Laptop can no longer access shared folders on the desktop

[Jim M.]

I got a new laptop a week ago. It's running XP Pro and is
part of a home wireless network, with a desktop running
XP Home. The desktop has some shared folders and a
shared printer.

Until last night, I was able to access the shared
folders/printer with no problem. I have changed nothing
that I know of on the laptop. I've installed no new
programs since yesterday. But tonight I can no longer
access the desktop (though I can ping it). I can still
access the Internet, and I checked with another laptop
(also with wireless connection though running Win2K) and
it can access the desktop just fine.

I've rebooted all machines and the router. I've made
sure that the computer browser was running. I've looked
at http://www.michna.com/kb/WxNetwork.htm for suggestions
and nothing there seems to apply (or in those cases where
it mentions something that might be related, things on my
machine check out OK).

This is very frustrating, since everything was working
fine until tonight, and I've now spent about 2 hours
poking through everything I can think of. Any help anyone
here could provide would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

Until last night, I was able to access the shared
folders/printer with no problem. I have changed nothing
that I know of on the laptop. I've installed no new
programs since yesterday. But tonight I can no longer
access the desktop (though I can ping it). ...

Jim,

what happens when you try? Do you get an error message? What
does it say?

Hans-Georg