home network;laptop shows up but not desktop, why?

[Joel]

I have a desktop and a laptop going through linksys router. I ran the XP
home network setup and clicked all the default buttons during the process
that said "other connection." I even did a system restore, started over, and
used the network setup disk to run it on both computers.

I have a backup folder on the Cdrive of the desktop and one on the laptop.
So I then shared these folders by rightclicking on them and going into
properties. The result is that the folder on my laptop comes up immediately
and is shown on the network. I can access it just fine from the desktop.
However, nothing on my desktop will show up and I cannot access the backup
folder on it even though I followed the same process of setting up the
network on the laptop.

Why does the laptop folder show but not the desktop and what can I do? My
desktop is the comp with the big hard drive, so I am wanting to drag and
drop from my laptop to my desktop. That is the one I really need working.
Any ideas or suggestions?

 

[Malke]

I have a desktop and a laptop going through linksys router. I ran the XP
home network setup and clicked all the default buttons during the process
that said "other connection." I even did a system restore, started over,
and used the network setup disk to run it on both computers.

I have a backup folder on the Cdrive of the desktop and one on the laptop.
So I then shared these folders by rightclicking on them and going into
properties. The result is that the folder on my laptop comes up
immediately and is shown on the network. I can access it just fine from
the desktop. However, nothing on my desktop will show up and I cannot
access the backup folder on it even though I followed the same process of
setting up the network on the laptop.

Why does the laptop folder show but not the desktop and what can I do? My
desktop is the comp with the big hard drive, so I am wanting to drag and
drop from my laptop to my desktop. That is the one I really need working.
Any ideas or suggestions?

This is most commonly caused by a misconfigured firewall. Run the Network
Setup Wizard on both computers, making sure to enable File & Printer
Sharing, and reboot. The only "gotcha" is that this will turn on the XPSP2
Windows Firewall. If you aren't running a third-party firewall or have an
antivirus with "Internet Worm Protection" (like Norton 2005/06) which acts
as a firewall, then you're fine. If you have third-party firewall software,
configure it to allow the Local Area Network traffic as trusted. I usually
do this with my firewalls with an IP range. Ex. would be
192.168.1.0-192.168.1.254. Obviously you would substitute your correct
subnet.

If one or more of the computers is XP Pro:

a. If you need Pro's ability to set fine-grained permissions, turn off
Simple File Sharing (Folder Options>View tab) and create identical user
accounts/passwords on all computers.

b. If you don't care about using Pro's advanced features, leave the Simple
File Sharing enabled.

Simple File Sharing means that Guest (network) is enabled. This means that
anyone without a user account on the target system can use its resources.
This is a security hole but only you can decide if it matters in your
situation.

Then create shares as desired. XP Home does not permit sharing of users'
home directories (My Documents) or Program Files, but you can share folders
inside those directories. A better choice is to simply use the Shared
Documents folder.

If that doesn't work for you, here is an excellent network troubleshooter by
MVP Hans-Georg Michna. Take the time to go through it and it will usually
pinpoint the problem area(s) - http://winhlp.com/wxnet.htm

Malke

 

[Brian A.]

Check any software firewall you have installed to see if it's blocking the
machine from access. There should be logs you can check. If it's being blocked
add the IP to the Trusted Zone.

 

[Joel]

Thanks Malke and Brian. Bother computers are using XP Pro with XP firewall,
and both are going through the same router that I understand have a built in
firewall. However, only the desktop has MCafee virus protection. The laptop
does not. Because the laptop folders show up but not the desktop folder, I
guess it might be McAfee. Not sure how to get around that.

 

[Joel]

No the Shared Folders from the desktop don't show up on the laptop either,
but I thought the Shared Folders had a certain file size limit? That is, I
thought it would only store a certain amount of gigs less than 100 even
though I have a 300 gig Hard Drive.

My macafee virus protection on the desktop does have a Worm option, so I
will try to disable that and get back to you guys.

 

[Malke]

Thanks Malke and Brian. Bother computers are using XP Pro with XP
firewall, and both are going through the same router that I understand
have a built in firewall. However, only the desktop has MCafee virus
protection. The laptop does not. Because the laptop folders show up but
not the desktop folder, I guess it might be McAfee. Not sure how to get
around that.

Use either XPSP2 Windows Firewall *or* the McAfee Internet Worm Protection
(or whatever their firewall-like option is called). If you don't know how
to configure it, look to McAfee tech support for help with their products:

http://forums.mcafeehelp.com/ - McAfee support forum
http://us.mcafee.com/root/support.asp - McAfee Support

Follow the directions that I gave you, particularly since both machines are
using Pro. If you still can't do it, go through Mr. Michna's network
troubleshooter that I gave you. It will usually pinpoint the problem
area(s).

Malke

 

[Joel]

Ok I took out all the unknowns. I uninstalled McAfee, I turned off XP
firewall on both comps, and I ran a crossover cable from one comp to the
other thereby taking the router and internet out of the picture.

I redid the Home Network setup and still the desktop folders won't show up
on the network. I can only see the laptop folders. At this point I would
just be happy if I could even seen the default Shared Folders on the desktop
but those don't show either.

I will just drag and drop files to the laptop folder that shows up on the
network. Then I will go upstairs to the desktop to copy the files from that
folder to the desktop hard drive. It is a pain in the butt, but I see no
other way around it.

I give up. I can't spend any more time on this. I just wanted to followup
with you guys to let you know. Thanks for trying and giving me an assist.

 

[Joel]

I have a desktop and a laptop going through linksys router. I ran the XP
home network setup and clicked all the default buttons during the process
that said "other connection." I even did a system restore, started over,
and used the network setup disk to run it on both computers.

I have a backup folder on the Cdrive of the desktop and one on the laptop.
So I then shared these folders by rightclicking on them and going into
properties. The result is that the folder on my laptop comes up
immediately and is shown on the network. I can access it just fine from
the desktop. However, nothing on my desktop will show up and I cannot
access the backup folder on it even though I followed the same process of
setting up the network on the laptop.

Why does the laptop folder show but not the desktop and what can I do? My
desktop is the comp with the big hard drive, so I am wanting to drag and
drop from my laptop to my desktop. That is the one I really need working.
Any ideas or suggestions?

Well guys gues what!. I cannot believe how I figured this out. It was
completely by accident. Today I was looking for something and I stumbled
across the Local Area Connection Properties. There were 4 items showing:

Client For MS Networks
File and Printer Sharing for MS Networks
Qos Packet Scheduler
Internet Protocol TCP/IP

Well smack me silly, everything was checked except the File And Printer
Sharing for MS Networks. I don't know why it wasn't checked. It seems to me
like it used to be checked by default, and you would think when I ran the
Network Setup wizard when I enabled it in the wizard that would have taken
care of it.

But anyway, I checked it and hit OK. Within seconds my desktop showed up on
the laptop in the network!

Yeee hawwww!

 

[Brian A.]

Thankyou for the feedback. That's something that really doesn't come to mind
so it will have to be included in my checklist. Glad to hear you solved the
issue.

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375