Can't see other PC's on network

[andrew_jmdata]

Hi - I have just installed a new PC and have one other PC and a lap
top.

No firwalls, not even windows firewall.

I can ping each PC but can't see/connect to their HDD's.

All is shared and running XP Pro on two desktops and Home on laptop.

Is it something to do with Netbios??

TIA

Andrew

 

[Big Al]

Hi - I have just installed a new PC and have one other PC and a lap
top.

No firwalls, not even windows firewall.

I can ping each PC but can't see/connect to their HDD's.

All is shared and running XP Pro on two desktops and Home on laptop.

Is it something to do with Netbios??

TIA

Andrew

I find life is better if they are all on the same workgroup.

Its not the best practice to share a hard drive. The more proper thing
to do is share a folder like C:\share. Its not required, just a better
practice for security purposes.

Don't delete the HD share, but make a C:\share and share it. See if
that shows on the network neighborhood.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I have just installed a new PC and have one other
PC and a laptop.

No firwalls, not even windows firewall.

I can ping each PC but can't see/connect to their HDD's.

All is shared and running XP Pro on two desktops and
Home on laptop.

Is it something to do with Netbios??

Simple file sharing turned on or off on all of them?
Did you actually SHARE anything out?

 

[andrew_jmdata]

I find life is better if they are all on the same workgroup.

Its not the best practice to share a hard drive.   The more proper thing
to do is share a folder like C:\share.   Its not required, just a better
practice for security purposes.

Don't delete the HD share, but make a C:\share and share it.  See if
that shows on the network neighborhood.

Tried it... no diff!

 

[Big Al]

Tried it... no diff!

I've never needed netbios. I share 3 pc's in the house through
firewalls and have no issues. Std windows XP network load.
Have you ever had any share work?

 

[andrew_jmdata]

I've never needed netbios.  I share 3 pc's in the house through
firewalls and have no issues.   Std windows XP network load.
Have you ever had any share work?- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

All HDD's (C:\) on all 3 pc's have been set up to share.

It all worked fine on old PC (now reformatted and XP Pro reinstalled
as one of desk tops).

 

[M.I.5¾]

I find life is better if they are all on the same workgroup.

It is a myth that PCs on a simple network, such as a home network, have to
be set to the same workgroup.

Printer and File sharing has to be enabled first. Both PCs have to have an
account for the person trying to acces the share and they have to have the
same password (though a prompt will pop up if not).

The usually simplest way to set it up is to select a suitable folder on a
hard drive and through the share tab give the folder a shared name (it
doesn't have to be the same as its actual name). Now provided the PC itself
has a name, just open 'My Computer' on the second PC and in the address bar,
which should read 'My Computer', replace this with

\\<computer name>\<folder name\ (This may convert to a link when I post it,
but it isn't.) Leave the quotes off if they are still there. On hitting
return, the folder should open.

 

[John John (MVP)]

"My Network Places" (Computers Near Me, Network Neighborhood) relies on
the Browser service, the Browser uses NetBIOS to build its Browse List,
without NetBIOS the Browser service can't gather a browse list and
without a Browse List there are no "Network Places".

John

 

[Big Al]

It is a myth that PCs on a simple network, such as a home network, have to
be set to the same workgroup.

I agree that its not needed, but I find it, how do I say it, more
direct? less complex? simple?

Printer and File sharing has to be enabled first. Both PCs have to have an
account for the person trying to acces the share and they have to have the
same password (though a prompt will pop up if not).

I've never created extra/duplicate logins and my systems work. So I'm
not sure your comment about accounts on every pc is needed. I'm assuming
that XP is using the guest account for my access.

Granted your suggestion seems proper on a domain network. The OP is
using XP HOME and I assumed he is at home on a workgroup not domain.

 

[andrew_jmdata]

It is a myth that PCs on a simple network, such as a home network, have to
be set to the same workgroup.

Printer and File sharing has to be enabled first.  Both PCs have to havean
account for the person trying to acces the share and they have to have the
same password (though a prompt will pop up if not).

The usually simplest way to set it up is to select a suitable folder on a
hard drive and through the share tab give the folder a shared name (it
doesn't have to be the same as its actual name).  Now provided the PC itself
has a name, just open 'My Computer' on the second PC and in the address bar,
which should read 'My Computer', replace this with

\\<computer name>\<folder name\  (This may convert to a link when I postit,
but it isn't.)  Leave the quotes off if they are still there.  On hitting
return, the folder should open.





- Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Sadly this results in "the network path was not found"

Have tried using IP address and name of PC.

BTW am using XP pro one the 2 desktops and home on laptop,

I'm sure that when had same prob before Netbios was suggested... I
don't even know what this is!


Any thoughts.

Thanks

Andrew

 

[Big Al]

"My Network Places" (Computers Near Me, Network Neighborhood) relies on
the Browser service, the Browser uses NetBIOS to build its Browse List,
without NetBIOS the Browser service can't gather a browse list and
without a Browse List there are no "Network Places".

John

I'm not into IT, but unless netbios is slipped into the system some
place that I can't see, its not in my properties of my connection and
yet I can read a list and browse the network as everyone is suggesting
Andrew to do.
I have client for MS networks
File and print sharing for MS netowrks
QoS Packet
TCP/IP
WLAN / AEGIS 802.1x / Intel wirelss (3 items needed for wireless
obviously).

So with your above statement, and my configuration how do I get a List
to browse?

 

[John John (MVP)]

I'm not into IT, but unless netbios is slipped into the system some
place that I can't see, its not in my properties of my connection and
yet I can read a list and browse the network as everyone is suggesting
Andrew to do.
I have client for MS networks
File and print sharing for MS netowrks
QoS Packet
TCP/IP
WLAN / AEGIS 802.1x / Intel wirelss (3 items needed for
wireless obviously).

So with your above statement, and my configuration how do I get a List
to browse?

NetBIOS Over TCP/IP.

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/troubleshoot/netbt.htm

The TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper Service also needs to be started.

John

 

[andrew_jmdata]

NetBIOS Over TCP/IP.

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/troubleshoot/netbt.htm

The TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper Service also needs to be started.

John- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I think I have at least a partial result.

Allow Netbios over TCP/IP seems to have connected up some of the
network.

The http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/troubleshoot/netbt.htm
seems pretty good.

Thanks folks

Andrew

 

[Big Al]

NetBIOS Over TCP/IP.

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/troubleshoot/netbt.htm

The TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper Service also needs to be started.

John

Guess you can teach an ole dog new tricks.
And Yes, its netBEUI that I remember from older days. Mine is set for
default, and I guess it is automatically applied.
Thanks. Life mystery # 403984 fixed.

 

[John John (MVP)]

Guess you can teach an ole dog new tricks.
And Yes, its netBEUI that I remember from older days. Mine is set for
default, and I guess it is automatically applied.
Thanks. Life mystery # 403984 fixed.

On XP Pro default installation most required network components are
installed by default and most services required for the network are set
to automatic start. The NetBEUI protocol is hardly ever needed and it
shouldn't be installed unless you have special needs for it.

John

 

[John John (MVP)]

I think I have at least a partial result.

Allow Netbios over TCP/IP seems to have connected up some of the
network.

Make sure that it is installed on all the network machines and make sure
that the TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper Service (in the Services Management
Console) is started on all the machines.

If you still cannot see the machines then make sure that the firewalls
are not at fault, if need be disable the firewalls while you
troubleshoot the problem

If the problem still persists it's most likely caused by a "Browser
War". Browser elections can cause problems with the browse list as
there might be confusion as to who has the browse list and who should
have it. Look in the Event Log for error and clues.

The http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/troubleshoot/netbt.htm
seems pretty good.

Lots of good help here too: http://www.chicagotech.net/

Thanks folks

You're welcome.

John

 

[M.I.5¾]

I agree that its not needed, but I find it, how do I say it, more
direct? less complex? simple?


I've never created extra/duplicate logins and my systems work. So I'm
not sure your comment about accounts on every pc is needed. I'm assuming
that XP is using the guest account for my access.

It rather depends on what you are attempting to access. I grant that there
is much that can be accessed without identical accounts, but when problems
do occur it is usually a firewall issue or an account/password issue. For
some odd reason, folders are sometimes encountered that should open, but
will only do so if the two machines have identical accounts.

Granted your suggestion seems proper on a domain network. The OP is
using XP HOME and I assumed he is at home on a workgroup not domain.

I was referring to a home network.

 

[Big Al]

Sadly this results in "the network path was not found"

Have tried using IP address and name of PC.

BTW am using XP pro one the 2 desktops and home on laptop,

I'm sure that when had same prob before Netbios was suggested... I
don't even know what this is!


Any thoughts.

Thanks

Andrew

Are you able to browse the network? I don't remember seeing the
response to this.
Entire Network|Microsoft windows network|Workgroup (or whatever you call
yours| then PCs | Then shared resources like printers and folders.
????

 

[sean bean]

Nothing to do with netbios, i think. all the systems are in Workgroup.
now you go to My network places.
Click on Entire Networks.
Click on Microsoft Windows network.
Click on Workgroup
There you can find the 3 machines.

this is where my Winxp box gets lost... the other two machines can see
it... but it can't see them... clicking on my workgroup generates an
error after several minutes of searching... "the network is
unavailable... you may not have permission... blah blah blah...

Win MCE can see XP... Win98SE can see XP... XP is blind...