ERROR: "MSHOME is not accessible"

[Laurel]

I am unable to set up a home network with a desk pc and a
laptop.Both computers are directly connected to a linksys
cable/DSL router which is connect to a Linksys cable
modem. They are all hardwired with ethernet cables (no
wireless). I have excellent internet connection from both
computers throught the router and modem.I am running
Norton Internet Security.

In "My network places" on my laptop I am able to see my
laptop computer and my desktop pc.

My problem is that in "my network places" on my desktop
pc I do not see my desktop pc or the laptop. There is
nothing there. When I click on "view workgroup computers"
I receive the following message:

"MSHOME is not accessible. You might not have permission
to use this network resource. Contact the admininstrator
of this server to find out if you have access permissions"

I am the administrator on both computers.

I have tried turning off Norton Internet Security but
this does not change the situation.

I am able to ping both my router and my laptop from my
desktop pc. I am unable to ping my desktop pc from my
desktop pc or my laptop. The request times out.

I would greatly appreciate any and all help. Thanks!!!!

 

[Chuck]

I am unable to set up a home network with a desk pc and a
laptop.Both computers are directly connected to a linksys
cable/DSL router which is connect to a Linksys cable
modem. They are all hardwired with ethernet cables (no
wireless). I have excellent internet connection from both
computers throught the router and modem.I am running
Norton Internet Security.

In "My network places" on my laptop I am able to see my
laptop computer and my desktop pc.

My problem is that in "my network places" on my desktop
pc I do not see my desktop pc or the laptop. There is
nothing there. When I click on "view workgroup computers"
I receive the following message:

"MSHOME is not accessible. You might not have permission
to use this network resource. Contact the admininstrator
of this server to find out if you have access permissions"

I am the administrator on both computers.

I have tried turning off Norton Internet Security but
this does not change the situation.

I am able to ping both my router and my laptop from my
desktop pc. I am unable to ping my desktop pc from my
desktop pc or my laptop. The request times out.

I would greatly appreciate any and all help. Thanks!!!!

Laurel,

With NIS, you need to allow file and printer sharing by opening the following
ports: TCP 139, 445; UDP 137, 138, 445, preferably only for computers in your
Local (Very Trusted) Zone. Then identify the computers in the Local Zone.

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[Laurel]

Thanks for your advice,Chuck!

I need some additional help - I am a complete novice and
I don't know how to "open ports" or how to identify the
computers in the "Local Zone". I've looked at NIS and
can't find where to take those actions. Could you give me
a step-by-step guide? And, if possible, could you explain
what it means to "open a Port"?

Thanks so very much in advance!!
Laurel

 

[Chuck]

Thanks for your advice,Chuck!

I need some additional help - I am a complete novice and
I don't know how to "open ports" or how to identify the
computers in the "Local Zone". I've looked at NIS and
can't find where to take those actions. Could you give me
a step-by-step guide? And, if possible, could you explain
what it means to "open a Port"?

Thanks so very much in advance!!
Laurel

Laurel,

Ports are essentially addresses, that let each application running on your
computer communicate with other computers. Each application opens ports, passes
data out thru those ports, then waits until data is returned thru those ports.

One of the applications running on your computer is File Sharing, which lets
your computer, and other computers, access each other's files. Having File
Sharing open to the internet would be very dangerous to you, as people on the
internet could see, and change, the many files on your computer.

NIS, and other firewalls, block (Close) the ports that File Sharing, and other
dangerous applications, might use. You unblock (Open) a port depending upon how
much risk you are willing to take with each application.

Most firewalls, like NIS, let you designate ability to access ports
(applications) on your computer, according to how much you trust another
computer. For instance:
1) Local (Very Trusted)
2) Local (Somewhat Trusted)
3) Internet (Slightly Trusted)
4) Internet (NOT Trusted)

By default, most firewalls designate all ports as Closed, unless you set it
differently. Dangerous applications like File Sharing you would probably leave
Closed except for the computers in your Local (Very Trusted) Zone.

I share your frustration with the NIS manual. Most software vendors (like M$
and S$) organise their manuals the same way they organise their menus. So, the
manual essentially shows what each menu selection does. Not how a specific task
is done.

I do not have NIS running on any of my computers, so I can't tell you offhand
how to designate open ports, or how to designate trusted zones. But if you tell
me what version of NIS you have, I will see if I can get hold of a manual, and
see what details I can find for you.

You also might find procedural advice if you post a specific query in discussion
group comp.security.firewalls. That is, unfortunately, not a M$ discussion
group, so you will need to use a newsgroup interface like Google Groups. Go
here for group access:
<http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&group=comp.security.firewalls>

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[Laurel]

Thanks for your explanation - it was very helpful. Now I
know what types of questions to ask in another newsgroup
to find the solution to my problem

Thanks Chuck!

-----Original Message-----


Laurel,

Ports are essentially addresses, that let each application running on your
computer communicate with other computers. Each

application opens ports, passes

 

[Guest]

I went back to wrestling with this problem after reading your post. I've tried some suggestions previously posted on this list without success. It's been suggested that this is a bug. Well, I changed the name of the workgroup on the offending XP Pro machine. After restart a dialog box invited me to accept the terms for use. I agreed and the problem was gone. Sharing now works normally. I changed the workgroup name back to the original (in my case it was also the default MSHOME) and it works

----- Laurel wrote: ----

I am unable to set up a home network with a desk pc and a
laptop.Both computers are directly connected to a linksys
cable/DSL router which is connect to a Linksys cable
modem. They are all hardwired with ethernet cables (no
wireless). I have excellent internet connection from both
computers throught the router and modem.I am running
Norton Internet Security

In "My network places" on my laptop I am able to see my
laptop computer and my desktop pc

My problem is that in "my network places" on my desktop
pc I do not see my desktop pc or the laptop. There is
nothing there. When I click on "view workgroup computers"
I receive the following message

"MSHOME is not accessible. You might not have permission
to use this network resource. Contact the admininstrator
of this server to find out if you have access permissions

I am the administrator on both computers

I have tried turning off Norton Internet Security but
this does not change the situation

I am able to ping both my router and my laptop from my
desktop pc. I am unable to ping my desktop pc from my
desktop pc or my laptop. The request times out

I would greatly appreciate any and all help. Thanks!!!

 

[trickyt]

Tom, Having the same problem - that MSHOME is not found, I decided t
try your suggestion. I re-named the Network name - on the offendin
XPPro Laptop to MSHOME2, then restarted, then ran the network setu
wizard again, selecting MSHOME as the network name and then re-star
again. Alas no luck!! The view network computers icon still comes u
with an empty window. I can not even see the laptop pc, let alone th
home desktop.


Both pcs are wired to an ADSL modem and the desktop pc (XP - Home) ca
connect to a windows 98 pc just fine, but can not seem to link to th
XP-Pro Laptop


-
tricky

 

[Carey Holzman]

If you'd like to work this through one-on-one, you are welcome to email me.

(e-mail address removed)