Making the Network Work

[Matt]

After finally getting everything set, I find that I can't connect to my
laptop, which is wireless and running XP Pro-SP2, from my new tower which is
running XP-SP2. I'm wondering if it's because the laptop is running on a
wireless connection, directly to the modem/router (it's a motorola wireless
cable gateway modem) and the tower is plugged directly into the the
modem/router via a lan cable.

When I try to access the laptop from the tower, it tells me that the laptop
is not accessable, and that the network admin needs to make sure the settings
are right. I've tried two different styles of networks through the Network
Setup Wizard - everything connects direct to the net and then everything
connects through a hub.

The laptop has no problem getting stuff on the tower, but the tower can't
access the laptop at all. Any ideas?

Thanks for the help

 

[Bob Willard]

After finally getting everything set, I find that I can't connect to my
laptop, which is wireless and running XP Pro-SP2, from my new tower which is
running XP-SP2. I'm wondering if it's because the laptop is running on a
wireless connection, directly to the modem/router (it's a motorola wireless
cable gateway modem) and the tower is plugged directly into the the
modem/router via a lan cable.

When I try to access the laptop from the tower, it tells me that the laptop
is not accessable, and that the network admin needs to make sure the settings
are right. I've tried two different styles of networks through the Network
Setup Wizard - everything connects direct to the net and then everything
connects through a hub.

The laptop has no problem getting stuff on the tower, but the tower can't
access the laptop at all. Any ideas?

Thanks for the help

One-way sharing usually means a firewall problem; on the laptop in this case.
To test this, temporarily remove all the AV and firewall apps on the laptop.

 

[Jack \(MVP-Networking\).]

Hi
Successful Sharing involves some general consideration in Network settings,
http://www.ezlan.net/sharing.html
As well as specific adjustment of each computer according to what it is
allowed to be shared.
Vista File and Printer Sharing-
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/network/evaluate/vista_fp.mspx
Basic XP -
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/filesharing.mspx
Advanced XP - http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304040
Printer Sharing XP -
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/honeycutt_july2.mspx
Windows Native Firewall setting for Sharing XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875357
Windows XP patch for Sharing with Vista -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922120
Jack (MVP-Networking).

 

[Matt]

Well, after trying a few things, which included turning off all the
firewalls, and trying a couple of other settings (I don't remember which
right now) I have managed to connect the tower to the printer connected to
the wireless laptop running Pro. However I'm still having issues connecting
to files on the laptop from the tower.

Any further suggestions?

 

[Bob Willard]

Well, after trying a few things, which included turning off all the
firewalls, and trying a couple of other settings (I don't remember which
right now) I have managed to connect the tower to the printer connected to
the wireless laptop running Pro. However I'm still having issues connecting
to files on the laptop from the tower.

Any further suggestions?

Sounds like your network is working, since you can (I assume) access the
tower's files from your laptop and can even print on the laptop's printer
from your tower - right?

Now you need to set up the laptop's shared folders so that the tower
has access to them. How to do so depends on whether your two PCs are
using XP PRO's simple or complex (M$ calls it advanced) filesystem.

For testing purposes, create a C:\TempTest folder on each PC, and
check the box for ShareThisFolderOnTheNetwork: from Explorer, r.click
on that folder then click on Sharing. Next, create a net.mapped drive
on the tower to that folder on the laptop, and a net.mapped drive on
the laptop to that folder on the tower. Next, create accounts on each
PC with the same credentials (e.g., user=SAM, PW=SPADE) and make sure
that each SAM can access that folder on its own PC. If that folder on
the tower can be accessed from SAM on the laptop and if that folder on
the laptop can be accessed from SAM on the tower, then you're done; if not,
capture the exact error message and supply that along with the filesystem
types.