Computer can't find Workgroup

[nrford]

I've spent about 6 hours trying different things and nothing's worked,
so any help will be appreciated.

At home I have a two-computer network which, until a month ago,
was working fine, then I installed SBC-Yahoo DSL (had cable modem).
My wife has a Dell desktop running XP and I have a Dell notebook on XP.

On my computer I have an external hard drive and software which
would back up files from my wife's computer ot the hard drive every
night. I've just noticed that it hasn't done this since the DSL conversion.

What brought this to my attention is that I tried to print to my wife's
printer and it didn't print.

My wife can access my computer and copy my files, but my computer
cannot even find the workgroup. However, my computer says on startup
that it is connected to the network and I have no trouble getting on the
Internet.

But when I try to "View Workgroup Computers" or "Map A Network
Drive", it says that the workgroup "is not accessible. Network path was
not found.". When I click on "My Network Places", it shows ONLY the
folders that I have set up for sharing (i.e.: it does not show the WG name).

"Local Area Connection Status" shows a good connection.
To the best of my knowledge, I changed nothing to do with the network
other than installing SBC-Yahoo's software and changing from the MS
router to theirs.

Here are things I have tried this morning, none of which helped.

1. Double-checked the computer names and workgroup name
on both machines.
2. Double-checked the network properties
3. Pinged my wife's computer and got no response.
4. Ran network "Repair".
5. Made sure Client for MS Networks", etc., are installed.
6. Changed the computer names and workgroup name. Changed back.
7. Worked through all the Windows network-related troubleshooters.
8. Called SBC-Yahoo tech support who blew me off by claiming that
nothing of theirs could have caused the problem and that it is just
a coincidence that this problem arose the same day I changed
to their modem/router. (They may be right, but that's a pretty
long-shot coincidence.)
9. Googled for these problems.
10. Re-checked the computer names and workgroup name.
11. Worked through all the Windows troubleshooters again.

So now I'm at my wits end. Any ideas?

TIA,

Nelson

 

[Dick Cardy]

I've spent about 6 hours trying different things and nothing's worked,
so any help will be appreciated.

At home I have a two-computer network which, until a month ago,
was working fine, then I installed SBC-Yahoo DSL (had cable modem).
My wife has a Dell desktop running XP and I have a Dell notebook on XP.

Just a few questions:-

did you install an SBC-Yahoo related software on either of the computers?

Have you got a cross-over cable that you can bypass the router/modem? If you
have connect the two computers together and see if you can get connect both
ways. If you can then check the modem/router, if you cannot see if one
machine has had a firewall installed that is blocking LAN connections.

Dick

 

[nrford]

Just a few questions:-

did you install an SBC-Yahoo related software on either of the computers?

Yes, I installed it on the machine that can see the network,
but the SBC software crashed during installation on the other
machine and it crashes on trying to uninstall it.

Have you got a cross-over cable that you can bypass the router/modem? If you
have connect the two computers together and see if you can get connect both
ways. If you can then check the modem/router, if you cannot see if one
machine has had a firewall installed that is blocking LAN connections.

I still have my Microsoft router. Hadn't thought of hooking it
back up to see what happens.

 

[nrford]

FWIW, this morning I decided to check my wife's Firewall again.
She has Norton, but it was disabled. I reenabled it and suddenly
I could start accessing her machine again. This makes no sense to
me. I would have expected just the opposite.

Since my computer didn't even recognize the network, not just
her machine, I didn't think it could just be something on her machine
causing the problem, but whatever works...