Help with accessing network shares

[Guest]

I am having some trouble accessing shared folders on my home network. I've
been searching through the archives looking for an aswer, but have not found
anything that has helped so far! Here is my situation:
I just move to a new house. Everything was working fine in the old
location. At the new house, I've got a new DSL modem/router-Speedstream 6520
(DSL modem/wireless & ethernet router). I've got two computers I'm trying to
network. One has WinXP Pro and the other WinXP Home Edition.
Both are connected to the router via ethernet ports and can connect to the
internet with no problem. Both are set up to be in the same workgroup. When
I browse through Network Neighborhood to the Microsoft Windows network, I can
usually browse through my workgroup and see both computers listed, but
sometimes I am told that the workgroup is not accessible and I may not have
permission to view the resource. If I do see both computers, I can open the
local computer (of course) and see all the shared folders. If I try to open
the remote computer, I am told the server could not be found, or I may not
have permission to access the resource.

I have tried various diagnotic tests. I can ping my local computer and the
router, but I cannot ping the remote computer.
If I try tracert <remote computer name>, I can see that the system can
actually detect the remote computer and it's IP address, but the request
times out.

I have also tried all these things with the router firewall disabled.

When activating the new DSL modem/router, I ended up running the network
setup wizard. I do know that I have had similar trouble in the past when I
have run the network setup wizard. In those situations, I have ended up
reinstalling the OS in frustration to get things working again, but would
like to avoid that this time!!!

At the suggestion of one artivel I read, I have already reset the TCP stack,
but that did not help.

Can anyone out there help me out?

Thanks much!

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

I am having some trouble accessing shared folders on my home network. I've
been searching through the archives looking for an aswer, but have not found
anything that has helped so far! Here is my situation:
I just move to a new house. Everything was working fine in the old
location. At the new house, I've got a new DSL modem/router-Speedstream 6520
(DSL modem/wireless & ethernet router). I've got two computers I'm trying to
network. One has WinXP Pro and the other WinXP Home Edition.
Both are connected to the router via ethernet ports and can connect to the
internet with no problem. Both are set up to be in the same workgroup. When
I browse through Network Neighborhood to the Microsoft Windows network, I can
usually browse through my workgroup and see both computers listed, but
sometimes I am told that the workgroup is not accessible and I may not have
permission to view the resource. If I do see both computers, I can open the
local computer (of course) and see all the shared folders. If I try to open
the remote computer, I am told the server could not be found, or I may not
have permission to access the resource.

I have tried various diagnotic tests. I can ping my local computer and the
router, but I cannot ping the remote computer.
If I try tracert <remote computer name>, I can see that the system can
actually detect the remote computer and it's IP address, but the request
times out.

I have also tried all these things with the router firewall disabled.

When activating the new DSL modem/router, I ended up running the network
setup wizard. I do know that I have had similar trouble in the past when I
have run the network setup wizard. In those situations, I have ended up
reinstalling the OS in frustration to get things working again, but would
like to avoid that this time!!!

At the suggestion of one artivel I read, I have already reset the TCP stack,
but that did not help.

Can anyone out there help me out?

Thanks much!

The router's firewall isn't causing the problem. Keep it enabled.

What connection option did you specify to the Network Setup Wizard?
The right choice is "This computer connects to the Internet through a
residential gateway or through another computer on my network". Any
other option could cause the problems that you're seeing.

Another possibility is that a firewall program (Norton, McAfee,
PC-cillin, ZoneAlarm, etc) is blocking access between the computers..
Configure any firewall program to allow access by computers on the
local area network. Note that some recent antivirus programs, such as
Norton Antivirus 2006, include firewall functions.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Guest]

The router's firewall isn't causing the problem. Keep it enabled.

What connection option did you specify to the Network Setup Wizard?
The right choice is "This computer connects to the Internet through a
residential gateway or through another computer on my network". Any
other option could cause the problems that you're seeing.

Another possibility is that a firewall program (Norton, McAfee,
PC-cillin, ZoneAlarm, etc) is blocking access between the computers..
Configure any firewall program to allow access by computers on the
local area network. Note that some recent antivirus programs, such as
Norton Antivirus 2006, include firewall functions.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

I did choose the "residential gateway" option in the Network Setup Wizard",
so I was confident I had configured that correctly.

That problem was exaclty what you pointed out-a firewall in McAfee was
blocking my network! I hadn't even thought to look there. I knew I had the
built-in Windows firewall active, but told it to allow file sharing, so I
couldn't figure out what else might be blocking things!
I apparently have more firewall protection going on than I was aware of...or
even have a need for!

Thanks much, Steve!

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

I did choose the "residential gateway" option in the Network Setup Wizard",
so I was confident I had configured that correctly.

That problem was exaclty what you pointed out-a firewall in McAfee was
blocking my network! I hadn't even thought to look there. I knew I had the
built-in Windows firewall active, but told it to allow file sharing, so I
couldn't figure out what else might be blocking things!
I apparently have more firewall protection going on than I was aware of...or
even have a need for!

Thanks much, Steve!

You're welcome, Swildenberg. I'm glad that my suggestions helped you
solve the problem. Thanks for reporting the result.

Microsoft says that running more than one software firewall can cause
problems. If you start having problems on the network, choose either
McAfee or the Windows Firewall, and turn off the other one.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com