Can't see one system on network

[Guest]

I am at a client site, with ten workstations on a peer-to-peer network. I am
running TCP/IP with NETBIOS enabled. All the computers can see one another,
except one. Of course that one is the one with the data stored on it! The
only difference is that the invisible system is running xp pro and the others
are running either xp home or the media center operating system.

I can SEE all the other systems from the pro machine, but cannot see the pro
system from the others. I can ping the pro system. I have checked the
services and made sure browser and TCP/IP services are turned on and
automatic. I have made sure that "use common tasks and folders" is unchecked
in the performance menu. I have made sure that IEEE 802.1x authentication is
unchecked.

I've done all I know how to do. Any suggestions? ( I cross posted this to
the media center board on the offchance that the media center operation
system could be involved.)

 

[Yves Leclerc]

I am at a client site, with ten workstations on a peer-to-peer network. I am
running TCP/IP with NETBIOS enabled. All the computers can see one another,
except one. Of course that one is the one with the data stored on it! The
only difference is that the invisible system is running xp pro and the others
are running either xp home or the media center operating system.

I can SEE all the other systems from the pro machine, but cannot see the pro
system from the others. I can ping the pro system. I have checked the
services and made sure browser and TCP/IP services are turned on and
automatic. I have made sure that "use common tasks and folders" is unchecked
in the performance menu. I have made sure that IEEE 802.1x authentication is
unchecked.

I've done all I know how to do. Any suggestions? ( I cross posted this to
the media center board on the offchance that the media center operation
system could be involved.)

Check the Service Pack 2 firewall. It is possible that this is "blocking"
access.

Also, make sure that the "Guest" account exist on this PC and the others.
This is a "reserved" account for file sharing (which I found out by accident.)

 

[Chuck]

I am at a client site, with ten workstations on a peer-to-peer network. I am
running TCP/IP with NETBIOS enabled. All the computers can see one another,
except one. Of course that one is the one with the data stored on it! The
only difference is that the invisible system is running xp pro and the others
are running either xp home or the media center operating system.

I can SEE all the other systems from the pro machine, but cannot see the pro
system from the others. I can ping the pro system. I have checked the
services and made sure browser and TCP/IP services are turned on and
automatic. I have made sure that "use common tasks and folders" is unchecked
in the performance menu. I have made sure that IEEE 802.1x authentication is
unchecked.

I've done all I know how to do. Any suggestions? ( I cross posted this to
the media center board on the offchance that the media center operation
system could be involved.)

Asymmetrical visibility is generally a firewall problem, but there are other
possibilities too. Start with this article:
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html

If no help, provide "browstat status" and "ipconfig /all" from the problem
computer. and from 2 properly working computers, so we can diagnose the problem.
Read this article, and linked articles, and follow instructions precisely:
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp

 

[Guest]

Thanks, Chuck. I have it temporarily up and working. I did something I
usually don't like to do, because it can cause other problems. I added the
NETBIOS protocol in addition to TCP/IP. With NETBIOS enabled over TCP/IP I
couldn't see the data server, which is the only one of the ten systems on the
network running xp pro. When I actually went to each system and added the
NETBIOS protocol in addition to TCP/IP all the systems could see one another.
However, in the past this configuration has caused intermittant problems, so
I am still trying to get it to work over the NETBIOS under TCP/IP. It got
them through the week, and after the holidays I will continue to work on it.
Sharon

 

[Chuck]

Thanks, Chuck. I have it temporarily up and working. I did something I
usually don't like to do, because it can cause other problems. I added the
NETBIOS protocol in addition to TCP/IP. With NETBIOS enabled over TCP/IP I
couldn't see the data server, which is the only one of the ten systems on the
network running xp pro. When I actually went to each system and added the
NETBIOS protocol in addition to TCP/IP all the systems could see one another.
However, in the past this configuration has caused intermittant problems, so
I am still trying to get it to work over the NETBIOS under TCP/IP. It got
them through the week, and after the holidays I will continue to work on it.
Sharon

Sharon,

NetBIOS Over TCP is the supported networking transport. You can use an
alternate, such as IPX/SPX or NetBEUI, but we generally concentrate our help
around NBT. It's more predictable, and more is known about NBT.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/07/windows-networking-and-alternate.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/07/windows-networking-and-alternate.html