying to connect to a printer on another PC. Both are Vista Home. One
is directly connected to router, one is wireless. Both are in the same
workgroup: WORKGROUP. Network Discovery is turned. Network is private.
Printer sharing is turned on.
According to the MS kb directions, one is supposed to click on Network and a
list of machines in the workgroup should appear. The other PC does not
appear. Only the laptop that I'm on.
What did I miss? This is very interesting. This used to be so much easier.

 

[Chuck [MVP]]

I'm trying to connect to a printer on another PC. Both are Vista Home. One
is directly connected to router, one is wireless. Both are in the same
workgroup: WORKGROUP. Network Discovery is turned. Network is private.
Printer sharing is turned on.
According to the MS kb directions, one is supposed to click on Network and a
list of machines in the workgroup should appear. The other PC does not
appear. Only the laptop that I'm on.
What did I miss? This is very interesting. This used to be so much easier.

This is generally caused by a misconfigured or overlooked personal firewall or
other security program. What anti-virus protection do you use?
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/07/advanced-windows-networking-using.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/07/advanced-windows-networking-using.html

With WiFi involved, you could easily have a master browser conflict. You can
diagnose the problem, using logs from "browstat status", "ipconfig /all", "net
config server", and "net config workstation", from each computer. Read this
article, and linked articles, and follow instructions precisely (Download
browstat, and note how to start a command window in Vista!):
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.

 

[FirstBassman]

I hate to say it but you were 100% right Chuck.
THANKS!
I was going to originally post that I wasn't using any personal firewall.
But forgot to mention it. And then when I saw your post, I thought "Oh sure,
that's the first thing someone is going to say." But you're mentioning of
anti-virus made me think. I usr Symantec Endpoint Protection which, of
course, includes a firewall. So I looked and Symantec does a kb article on
how to set rules to allow TCP and UDP ports (on both machines) to allow fire
and printer sharing. i made the changes and poof machine (and printer)
appeared.
Thanks again!
PS: But I still think one should not have to do this in order to print on a
HOME NETWORK. How are people (like my wife) who know NOTHING about
networking supposed to know how to do this.



===================================

I'm trying to connect to a printer on another PC. Both are Vista Home. One
is directly connected to router, one is wireless. Both are in the same
workgroup: WORKGROUP. Network Discovery is turned. Network is private.
Printer sharing is turned on.
According to the MS kb directions, one is supposed to click on Network and a
list of machines in the workgroup should appear. The other PC does not
appear. Only the laptop that I'm on.
What did I miss? This is very interesting. This used to be so much easier.

This is generally caused by a misconfigured or overlooked personal firewall or
other security program. What anti-virus protection do you use?
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/07/advanced-windows-networking-using.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/07/advanced-windows-networking-using.html

With WiFi involved, you could easily have a master browser conflict. You can
diagnose the problem, using logs from "browstat status", "ipconfig /all", "net
config server", and "net config workstation", from each computer. Read this
article, and linked articles, and follow instructions precisely (Download
browstat, and note how to start a command window in Vista!):
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.

 

[Chuck [MVP]]

I hate to say it but you were 100% right Chuck.
THANKS!
I was going to originally post that I wasn't using any personal firewall.
But forgot to mention it. And then when I saw your post, I thought "Oh sure,
that's the first thing someone is going to say." But you're mentioning of
anti-virus made me think. I usr Symantec Endpoint Protection which, of
course, includes a firewall. So I looked and Symantec does a kb article on
how to set rules to allow TCP and UDP ports (on both machines) to allow fire
and printer sharing. i made the changes and poof machine (and printer)
appeared.
Thanks again!
PS: But I still think one should not have to do this in order to print on a
HOME NETWORK. How are people (like my wife) who know NOTHING about
networking supposed to know how to do this.

Thanks for the feedback. I share your frustration - all these security programs
are like locking your door and losing the key. All that we can do is remind
folks to understand what they've installed (or what has been installed for
them).

I'm just glad that YOU were able to recognise Symantec Endpoint Protection as
being the culprit.

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.