Lost home network (wireless)

[Bobby]

I have four computers in my house. My desktop PC and three laptops.

I have recently lost my home network. Whenever I select "My network places",
it is empty.

I have ran the "Setup home network wizard" on each PC and set my
workgroup/network name to "home" (and enabled file and print sharing) but
still nothing.

My network uses a wireless modem/router. Is there something I have to set
here? Do I have to name the network on my router for the PCs to see each
other?

All PCs are running XP SP2 (a mix of Home and Pro).

Cheers.

Bobby

 

[Jim]

I have four computers in my house. My desktop PC and three laptops.

I have recently lost my home network. Whenever I select "My network
places", it is empty.

I have ran the "Setup home network wizard" on each PC and set my
workgroup/network name to "home" (and enabled file and print sharing) but
still nothing.

My network uses a wireless modem/router. Is there something I have to set
here? Do I have to name the network on my router for the PCs to see each
other?

All PCs are running XP SP2 (a mix of Home and Pro).

Cheers.

Bobby

Did the network ever work? Assuming that it never worked:
You need to make certainly that the settings that the network setup wizard
are the same on all of your computers. The wizard has an option to make a
disk which transfers the common settings.
You need to setup the wireless ports using the manufacturer's instructions.
This includes those settings normally made by the wireless network wizard.
You must setup the same encryption method, etc., on all wireless devices.
On my network, the router is the only source of this information.
You should also setup the router using the manufacturer's instructions.
If you get the wireless interface properties badly hosed (as I did), the
only way to recover is to remove and reinstall.
Jim

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

I have four computers in my house. My desktop PC and three laptops.

I have recently lost my home network. Whenever I select "My network places",
it is empty.

I have ran the "Setup home network wizard" on each PC and set my
workgroup/network name to "home" (and enabled file and print sharing) but
still nothing.

My network uses a wireless modem/router. Is there something I have to set
here? Do I have to name the network on my router for the PCs to see each
other?

All PCs are running XP SP2 (a mix of Home and Pro).

Cheers.

Bobby

None of the wireless routers that I've seen require any special
settings to allow computers to network with each other.

What connection option did you specify to the network setup wizard?
With a router, tell it that the computer connects to the Internet
through a residential gateway.

Browsing through My Network Places is notoriously unreliable. Try
accessing another computer directly by typing the other computer's
name in the Start | Run box in this format:

\\computer

If you've installed a firewall program (Norton, McAfee, PC-Cillin,
ZoneAlarm, etc), configure it to allow access by other computers on
the network.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Bobby]

I don't use any security on my wireless network. But do I have to use the
same network name on router and PCs? I'm using a BT 2100 Voyager
router/modem.

All of the PCs connect to the Internet without problem.

I have ran the network wizard on each PC but I still can't see any other
shared resource.

I do have McAfee Firewall - but I can't see how to get it to allow network
use. Is there some sort of option for this?

Cheers.

Bobby

 

[Bobby]

Hi Jim. Thanks for trying to help.

Yes, the network did work. And all PCs connect to the Internet perfectly.

I noticed the problem when I tried to connect a new notebook PC to the
network - then discovered none of my PC could see each other. But they used
to share files and my printer. And currently share the modem/router.

I have no security set-up on any PC. But I do have Norton Firewall on one of
them.

I've ran the network setup wizard on each PC. But still nothing.

Bobby

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

I don't use any security on my wireless network.

That's risky -- other people outside your house can connect to your
network. I recommend setting up wireless network security right away.

But do I have to use the same network name on router and PCs? I'm
using a BT 2100 Voyager router/modem.

I'm not familiar with the BT 2100 Voyager, but no router or modem that
I've seen requires any special settings to allow computers to network
with each other.

In particular, I've never seen a router or modem that has a setting
for the Windows network name. The wireless network name (SSID) has
nothing to do with networking between your computers.

All of the PCs connect to the Internet without problem.

I have ran the network wizard on each PC but I still can't see any other
shared resource.

Did you specify the right connection option (residential gateway)?

I do have McAfee Firewall - but I can't see how to get it to allow network
use. Is there some sort of option for this?

The McAfee Firewall has options for enabling or disabling file sharing
on the local network. You can check the product's Help file, or get
on-line help here:

http://ts.mcafeehelp.com/?siteID=1

Since you have the McAfee Firewall, make sure that the Windows
Firewall is turned off: Control Panel | Network and Internet
Connections | Windows Firewall.

Cheers.

Bobby

--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com