LAN problem

[Jeff Stanton]

I have set up a small LAN running under Windows XP SP2. There are three
computers: I'll call them Desktop A, Desktop B, and Laptop, They are
connected via a 3COM wireless 4-port router. The system is set up for
printer and file sharing, and share an internet connection via the router.
I have no problem sharing, printing, or using the internet with the laptop
and its wireless adapter. On the other hand, Desktop B, while it can access
the internet, cannot access files on Desktop A or share any of my three
printers. The error message I get is "(Computer name) is not accessible.
You might not have permission to use this network resource." All three
computers were set up the same way, and all are running the same operating
system when the network was created. Does anyone have a suggestion?

Jeff

 

[cjpropertyservices]

I have set up a small LAN running under Windows XP SP2. There are three
computers: I'll call them Desktop A, Desktop B, and Laptop, They are
connected via a 3COM wireless 4-port router. The system is set up for
printer and file sharing, and share an internet connection via the router.
I have no problem sharing, printing, or using the internet with the laptop
and its wireless adapter. On the other hand, Desktop B, while it can access
the internet, cannot access files on Desktop A or share any of my three
printers. The error message I get is "(Computer name) is not accessible.
You might not have permission to use this network resource." All three
computers were set up the same way, and all are running the same operating
system when the network was created. Does anyone have a suggestion?

Jeff

 

[Malke]

I have set up a small LAN running under Windows XP SP2. There are
three
computers: I'll call them Desktop A, Desktop B, and Laptop, They are
connected via a 3COM wireless 4-port router. The system is set up for
printer and file sharing, and share an internet connection via the
router. I have no problem sharing, printing, or using the internet
with the laptop
and its wireless adapter. On the other hand, Desktop B, while it can
access the internet, cannot access files on Desktop A or share any of
my three printers. The error message I get is "(Computer name) is not
accessible.
You might not have permission to use this network resource." All
three computers were set up the same way, and all are running the same
operating
system when the network was created. Does anyone have a suggestion?

Jeff

This is most commonly caused by a misconfigured firewall. Run the
Network Setup Wizard on all 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 or Media Center:

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

 

[Keith Manning]

This is most commonly caused by a misconfigured firewall. Run the
Network Setup Wizard on all 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 or Media Center:

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
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Wow Malke, I got a headache just reading what's needed to set up a network
let alone actually going in and trying to configure it all.

I read an article in a magazine recently that stated that networking with
XPSP2 is a nightmare. I agree!

The article also stated that even Microsoft have agreed they've messed up
and have created a nightmare upon a bloated nightmare with SP2.

Microsoft said networking is much easier with Vista. Is that true?

 

[Rick]

Wow Malke, I got a headache just reading what's needed to set up a network
let alone actually going in and trying to configure it all.

I read an article in a magazine recently that stated that networking with
XPSP2 is a nightmare. I agree!

The article also stated that even Microsoft have agreed they've messed up
and have created a nightmare upon a bloated nightmare with SP2.

Microsoft said networking is much easier with Vista. Is that true?

I fear the problem with Vista will be a revisit of XP; The constant
necessity to download updates to fix a product, that should have been
properly tested, before it was released.

Rick

 

[keith.manning]

I fear the problem with Vista will be a revisit of XP; The constant
necessity to download updates to fix a product, that should have been
properly tested, before it was released.

Rick

Why would MS test something themselves when they can get their customers to
test it for them at no charge.

Remember, Microsoft is a marketing company first. They also make software.

I was really hoping that Microsoft were about to release a powerfull and
stable new desktop operating system. But from the reports I've read so far,
all they've done is made a few pretty changes to the desktop and added a lot
more bloat to an already over bloated operating system.

Sure, the new Aero desktop sounds nice, but I gather most people are going
to need a brand new system with about 2Gig of RAM to overcome the bloat and
get it to work at a reasonable speed.

Keith Manning

 

[Rock]

Why would MS test something themselves when they can get their customers
to test it for them at no charge.

Remember, Microsoft is a marketing company first. They also make software.

I was really hoping that Microsoft were about to release a powerfull and
stable new desktop operating system. But from the reports I've read so
far, all they've done is made a few pretty changes to the desktop and
added a lot more bloat to an already over bloated operating system.

Sure, the new Aero desktop sounds nice, but I gather most people are going
to need a brand new system with about 2Gig of RAM to overcome the bloat
and get it to work at a reasonable speed.

Keith Manning

Do you have any first hand experience with Vista? The changes are much more
than a few pretty changes. Maybe you should get some first hand knowledge
and not pass on hearsay? If after experience with it your opinion is the
same then so be it and we can disagree on that, but at least it's based on
some first hand knowledge, and not just the spread of FUD.