Can't See Other PC on Home Network

[briankerri]

Hello...

I can't see or ping the other PC on my home network. Both are on the
same workgroup. I can't even ping my own machine. Is this a problem
with my router? I want to be able to share files and folders and use
remote desktop (both are on XP Pro) but I am stopped by this problem.

Suggestions?

Thanks,
Brian

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I can't see or ping the other PC on my home network. Both are on the
same workgroup. I can't even ping my own machine. Is this a problem
with my router? I want to be able to share files and folders and use
remote desktop (both are on XP Pro) but I am stopped by this
problem.

Same workgroup.. doesn't matter.
File and printer sharing and Remote Desktop allowed through the software
firewalls... matters.

 

[Kenny]

Similar problem when setting up a wireless modem/router.
I'm using Zone Alarm free and had to manually configure it on each PC to
allow traffic between them.

 

[Keith Manning]

Hello...

I can't see or ping the other PC on my home network. Both are on the
same workgroup. I can't even ping my own machine. Is this a problem
with my router? I want to be able to share files and folders and use
remote desktop (both are on XP Pro) but I am stopped by this problem.

Suggestions?

Thanks,
Brian

Your router is probably in perfect running order. The reality of it all is
that WinXp networking doesn't work for the average home or small office
user. Even most MVPs will agree with me here.

With all the security, firewalls and anti-virus software that comes with XP
or needs to be installed to keep it functioning, the days of home or small
office networking are basically finished. Unless that is of course you have
an onsite MVP or networking professional close at hand or willing to spend
many hours trying to configure it AND keep it functioning

It's a complicated task setting up a network with XP it was much simplier
with Win2000. A good place to start if you really want to persist is
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/category04

~~~
a.. April 25, 2002 - A Microsoft executive, Christopher Jones, testified
today that using a personal computer would turn into a confusing and
frustrating experience if antitrust sanctions were sought against Microsoft.
Hmmm... Isn't the PC experience already frustrating and confusing, thanks to
Microsoft?

 

[briankerri]

I am using Windows OneCare...I will check the setting and see what
happens...I bet I will get a resounding "Duh" when it is all said and
done...thanks!

 

[Malke]

Hello...

I can't see or ping the other PC on my home network. Both are on the
same workgroup. I can't even ping my own machine. Is this a problem
with my router? I want to be able to share files and folders and use
remote desktop (both are on XP Pro) but I am stopped by this problem.

This is most commonly caused by a misconfigured firewall. Run the
Network Setup Wizard on all computers, making sure to enable File &
Printer Sharing, and reboot. The only "gotcha" is that this will turn
on the XPSP2 Windows Firewall. If you aren't running a third-party
firewall or have an antivirus with "Internet Worm Protection" (like
Norton 2005/06) which acts as a firewall, then you're fine. If you have
third-party firewall software, configure it to allow the Local Area
Network traffic as trusted. I usually do this with my firewalls with an
IP range. Ex. would be 192.168.1.0-192.168.1.254. Obviously you would
substitute your correct subnet.

If one or more of the computers is XP Pro or Media Center:

a. If you need Pro's ability to set fine-grained permissions, turn off
Simple File Sharing (Folder Options>View tab) and create identical user
accounts/passwords on all computers.

b. If you don't care about using Pro's advanced features, leave the
Simple File Sharing enabled.

Simple File Sharing means that Guest (network) is enabled. This means
that anyone without a user account on the target system can use its
resources. This is a security hole but only you can decide if it
matters in your situation.

Then create shares as desired. XP Home does not permit sharing of users'
home directories (My Documents) or Program Files, but you can share
folders inside those directories. A better choice is to simply use the
Shared Documents folder.

If that doesn't work for you, here is an excellent network
troubleshooter by MVP Hans-Georg Michna. Take the time to go through it
and it will usually pinpoint the problem area(s) -
http://winhlp.com/wxnet.htm

Malke

 

[Malke]

Your router is probably in perfect running order. The reality of it
all is that WinXp networking doesn't work for the average home or
small office user. Even most MVPs will agree with me here.

No, they won't. Setting up a home or small business network is easily
done in less than 15 minutes or so, depending on how many machines are
involved. If you are having difficulties, you're doing something wrong.

Malke

 

[Keith Manning]

No, they won't. Setting up a home or small business network is easily
done in less than 15 minutes or so, depending on how many machines are
involved. If you are having difficulties, you're doing something wrong.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Be real! How many times have you connected 2 PCs together using a cross over
cable, hub or router and pressed Control Panel | Network Setup Wizard....
and it's ever worked without configuring your firewall, passwords and a
whole pile of other confusing stuff for home users?

It's easy for you to say that, you're setting up PC's and networks all day,
every day. I'm talking about the average home user, in which case the
networking wizard just doesn't work, and never has. Get real!

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Be real! How many times have you connected 2 PCs together using a
cross over cable, hub or router and pressed Control Panel | Network
Setup Wizard.... and it's ever worked without configuring your
firewall, passwords and a whole pile of other confusing stuff for
home users?
It's easy for you to say that, you're setting up PC's and networks
all day, every day. I'm talking about the average home user, in
which case the networking wizard just doesn't work, and never has.
Get real!

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/setup/homenet.mspx

 

[Malke]

Be real! How many times have you connected 2 PCs together using a
cross over cable, hub or router and pressed Control Panel | Network
Setup Wizard.... and it's ever worked without configuring your
firewall, passwords and a whole pile of other confusing stuff for home
users?

It's easy for you to say that, you're setting up PC's and networks all
day, every day. I'm talking about the average home user, in which case
the networking wizard just doesn't work, and never has. Get real!

Sorry Mr. Manning, I'm am being quite "real". If you are connecting two
machines together with a crossover cable and have a router involved,
that is why you are having difficulties. I know lots of regular people
who have gone to the store, purchased a wireless router, and
successfully networked their machines. I also know lots of regular
people who have called me to do it for them, for which I and my
children are grateful.

Like everything else complicated - and computers are complicated and
powerful machines - you can either take the time to learn how to use
them and prepare for a job before plunging in OR you can have someone
who does whatever it is for a living do the job for you. There is no
shame in calling a plumber to work on plumbing instead of pulling out
the Home Repair book. It is a choice. Personally, I always opt to call
the plumber.

Malke

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

The reality of it
all is that WinXp networking doesn't work for the average home or
small office user. Even most MVPs will agree with me here.

I can't speak for "most MVPs," but speaking for myself, I don't agree with
you at all. Setting up a home or small office network under XP is very easy,
very fast to do, and works very well.

 

[(PeteCresswell)]

Per Ken Blake, MVP:

I can't speak for "most MVPs," but speaking for myself, I don't agree with
you at all. Setting up a home or small office network under XP is very easy,
very fast to do, and works very well.

I'm no MVP, but generally with enough coffee I can nurse my IQ to something
above room temperature... and, as a developer, I do a *lot* of work on my PC.

Having said that, I'd give MS's Windows XP Pro implementation of a network setup
UI a C- or a D+.

Primary reasons:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Inconsistent dialogs. I can't trot them out here, but there are at least two
subtly different processes that look like "The Network Wizard". There
needs to be one interface, no matter where you call it from.

- Insufficient Information. When I start up one of the network wizards, I
expect to see how things are right now before proceeding - as in what
work group(s) are set up and what group I'm currently in. As it is, it just
starts plowing though the process, never telling me if my workgroup is already
set up or not...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I've set up a few PC's and had networking start and work seamlessly. But I've
also had it stop mysteriously and gone days and weeks without it because I just
don't have a clue. I'd think a Network Wiz could help me a lot in those cases
- but it doesn't.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Per Ken Blake, MVP:

I'm no MVP, but generally with enough coffee I can nurse my IQ to
something above room temperature... and, as a developer, I do a *lot*
of work on my PC.

Having said that, I'd give MS's Windows XP Pro implementation of a
network setup UI a C- or a D+.

Primary reasons:

I've snipped the reasons you've enumerated, because they are largely
irrelevant, as far as I'm concerned. Could Windows networking be better?
Yes, I agree with you, it definitely could. But the statement to which I
responded was "WinXp networking doesn't work for the average home or small
office user." That's simply false. It works and it works well. I have no
problems with it here, and I know *many* other installations that similarly
have no problems with it.

Does the possible improvements that could be made in it merit its being
given a C or a D or a B or some other letter? What grade anyone wants to
give it doesn't matter to me. It works well and is fast and easy to set up,
and that's why I use it.

 

[Keith Manning]

"Malke" wrote .

I know lots of regular people
who have gone to the store, purchased a >wireless router, and
successfully networked their machines.

Basically what you've just said is that XP networking doesn't work. The only
way for most SOHO uses can get networking to work is go out and buy more
hardware (router) and software (included with the router)

Plug in the router and generally it works straight out of the box. The
router software has an auto config wizard. Why can't MS provide a simple
setup for people who want to connect using a cross-over cable or a simple
hub?

I've connected computers using the cheapest routers on the market and
they've always worked. Now if small companies making cheap routers can come
up software that actually works out of the box, why can't the biggest
software company in the world do the same. Fact is, they can't!

 

[Juan I. Cahis]

Dear Kenny, I have the same configuration than you.

My home PCs have addresses from 192.168.0.100 to 192.168.0.106, and
the wireless router D-Link) has the address 192.160.0.1, and it is
seen by all the home PCs.

How did you configure ZoneAlarm, in order that the PCs can share some
folders and printers among them?

Similar problem when setting up a wireless modem/router.
I'm using Zone Alarm free and had to manually configure it on each PC to
allow traffic between them.

Thanks
Juan I. Cahis
Santiago de Chile (South America)
Note: Please forgive me for my bad English, I am trying to improve it!

 

[Juan I. Cahis]

I forgot to add that ZoneAlarm adds automatically only one rule on
each PC of the home: the address 192.168.0.0/255.255.255.0, is
declared as belonging to the "Internet Zone".

Dear Kenny, I have the same configuration than you.

My home PCs have addresses from 192.168.0.100 to 192.168.0.106, and
the wireless router D-Link) has the address 192.160.0.1, and it is
seen by all the home PCs.

How did you configure ZoneAlarm, in order that the PCs can share some
folders and printers among them?


Thanks
Juan I. Cahis
Santiago de Chile (South America)
Note: Please forgive me for my bad English, I am trying to improve it!

Thanks
Juan I. Cahis
Santiago de Chile (South America)
Note: Please forgive me for my bad English, I am trying to improve it!

 

[(PeteCresswell)]

Per Ken Blake, MVP:

I've snipped the reasons you've enumerated, because they are largely
irrelevant, as far as I'm concerned. Could Windows networking be better?
Yes, I agree with you, it definitely could.

Maybe I'm nitpicking semantics... but I wouldn't have the nerve to cast
aspersions on Windows' Networking per-se... I don't know enough...

What I was commenting on was the UI that they present to help Joe User set
things up.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Per Ken Blake, MVP:

Maybe I'm nitpicking semantics... but I wouldn't have the nerve to
cast aspersions on Windows' Networking per-se... I don't know
enough...

What I was commenting on was the UI that they present to help Joe
User set things up.

Once again, I agree that it could be better.But that's a far cry from saying
"WinXp networking doesn't work for the average home or small office user,"
which is the original statement in this thread that I disagreed with and you
responded to

 

[Keith Manning]

Once again, I agree that it could be better.But that's a far cry from
saying "WinXp networking doesn't work for the average home or small
office user," which is the original statement in this thread that I
disagreed with and you responded to

I have two PCs at home connected via a cross over cable. Each time I need to
connect I need to completely reinstall the network. Evertime I close down
either one of the PCs it looses all the network connections.

The PC that gives most problems is the XP Home PC. Someone once told me that
it is set up like this by MS to encourage people to by XP Pro.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have two PCs at home connected via a cross over cable. Each time I
need to connect I need to completely reinstall the network. Evertime
I close down either one of the PCs it looses all the network
connections.

There certainly are people who have had problems. It's no different with
networking that with anything else; it's always possible to do something
incorrectly. But problems are relatively rare. As I said I have no problems
here and I know *many* others who have also had no problems. I can't tell
from your brief description what's wrong, but almost certainly you've made a
mistake in setting this up.

The PC that gives most problems is the XP Home PC. Someone once told
me that it is set up like this by MS to encourage people to by XP Pro.

Someone told you wrong. That's completely false. XP Home and XP Professional
are completely identical in how this works. My own home setup consists of
two XP Professional machines and one XP Home, and they all work just fine.