File / printer sharing

[Alvin Peron]

I managed to set up my desktop and laptop as a network. Then I installed
sp1 and it said to re-run the network setup. So I did, and I haven't been
able to share files/printers since. I am currently running xp home sp2 on
both systems. They are hooked to a D-Link DI-604 router which is then
connected to a D-link ADSL modem.

Both see the internet. They essentially set themselves up. I did however
run the Networking Wizard. They are both Sony computers. I have run their
test software and it says the problem is the network card. I believe it
probably has something to do with a security setting. The Win firewall is
disabled - Trend Pccillin monitors. Even if I switch or completely
disable - the result has so far been the same. The laptop has Norton's
Antivirus. Both allow File and Print sharing on Windows firewall, Trend has
low security for homenetworking. I think I'm officially lost. (I tried to
post through IE at the website - but there seems to be a pop up blocker
somewhere I don't know about.)

The desktop can ping the router, and itself, but not the laptop. The laptop
can ping the router.

Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : DESKTOP
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : ab.hsia.telus.net
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 8:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : ab.hsia.telus.net
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast
Ethernet NIC
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-E0-18-38-DB-76
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.100
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Friday, March 11, 2005 9:58:44
AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Friday, March 18, 2005 9:58:44
AM

Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Laptop
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : ab.hsia.telus.net
Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection 6:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : LAN-Express AS IEEE 802.11g
miniPCI Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0E-9B-01-32-D6
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 6:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : ab.hsia.telus.net
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast
Ethernet NIC
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 08-00-46-CE-A1-C9
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.101
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, March 10, 2005
11:54:41 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, March 17, 2005
11:54:41 PM

 

[Chuck]

I managed to set up my desktop and laptop as a network. Then I installed
sp1 and it said to re-run the network setup. So I did, and I haven't been
able to share files/printers since. I am currently running xp home sp2 on
both systems. They are hooked to a D-Link DI-604 router which is then
connected to a D-link ADSL modem.

Both see the internet. They essentially set themselves up. I did however
run the Networking Wizard. They are both Sony computers. I have run their
test software and it says the problem is the network card. I believe it
probably has something to do with a security setting. The Win firewall is
disabled - Trend Pccillin monitors. Even if I switch or completely
disable - the result has so far been the same. The laptop has Norton's
Antivirus. Both allow File and Print sharing on Windows firewall, Trend has
low security for homenetworking. I think I'm officially lost. (I tried to
post through IE at the website - but there seems to be a pop up blocker
somewhere I don't know about.)

The desktop can ping the router, and itself, but not the laptop. The laptop
can ping the router.

<SNIP IPConfigs>

Alan,

The complaint "can't ping" can have several causes. Let's enumerate your
problems, and see what's the cause of that first.

Take the following code (everything inside the "#####"). (Please verify
computer names and ip addresses).

Open Notepad. Ensure that Format - Word Wrap is not checked. Highlight then
Copy the code (Ctrl-C), precisely as it is presented, and Paste (Ctrl-V) into
Notepad. Verify, and correct, names and addresses if necessary.
Save the Notepad file as "cdiag.cmd", as type "All Files", into the root folder
"C:\".
Run it by Start - Run - "c:\cdiag".
Wait patiently.
When Notepad opens up displaying c:\cdiag.txt, first check Format and ensure
that Word Wrap is NOT checked! Then, copy the entire contents (Ctrl-A Ctrl-C)
and paste (Ctrl-V) into your next post.

Do this from both computers, please, with both computers powered up and online.

#####

@echo off
set FullTarget1=DESKTOP 192.168.0.100
set FullTarget2=Laptop 192.168.0.101
set FullTarget3=
set FullTarget4=
set FullTargets=%FullTarget1% %FullTarget2% %FullTarget3% %FullTarget4%
set PingTargets=127.0.0.1 192.168.0.1
Set Version=V1.1
@echo CDiagnosis %Version% >c:\cdiag.txt
@echo Start diagnosis for %computername% (==> %FullTargets%) >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo. >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo "ping www.yahoo.com" >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo. >>c:\cdiag.txt
ping www.yahoo.com >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo. >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo "ping 66.94.230.32" >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo. >>c:\cdiag.txt
ping 66.94.230.32 >>c:\cdiag.txt
for %%a in (%FullTargets%) do (
@echo. >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo Target - Full %%a >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo. >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo "ping %%a" >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo. >>c:\cdiag.txt
ping %%a >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo. >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo "net view %%a" >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo. >>c:\cdiag.txt
net view %%a >>c:\cdiag.txt
)
for %%a in (%PingTargets%) do (
@echo. >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo Target - Ping Only %%a >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo. >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo "ping %%a" >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo. >>c:\cdiag.txt
ping %%a >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo. >>c:\cdiag.txt
net view %%a >>c:\cdiag.txt
)
@echo End diagnosis for %computername% >>c:\cdiag.txt
notepad c:\cdiag.txt
:EOF

#####

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.

 

[Alvin Peron]

<SNIP IPConfigs>

Alan,

The complaint "can't ping" can have several causes. Let's enumerate your
problems, and see what's the cause of that first.

Take the following code (everything inside the "#####"). (Please verify
computer names and ip addresses).

Open Notepad. Ensure that Format - Word Wrap is not checked. Highlight
then
Copy the code (Ctrl-C), precisely as it is presented, and Paste (Ctrl-V)
into
Notepad. Verify, and correct, names and addresses if necessary.
Save the Notepad file as "cdiag.cmd", as type "All Files", into the root
folder
"C:\".
Run it by Start - Run - "c:\cdiag".
Wait patiently.
When Notepad opens up displaying c:\cdiag.txt, first check Format and
ensure
that Word Wrap is NOT checked! Then, copy the entire contents (Ctrl-A
Ctrl-C)
and paste (Ctrl-V) into your next post.

Do this from both computers, please, with both computers powered up and
online.

#####

@echo off
set FullTarget1=DESKTOP 192.168.0.100
set FullTarget2=Laptop 192.168.0.101
set FullTarget3=
set FullTarget4=
set FullTargets=%FullTarget1% %FullTarget2% %FullTarget3% %FullTarget4%
set PingTargets=127.0.0.1 192.168.0.1
Set Version=V1.1
@echo CDiagnosis %Version% >c:\cdiag.txt
@echo Start diagnosis for %computername% (==> %FullTargets%)
@echo. >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo "ping www.yahoo.com" >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo. >>c:\cdiag.txt
ping www.yahoo.com >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo. >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo "ping 66.94.230.32" >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo. >>c:\cdiag.txt
ping 66.94.230.32 >>c:\cdiag.txt
for %%a in (%FullTargets%) do (
@echo. >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo Target - Full %%a >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo. >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo "ping %%a" >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo. >>c:\cdiag.txt
ping %%a >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo. >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo "net view %%a" >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo. >>c:\cdiag.txt
net view %%a >>c:\cdiag.txt
)
for %%a in (%PingTargets%) do (
@echo. >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo Target - Ping Only %%a >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo. >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo "ping %%a" >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo. >>c:\cdiag.txt
ping %%a >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo. >>c:\cdiag.txt
net view %%a >>c:\cdiag.txt
)
@echo End diagnosis for %computername% >>c:\cdiag.txt
notepad c:\cdiag.txt
:EOF

#####

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.

Here's the desktop:

CDiagnosis V1.1
Start diagnosis for DESKTOP (== 192.168.0.100 Laptop 192.168.0.101 )

"ping www.yahoo.com"
Pinging www.yahoo.akadns.net [66.94.230.48] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 66.94.230.48: bytes=32 time=55ms TTL=52
Reply from 66.94.230.48: bytes=32 time=54ms TTL=53
Reply from 66.94.230.48: bytes=32 time=55ms TTL=53
Reply from 66.94.230.48: bytes=32 time=55ms TTL=52

Ping statistics for 66.94.230.48:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 54ms, Maximum = 55ms, Average = 54ms

"ping 66.94.230.32"
Pinging 66.94.230.32 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 66.94.230.32: bytes=32 time=56ms TTL=53
Reply from 66.94.230.32: bytes=32 time=55ms TTL=52
Reply from 66.94.230.32: bytes=32 time=55ms TTL=53
Reply from 66.94.230.32: bytes=32 time=56ms TTL=53

Ping statistics for 66.94.230.32:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 55ms, Maximum = 56ms, Average = 55ms
Target - Full DESKTOP
"ping DESKTOP"
Pinging DESKTOP [192.168.0.100] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.0.100: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.0.100: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.0.100: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.0.100: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Ping statistics for 192.168.0.100:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms

"net view DESKTOP"
Shared resources at DESKTOP
Desktop
Share name Type Used as Comment

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alvin Peron Disk
Brother Print Brother MFC-8500 USB
D Disk
hpphotos Print hp photosmart P1000 series
Printer Print ScanSoft PDF Create!
Printer2 Print PDF Compatible Printer Driver
Printer3 Print Profile PDF Export
Printer5 Print Brother PC-FAX
Printer7 Print CaseView PDF
SharedDocs Disk
The command completed successfully.

Target - Full 192.168.0.100
"ping 192.168.0.100"
Pinging 192.168.0.100 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.0.100: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.0.100: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.0.100: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.0.100: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Ping statistics for 192.168.0.100:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms


"net view 192.168.0.100"
Shared resources at 192.168.0.100
Desktop
Share name Type Used as Comment
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alvin Peron Disk
Brother Print Brother MFC-8500 USB
D Disk
hpphotos Print hp photosmart P1000 series
Printer Print ScanSoft PDF Create!
Printer2 Print PDF Compatible Printer Driver
Printer3 Print Profile PDF Export
Printer5 Print Brother PC-FAX
Printer7 Print CaseView PDF
SharedDocs Disk
The command completed successfully.

Target - Full Laptop
"ping Laptop"
Ping request could not find host Laptop. Please check the name and try
again.
"net view Laptop"

Target - Full 192.168.0.101

"ping 192.168.0.101"
Pinging 192.168.0.101 with 32 bytes of data:
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Ping statistics for 192.168.0.101:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

"net view 192.168.0.101"
Target - Ping Only 127.0.0.1
"ping 127.0.0.1"

Pinging 127.0.0.1 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Ping statistics for 127.0.0.1:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms

Shared resources at 127.0.0.1
Desktop
Share name Type Used as Comment
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alvin Peron Disk
Brother Print Brother MFC-8500 USB
D Disk
hpphotos Print hp photosmart P1000 series
Printer Print ScanSoft PDF Create!
Printer2 Print PDF Compatible Printer Driver
Printer3 Print Profile PDF Export
Printer5 Print Brother PC-FAX
Printer7 Print CaseView PDF
SharedDocs Disk
The command completed successfully.

Target - Ping Only 192.168.0.1
"ping 192.168.0.1"
Pinging 192.168.0.1 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=127
Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=127
Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=127
Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=127

Ping statistics for 192.168.0.1:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms
End diagnosis for DESKTOP

CDiagnosis V1.1
Start diagnosis for LAPTOP (== 192.168.0.100 Laptop 192.168.0.101 )

"ping www.yahoo.com"
Pinging www.yahoo.akadns.net [66.94.230.43] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 66.94.230.43: bytes=32 time=54ms TTL=52
Reply from 66.94.230.43: bytes=32 time=55ms TTL=51
Reply from 66.94.230.43: bytes=32 time=53ms TTL=51
Reply from 66.94.230.43: bytes=32 time=54ms TTL=51

Ping statistics for 66.94.230.43:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 53ms, Maximum = 55ms, Average = 54ms

"ping 66.94.230.32"
Pinging 66.94.230.32 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 66.94.230.32: bytes=32 time=56ms TTL=53
Reply from 66.94.230.32: bytes=32 time=55ms TTL=53
Reply from 66.94.230.32: bytes=32 time=55ms TTL=53
Reply from 66.94.230.32: bytes=32 time=56ms TTL=52

Ping statistics for 66.94.230.32:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 55ms, Maximum = 56ms, Average = 55ms

Target - Full DESKTOP
"ping DESKTOP"
Ping request could not find host DESKTOP. Please check the name and try
again.

"net view DESKTOP"
Target - Full 192.168.0.100
"ping 192.168.0.100"

Pinging 192.168.0.100 with 32 bytes of data:

Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Ping statistics for 192.168.0.100:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

"net view 192.168.0.100"
Shared resources at 192.168.0.100
Desktop
Share name Type Used as Comment
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alvin Peron Disk
Brother Print Brother MFC-8500 USB
D Disk
hpphotos Print hp photosmart P1000 series
Printer Print ScanSoft PDF Create!
Printer2 Print PDF Compatible Printer Driver
Printer3 Print Profile PDF Export
Printer5 Print Brother PC-FAX
Printer7 Print CaseView PDF
SharedDocs Disk
The command completed successfully.

Target - Full Laptop
"ping Laptop"
Pinging Laptop [192.168.0.101] with 32 bytes of data:
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Ping statistics for 192.168.0.101:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),
"net view Laptop"
Shared resources at Laptop
Laptop
Share name Type Used as Comment
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Printer Print Profile PDF Export
Printer5 Print Microsoft Office Document Image Writer
Printer6 Print CaseView PDF
SharedDocs Disk
The command completed successfully.

Target - Full 192.168.0.101

"ping 192.168.0.101"
Pinging 192.168.0.101 with 32 bytes of data:
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Ping statistics for 192.168.0.101:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),
"net view 192.168.0.101"
Target - Ping Only 127.0.0.1
"ping 127.0.0.1"

Pinging 127.0.0.1 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Ping statistics for 127.0.0.1:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms

Target - Ping Only 192.168.0.1
"ping 192.168.0.1"
Pinging 192.168.0.1 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=127
Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=127
Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=127
Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=127

Ping statistics for 192.168.0.1:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms


End diagnosis for LAPTOP

 

[Chuck]

<SNIP Interesting CDiags>

Alvin,

Interesting.

Neither Desktop nor Laptop can ping each other by name or address. Laptop can,
however, see resources on Desktop (by ip address only). And both Desktop and
Laptop can see its own resources.

I think we can rule out file sharing network components. Both Client for
Microsoft Networks (aka Workstation Service) and File and Printer Sharing for
Microsoft Networks (aka Server Service) appear to be working.

No name resolution, though, and no pinging either.

There could be a problems with one of the network cards. But that alone won't
prevent a computer from pinging, or seeing, itself (net view).

I think you need to start with your firewalls. Start by enabling PCCillin, then
un installing it carefully, using all procedures provided by TM. Personal
firewalls don't always switch off successfully, and sometimes they cause worse
problems when "switched off".

Is Norton AntiVirus all that's installed on the laptop? Or is NAV maybe a
component of NIS? Norton Internet Security, which includes Norton Personal
Firewall, has been known to surprise the unwary.

You're behind a router, so un installing all firewalls is a safe procedure. And
in your case, IMHO the essential first step.

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.

 

[Alvin Peron]

<SNIP Interesting CDiags>

Alvin,

Interesting.

Neither Desktop nor Laptop can ping each other by name or address. Laptop
can,
however, see resources on Desktop (by ip address only). And both Desktop
and
Laptop can see its own resources.

I think we can rule out file sharing network components. Both Client for
Microsoft Networks (aka Workstation Service) and File and Printer Sharing
for
Microsoft Networks (aka Server Service) appear to be working.

No name resolution, though, and no pinging either.

There could be a problems with one of the network cards. But that alone
won't
prevent a computer from pinging, or seeing, itself (net view).

I think you need to start with your firewalls. Start by enabling
PCCillin, then
un installing it carefully, using all procedures provided by TM. Personal
firewalls don't always switch off successfully, and sometimes they cause
worse
problems when "switched off".

Is Norton AntiVirus all that's installed on the laptop? Or is NAV maybe a
component of NIS? Norton Internet Security, which includes Norton
Personal
Firewall, has been known to surprise the unwary.

You're behind a router, so un installing all firewalls is a safe
procedure. And
in your case, IMHO the essential first step.

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.

I can't thank you enough - it seems to work. I turned off the firewall on
both machines and left the windows firewall in place. (I feel foolish - I
didn't see the Norton firewall on the laptop.) At first the laptop saw the
the desktop but not vice versa. I rebooted and reran the network wizard on
the desktop and everything appears to be fine. Will do some further
testing. Do you think its safe enough to leave just the windows firewalls
in place or should I attempt to get Trend and Nortons to cooperate with the
network? Once again thanks

 

[Chuck]

On Sat, 12 Mar 2005 18:18:28 GMT, "Alvin Peron" <*email_address_deleted*> wrote:

I can't thank you enough - it seems to work. I turned off the firewall on
both machines and left the windows firewall in place. (I feel foolish - I
didn't see the Norton firewall on the laptop.) At first the laptop saw the
the desktop but not vice versa. I rebooted and reran the network wizard on
the desktop and everything appears to be fine. Will do some further
testing. Do you think its safe enough to leave just the windows firewalls
in place or should I attempt to get Trend and Nortons to cooperate with the
network? Once again thanks

Alvin,

Windows Firewall is better than nothing - but it provides no more protection
than a NAT router, so it's redundant in your case. Either NPF (Norton) or PCIS
(Trend) would be a better choice - but you have to choose between NPF, PCIS, and
WF - you can't have more than 1 installed.

My choice? Since you have PCIS on both, go with that. Un install NIS (you may
have to remove NAV temporarily, as some have reported), then just re install
NAV. NAV is a good product (I'll probably get flamed for saying this), but NIS
is a huge package of bloatware. Depending upon what version of NIS you have, it
may include an antiadware/antispyware component too (which is IMHO not
competitive of either AAW, MSAS, or SSD). Follow all Symantec un install
procedures carefully.

I can't give you a lot of hints about configuring PCIS, but looking at the Quick
Start Guide, it looks like it's rule based (not as simple as NPF or ZoneAlarm
for example). No details about permitting file sharing, unfortunately. You
might get more necessary help from the experts in comp.security.firewalls or
microsoft.public.security.

When you corrected the problem on the laptop, it would have taken a few minutes
- a latency period of up to 48 minutes IIRC - before both computers saw each
other. Rebooting bypasses the latency period.

Anyway, thanks for the feedback. I'm glad your problem was diagnosable.

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.

 

[Alvin Peron]

Alvin,

Windows Firewall is better than nothing - but it provides no more
protection
than a NAT router, so it's redundant in your case. Either NPF (Norton) or
PCIS
(Trend) would be a better choice - but you have to choose between NPF,
PCIS, and
WF - you can't have more than 1 installed.

My choice? Since you have PCIS on both, go with that. Un install NIS
(you may
have to remove NAV temporarily, as some have reported), then just re
install
NAV. NAV is a good product (I'll probably get flamed for saying this),
but NIS
is a huge package of bloatware. Depending upon what version of NIS you
have, it
may include an antiadware/antispyware component too (which is IMHO not
competitive of either AAW, MSAS, or SSD). Follow all Symantec un install
procedures carefully.

I can't give you a lot of hints about configuring PCIS, but looking at the
Quick
Start Guide, it looks like it's rule based (not as simple as NPF or
ZoneAlarm
for example). No details about permitting file sharing, unfortunately.
You
might get more necessary help from the experts in comp.security.firewalls
or
microsoft.public.security.

When you corrected the problem on the laptop, it would have taken a few
minutes
- a latency period of up to 48 minutes IIRC - before both computers saw
each
other. Rebooting bypasses the latency period.

Anyway, thanks for the feedback. I'm glad your problem was diagnosable.

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.

Further to your comments on firewalls. The desktop came with Trend - the
laptop came with Nortons. Am I understanding correctly that they will cause
a problem if I bring them back up on their own machines.

I will likely go to Trend on the laptop when the Norton license is up. I
agree with your comments - I initially planned on isolating the machine as I
work on my desktop at home, but I need the laptop when working at clients.
Alas files move back and forth between the two and eventually I just left it
hooked up to keep windows and the virus definitions up to date. It isn't
used extensively on the internet and is not set up for email. It wasn't
long before Nortons starting coming up with threats - at first I thought
"Great, it's working". Further along I even wondered about the Trend - it
never seem to come up with anything. Nortons would delete some threats, but
soon most had to be dealt with manually - only following their instructions,
the files or registry entries could never be found. Every day I would have
to deal with the continuance of what I couldn't find the day before. Enter
spybot - which cleaned most problems up, it even found a few others, on the
desktop with trend there were none - it was clean. I have since purchased
licenses for Spyware Doctor and Registry Mechanic (PC Tools) - it has turned
out to be a bit of a waste on the desktop because Trend just doesn't let the
problem in. I'm not sure where the stuff on the laptop came from, but
Norton was to say the least cumbersome, and somewhat ineffective. Only my
opinion.

I had to leave with my laptop since this morning. Everything seemed to be
fine - the network seemed to be fine. When I came back and hooked up the
laptop, I checked to make sure it could still see the desktop - no problem.
I just went to play a game on the laptop and it gave the following error:

16 bit Windows Subsytem

C:\windows\system32\autoexec.nt. The system file is not suitable for running
MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications. Choose 'Close' to terminate the
application.

It seems its only this one program which causes the problem. The file is
not there? Even after showing all hidden files? I've uninstalled the program
and attempted to re-install it - it won't re-install from the cd - I get the
same warning. I tried a system restore to yesterday - still the error.
While at my clients, I had used a dialup to down load a file and burn it to
a cd for the client. The error didn't appear until after I hooked to the
network and seems to be only that program - Bicycle Totally Cool Card Games.
The Bicycle Totally Cool Casino Card games worked fine, they were both
installed. Strange - I appreciate any comments - and again thanks for your
assistance.

 

[Chuck]

On Sun, 13 Mar 2005 00:43:10 GMT, "Alvin Peron" <*email_address_deleted*> wrote:

Further to your comments on firewalls. The desktop came with Trend - the
laptop came with Nortons. Am I understanding correctly that they will cause
a problem if I bring them back up on their own machines.

I will likely go to Trend on the laptop when the Norton license is up. I
agree with your comments - I initially planned on isolating the machine as I
work on my desktop at home, but I need the laptop when working at clients.
Alas files move back and forth between the two and eventually I just left it
hooked up to keep windows and the virus definitions up to date. It isn't
used extensively on the internet and is not set up for email. It wasn't
long before Nortons starting coming up with threats - at first I thought
"Great, it's working". Further along I even wondered about the Trend - it
never seem to come up with anything. Nortons would delete some threats, but
soon most had to be dealt with manually - only following their instructions,
the files or registry entries could never be found. Every day I would have
to deal with the continuance of what I couldn't find the day before. Enter
spybot - which cleaned most problems up, it even found a few others, on the
desktop with trend there were none - it was clean. I have since purchased
licenses for Spyware Doctor and Registry Mechanic (PC Tools) - it has turned
out to be a bit of a waste on the desktop because Trend just doesn't let the
problem in. I'm not sure where the stuff on the laptop came from, but
Norton was to say the least cumbersome, and somewhat ineffective. Only my
opinion.

I had to leave with my laptop since this morning. Everything seemed to be
fine - the network seemed to be fine. When I came back and hooked up the
laptop, I checked to make sure it could still see the desktop - no problem.
I just went to play a game on the laptop and it gave the following error:

16 bit Windows Subsytem

C:\windows\system32\autoexec.nt. The system file is not suitable for running
MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications. Choose 'Close' to terminate the
application.

It seems its only this one program which causes the problem. The file is
not there? Even after showing all hidden files? I've uninstalled the program
and attempted to re-install it - it won't re-install from the cd - I get the
same warning. I tried a system restore to yesterday - still the error.
While at my clients, I had used a dialup to down load a file and burn it to
a cd for the client. The error didn't appear until after I hooked to the
network and seems to be only that program - Bicycle Totally Cool Card Games.
The Bicycle Totally Cool Casino Card games worked fine, they were both
installed. Strange - I appreciate any comments - and again thanks for your
assistance.

OK, Alvin,

I get the picture now. You have NIS on one computer, and PCIS on the other.
Both are better protection than WF. So absolutely, get them both working. At
least, you now know that you can have them working - its just a question of
tweaking them properly. Since you're behind the router, you can focus on one at
a time, without exposing the other significantly.

A layered defense strategy is what you need with any computer on a network these
days - and the components in each layer will, by definition, be redundant to
some degree. So you should expect that most components will seldom show any
alerts. That doesn't mean they're not doing their job, though, it just means
that they're not doing a job right now, and that the other components (including
the most critical Chair To Keyboard Interface) are doing their job.

It's pretty rare for me to see a virus alert, or a spyware alert either. I use
hosts file based filtering, that ensures that I never visit websites with
hostile content - the combination of hosts (regularly updated) from HPGuru and
MVPS means that known hostile websites never hit my browser. And I read my
email in text only. But that doesn't mean I'm going to remove any of my
AntiVirus or AntiSpyware protection programs - Not at all. I have A2, Avast,
AdAware, HijackThis, Spybot S&D, and Microsoft AntiSpyware (Beta). I run, and
update, each religiously.

Even with all that loaded and running, my CPU usage seldom exceeds 33% of full
capacity when active. And when idling, maybe 10%. Memory usage stays around
20%, with peak to maybe 30%. And those low numbers are, in part, because no
malware gets to run on my computers.

Any time I start to think I'm too paranoid, and should relax a bit, I spend some
time reading the BroadbandReports Security Forum, or ISC/SANS webpage, or
WilderSecurity, or SpywareInfo or or or. And I know that I'm not paranoid
enough.

Now to your card games. That error isn't saying you have a missing file - just
that the existing Autoexec.NT file needs to be tuned to support 16-bit programs.

I suspect that the Bicycle Totally Cool Card Games are 16-bit code (legacy
software), while the Bicycle Totally Cool Casino Card Games are 32-bit code
(modern software). I have some legacy 16-bit programs running on my computers,
and they are a bit unstable at times. You MIGHT get help for them in
microsoft.public.windowsxp.general, microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support,
comp.games.misc, or rec.games.computer. Or possibly the vendor of the games has
some tips getting all to run under Windows NT/2K/XP. Maybe use a compatibility
mode setting - try Windows 95 or Windows 98 compatibility mode.

OK, that's enough sermon for today. Tune in tomorrow for more if you wish.

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.

 

[Alvin Peron]

OK, Alvin,

I get the picture now. You have NIS on one computer, and PCIS on the
other.
Both are better protection than WF. So absolutely, get them both working.
At
least, you now know that you can have them working - its just a question
of
tweaking them properly. Since you're behind the router, you can focus on
one at
a time, without exposing the other significantly.

A layered defense strategy is what you need with any computer on a network
these
days - and the components in each layer will, by definition, be redundant
to
some degree. So you should expect that most components will seldom show
any
alerts. That doesn't mean they're not doing their job, though, it just
means
that they're not doing a job right now, and that the other components
(including
the most critical Chair To Keyboard Interface) are doing their job.

It's pretty rare for me to see a virus alert, or a spyware alert either.
I use
hosts file based filtering, that ensures that I never visit websites with
hostile content - the combination of hosts (regularly updated) from HPGuru
and
MVPS means that known hostile websites never hit my browser. And I read
my
email in text only. But that doesn't mean I'm going to remove any of my
AntiVirus or AntiSpyware protection programs - Not at all. I have A2,
Avast,
AdAware, HijackThis, Spybot S&D, and Microsoft AntiSpyware (Beta). I run,
and
update, each religiously.

Even with all that loaded and running, my CPU usage seldom exceeds 33% of
full
capacity when active. And when idling, maybe 10%. Memory usage stays
around
20%, with peak to maybe 30%. And those low numbers are, in part, because
no
malware gets to run on my computers.

Any time I start to think I'm too paranoid, and should relax a bit, I
spend some
time reading the BroadbandReports Security Forum, or ISC/SANS webpage, or
WilderSecurity, or SpywareInfo or or or. And I know that I'm not paranoid
enough.

Now to your card games. That error isn't saying you have a missing file -
just
that the existing Autoexec.NT file needs to be tuned to support 16-bit
programs.

I suspect that the Bicycle Totally Cool Card Games are 16-bit code (legacy
software), while the Bicycle Totally Cool Casino Card Games are 32-bit
code
(modern software). I have some legacy 16-bit programs running on my
computers,
and they are a bit unstable at times. You MIGHT get help for them in
microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,
microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support,
comp.games.misc, or rec.games.computer. Or possibly the vendor of the
games has
some tips getting all to run under Windows NT/2K/XP. Maybe use a
compatibility
mode setting - try Windows 95 or Windows 98 compatibility mode.

OK, that's enough sermon for today. Tune in tomorrow for more if you
wish.

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.

One last post, the answer for the error message can be found on the
microsoft site article #324767.

Once again, thanks for your help and input. I even managed to install the
printers.

 

[Chuck]

One last post, the answer for the error message can be found on the
microsoft site article #324767.

Once again, thanks for your help and input. I even managed to install the
printers.

GTH, Alvin. Thanks for the feedback.

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.