Intermittently accessible shared resource

[JoeSpareBedroom]

Two computers, both running XP Pro, connected to same Linksys router. In
desktop's My Network Places, I see the following, which refers to the entire
hard disk in the laptop:

\\192.168.2.100\Sony Disk C

A few days ago, I clicked on that resource and it connected me to the
laptop's HD. Tonight, no dice. I get a msg saying "not accessible you might
not have permission blah blah blah". On the laptop, if I open My Computer,
right click C: and inspect Sharing and Security, the first share name which
shows is C$. Also available in the dropdown list is "Sony Disk C". If I
select that share name, I find that permissions are checked for full
control, change and read. But still, I can't access it from the laptop, at
least not consistently.

Why?

 

[Bob Lin \(MS-MVP\)]

This could be computer browser issue. Any errors in the Event Viewer? Make
sure NetBIOS in all computers are enabled. This search result may help too.

Computer BrowserThe master browser has received a server announcement from
the computer <computer name> that believes that it is the master browser ...
www.chicagotech.net/browser.htm


--
Bob Lin, Microsoft-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
http://www.HowToNetworking.com

 

[JoeSpareBedroom]

Here's a clue, maybe: I just noticed (on the desktop) that in the right
column of "My Network Places", the connection in question is listed as "The
Internet" instead of "Local Network". No idea what to make of it, though.

 

[John Wunderlich]

Two computers, both running XP Pro, connected to same Linksys
router. In desktop's My Network Places, I see the following, which
refers to the entire hard disk in the laptop:

\\192.168.2.100\Sony Disk C

A few days ago, I clicked on that resource and it connected me to
the laptop's HD. Tonight, no dice. I get a msg saying "not
accessible you might not have permission blah blah blah". On the
laptop, if I open My Computer, right click C: and inspect Sharing
and Security, the first share name which shows is C$. Also
available in the dropdown list is "Sony Disk C". If I select that
share name, I find that permissions are checked for full control,
change and read. But still, I can't access it from the laptop, at
least not consistently.

Why?

A couple possibilities:

First:
"192.168.2.100" looks like a dynamic DHCP address assigned by your
Linksys router. (Linksys typically uses the range of .100 - .254 for
its DHCP addresses). It is possible that this address has changed for
that machine (which is normal with DHCP and to be expected). Yesterday
it might have been .100, today it may be .101. A better way to access
it would be by its computername:
\\computername\Sony Disk C

Second:
You don't mention whether "Simple File Sharing" is enabled or disabled.
Assuming it is disabled, then did you recently change your password on
one machine and not the other? (Username/passwords must match on both
machines or you must authenticate manually).
Assuming it is enabled, does the user "Guest" have access to the shared
drive (all access is through Guest account in Simple File Sharing).

HTH,
John

 

[JoeSpareBedroom]

A couple possibilities:

First:
"192.168.2.100" looks like a dynamic DHCP address assigned by your
Linksys router. (Linksys typically uses the range of .100 - .254 for
its DHCP addresses). It is possible that this address has changed for
that machine (which is normal with DHCP and to be expected). Yesterday
it might have been .100, today it may be .101. A better way to access
it would be by its computername:
\\computername\Sony Disk C

Second:
You don't mention whether "Simple File Sharing" is enabled or disabled.
Assuming it is disabled, then did you recently change your password on
one machine and not the other? (Username/passwords must match on both
machines or you must authenticate manually).
Assuming it is enabled, does the user "Guest" have access to the shared
drive (all access is through Guest account in Simple File Sharing).

HTH,
John

John, simple file sharing WAS enabled on the desktop, and DISabled on the
laptop. I haven't changed those settings. But I did try accessing the laptop
using the computer name and that worked. I also noticed that today, the
laptop's address ended with 101 and the desktop's is 100. Would that be
based on which machine was booted first?

 

[John Wunderlich]

I also noticed that today, the laptop's address ended with 101 and
the desktop's is 100. Would that be based on which machine was
booted first?

I guess the best answer to this question is "not necessarily".

The router has a pool of IP addresses that it can give out when a
computer asks for one. There's no fixed rule for which address it
gives to which machine but, all else being equal, usually home routers
give out the lowest available numbered address in the pool.

DHCP also has a feature where a computer can request the last IP that
it had (Windows will do this). The DHCP server part of your router has
discretion as whether or not to honor that request. So a machine that
had '.101' last time could request the same address and get it even if
'.100' were available in the DHCP pool. So a lot depends on how your
router is configured.

HTH,
John

 

[JoeSpareBedroom]

I guess the best answer to this question is "not necessarily".

The router has a pool of IP addresses that it can give out when a
computer asks for one. There's no fixed rule for which address it
gives to which machine but, all else being equal, usually home routers
give out the lowest available numbered address in the pool.

DHCP also has a feature where a computer can request the last IP that
it had (Windows will do this). The DHCP server part of your router has
discretion as whether or not to honor that request. So a machine that
had '.101' last time could request the same address and get it even if
'.100' were available in the DHCP pool. So a lot depends on how your
router is configured.

HTH,
John

Well, it's working, so I'm not about to mess with the router's settings. My
company's tech guy had a devil of a time configuring it to work with their
VPN. He's 350 miles away. To mess with it would be to cause him to drink
heavily.