Can't view network computers.

[Guest]

Everything was working fine. We connected two XP PCs with a Linksys switch,
and connected to the internet through dial-up. Yesterday we made the move to
broadband through Qwest DSL, using their modem, and connected using the LAN
rather than the USB connection. This move made a router necessary to continue
the connection between the two PC. I added a Belkin Router. I changed the
TCP/IP IP address properties from static to dynamic on both PCs to allow the
router to assign the IP address. After setup each PCs was able to connect to
the internet, and each PC was able to ping the other. The problem comes when
I click on Show Workgroup Computers. Each PC shows only the PC I'm working
at. After a brief pause an error message appears stating this action cannot
be completed, and that I may not have permission to use this resource. The
network is setup as a Workgroup, not a Domain, and each PC has just one user,
who by default has administrative privileges. I spent a significant amount of
time on the phone with Belkin's help desk. I was even escalated up one level,
but in the end I was told that if the two PCs could ping each other, that the
router was doing its part, and I was on my own to make the rest work.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Ted

 

[Chuck]

Everything was working fine. We connected two XP PCs with a Linksys switch,
and connected to the internet through dial-up. Yesterday we made the move to
broadband through Qwest DSL, using their modem, and connected using the LAN
rather than the USB connection. This move made a router necessary to continue
the connection between the two PC. I added a Belkin Router. I changed the
TCP/IP IP address properties from static to dynamic on both PCs to allow the
router to assign the IP address. After setup each PCs was able to connect to
the internet, and each PC was able to ping the other. The problem comes when
I click on Show Workgroup Computers. Each PC shows only the PC I'm working
at. After a brief pause an error message appears stating this action cannot
be completed, and that I may not have permission to use this resource. The
network is setup as a Workgroup, not a Domain, and each PC has just one user,
who by default has administrative privileges. I spent a significant amount of
time on the phone with Belkin's help desk. I was even escalated up one level,
but in the end I was told that if the two PCs could ping each other, that the
router was doing its part, and I was on my own to make the rest work.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Ted

Ted,

First, check for misconfigured / overlooked firewalls, and for registry setting
restrictanonymous, on each computer.
Misconfigured / overlooked firewalls:
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html>
Registry setting restrictanonymous:
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/07/restrictanonymous-and-your-server.html>

If no help, provide "browstat status" and "ipconfig /all" from each computer.
Read this article, and linked articles, and follow instructions precisely:
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>

Please let us know if any of these suggestions are of any help. What you learn
may help others in the future, and that's the purpose of these forums.

 

[__spc__]

Everything was working fine. We connected two XP PCs with a Linksys
switch,
and connected to the internet through dial-up. Yesterday we made the move
to
broadband through Qwest DSL, using their modem, and connected using the
LAN
rather than the USB connection. This move made a router necessary to
continue
the connection between the two PC. I added a Belkin Router. I changed the
TCP/IP IP address properties from static to dynamic on both PCs to allow
the
router to assign the IP address.

Not necessary, you can assign IPs in the range the router is issuing.
My WRT54G issues 192.168.1.100-105. I have statically assigned the 100,
101, 102, 103, 104, 105 addresses to my hardware - 105 is a media player
which needs to identify servers by IP.

After setup each PCs was able to connect to
the internet, and each PC was able to ping the other. The problem comes
when
I click on Show Workgroup Computers. Each PC shows only the PC I'm working
at. After a brief pause an error message appears stating this action
cannot
be completed, and that I may not have permission to use this resource. The
network is setup as a Workgroup, not a Domain, and each PC has just one
user,
who by default has administrative privileges. I spent a significant amount
of
time on the phone with Belkin's help desk. I was even escalated up one
level,
but in the end I was told that if the two PCs could ping each other, that
the
router was doing its part, and I was on my own to make the rest work.

From Network Connections in XP > Set up a home or small office network
IDENTICALLY on BOTH machines. Then disable your software firewalls to get
everything up and running. Re-enable these afterwards