I have two computers, both with all of the updates
available, cept sp2. all drivers current, all
connections correct, ip addresses not conflicting, names
not conflicting. i can see and configure my router from
both computers so its not a connection issue. it is
definately a software issue. i have had the computers
hardwired together using to patch cables and a switch,
all known to be working. the computer cannot see itself
or other computers and sometimes displays the message
saying workgroup unavailable. any help would be greatly
appreciated.
-Jack
Jack,
Are you running both Client for Microsoft Networks, and File and Printer Sharing
for Microsoft Networks (Local Area Connection - Properties), on each computer?
Do you have shares setup on each?
Are you running NetBIOS Over TCP/IP (Local Area Connection - Properties - TCP/IP
- Properties - Advanced - WINS) on each computer?
Make sure the browser service is running on each computer. Control Panel -
Administrative Tools - Services. Verify that the Computer Browser service is
started.
Are both computers in the same workgroup?
Are the computers both XP? Home or Pro? Big difference.
On any XP Pro computer, check to see if Simple File Sharing (Control Panel -
Folder Options - View - Advanced settings) is enabled or disabled. With XP Pro,
you need to have SFS properly set on each computer.
With XP Pro, if SFS is disabled, check the Local Security Policy (Control Panel
- Administrative Tools). Under Local Policies - Security Options, look at
"Network access: Sharing and security model", and ensure it's set to "Classic -
local users authenticate as themselves".
With XP Pro, if you set the Local Security Policy to "Guest only", make sure
that the Guest account is enabled, thru Local User Manager (Start - Run -
"lusrmgr.msc"), and has an identical, non-blank, password on all computers. If
"Classic", setup and use a common non-Guest account, with identical, non-blank,
password on all computers.
For XP Home, OR for XP Pro with Simple File Sharing enabled, make sure that the
Guest account is enabled (for XP Pro, thru Local User Manager (Start - Run -
"lusrmgr.msc")), on each computer.
Do any of the computers have a software firewall (ICF / WF, or third party)? If
so, you need to configure them for file sharing, by opening ports TCP 139, 445
and UDP 137, 138, 445, and / or by identifying the other computers as present in
the Local (Trusted) zone. Firewall configurations are a very common cause of
(network) browser, and file sharing, problems.
More about file sharing, between all different versions of Windows:
<
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...db-aef8-4bef-925e-7ac9be791028&DisplayLang=en>
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
