Home network problem

[Bobby]

I have set-up a home network for my desktop and notebook computers. I am
running XP Pro on my desktop and XP Home on the notebooks. All use wireless
networking connected to the Internet via a wireless modem/router.

Internet access worked perfectly on all systems.

But I can't get my home network to work.

I have tried to share the printer that is physically connected to my desktop
system. This printer works correctly (using my desktop PC).

My notebook sees this shared printer when I list the available printers
(Control Panel -> Printers) but nothing happens when I try to print. I have
tried adding a new printer but this process does not see my shared printer.

I have also shared folders on both the desktop and notebook systems. But I
can't see these shared folders on any system.

When I try to use My Network Places I see my home network (called "Home")
but when I try to access it I get the following message: "Home is not
accessible. You may not have permission to use this network resource."

I think that my printing problem is linked to my network problem.

Help!

Cheers.

Bobby

 

[typical computer geek]

you have to have a common user on both machines when using XP home for
networking. In other words whatever user account you have on the pro
machine, you need to have the identical profile on the home machine. also if
that doesnt work try enabling NW Link Net bios on both machines.

 

[GTS]

If you are using Windows Firewall make sure the File and Print Sharing is
enabled. If you have a 3rd party firewall it must be properly configured
to permit sharing. See http://ezlan.net/Installing.html for additional
information.

 

[GTS]

You're post is highly inaccurate. You might want to study the issue and
learn about Simple File Sharing particularly before trying to advise others.
See http://www.practicallynetworked.com and http://ezlan.net/ for some basic
tutorials.
--

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

you have to have a common user on both machines when using XP home for
networking. In other words whatever user account you have on the pro
machine, you need to have the identical profile on the home machine.

Sorry, that's completely false.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have set-up a home network for my desktop and notebook computers. I
am running XP Pro on my desktop and XP Home on the notebooks. All use
wireless networking connected to the Internet via a wireless
modem/router.
Internet access worked perfectly on all systems.

But I can't get my home network to work.

Are you running firewalls on both machines? Which firewall? Have you
configured it to allow sharing?

 

[Bobby]

I have McAfee on my desktop machine and Norton on my notebook.

Can you tell me how to configure these programs to permit file and print
sharing?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have McAfee on my desktop machine and Norton on my notebook.

Can you tell me how to configure these programs to permit file and
print sharing?

Sorry, I don't use either of those programs and can't help with the
configuration, but I'm sure someone else who knows these will volunteer to
help. It's very likely that your problem is misconfiguration of one or both
of the firewalls and is easily fixed.

You might want to verify that the firewalls are your problem. Unplug your
interet connection temporarily, and then turn off both firewalls. Does
sharing work now? If so, then I'm right that that's your problem. Turn the
firewalls back on, reconnect the internet connection, and wait for more help
here from someone who knows the details of these firewalls.

 

[Carol]

I don't have any users on any of my computers except the one I log on with
as administrator and the profiles are all different on each computer. I had
5 computer connected and sharing just fine. I don't think what you are
saying about the users is correct.

 

[Carol]

When you installed the firewall I'm pretty sure it defaults to allowing home
network (if it didn't ask). I have both and they are working and allowing my
home computer and I didn't do anything special. There is a place where you
add IP addresses (advanced setting) and you can check to see if the span of
IP addresses on the home network is xxx-xxx-x-0 through 999. (I think it's
something like 192-168-2-0 I'm sure the people here can give you the exact
span of numbers).
You can always turn off the firewall and see if you can connect then. If you
can, you know it's the firewall.

 

[Gord Stephan]

for XP Home the computer acces rigths are managed by profile and as such
each computer on teh network has to have at least on common profile. they
don't have to be in use, they just have to be accounts on teh computer

 

[Patrick Murray]

Make sure BOTH computers sharing the Net access have the same workgroup
name.Be it the default HOME or MSHOME or something more original. I have
found the same SSID (name) of the wireless network works best as the
workgroup name. Easier to remember. Also, make sure the NWLink
IPX/SPX/NetBIOS compatible protocol is bound to the wireless NIC on the
laptop and the NIC on the desktop. That also I have found is important to
make the computers seen by the other devices on the network.