Networking Several Computers using Ethernet Cable & Workgroup

[Guest]

Hi

I have 7 PC's (no server) all running Win XP on a wired ethernet network. Each PC runs to a switch, and the switch runs to a hardware firewall and then to a DSL modem

Most of the computer can access the internet but can not see each other, share files, drives etc. in Network neighborhood -See all Workgroup computer. All I get from any of them is after a few minutes is - Workgroup computers not available. Check with network administrator

Well I am the administrator and had all this working before. Now I upgraded a bunch of PC's and it has not worked since

I have run Network Wizard till I am blue in the face, yet no results

I set up a few PC's with static IP addresses, and I can ping them as well as network printers, but I can't see them or share anything between them

Any idea on what to do or resources I should look at

Is there a way to start the whole networking portion of Win XP - TCP/IP etc. over again

Can a PC with an NTFS formatted harddrive see a FAT 32 formatted harddrive on a network

Really need help

Please help if you can

Thanks

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Hi:

I have 7 PC's (no server) all running Win XP on a wired ethernet network. Each PC runs to a switch, and the switch runs to a hardware firewall and then to a DSL modem.

Most of the computer can access the internet but can not see each other, share files, drives etc. in Network neighborhood -See all Workgroup computer. All I get from any of them is after a few minutes is - Workgroup computers not available. Check with network administrator.

Well I am the administrator and had all this working before. Now I upgraded a bunch of PC's and it has not worked since.

I have run Network Wizard till I am blue in the face, yet no results.

I set up a few PC's with static IP addresses, and I can ping them as well as network printers, but I can't see them or share anything between them.

Any idea on what to do or resources I should look at?

Is there a way to start the whole networking portion of Win XP - TCP/IP etc. over again.

Can a PC with an NTFS formatted harddrive see a FAT 32 formatted harddrive on a network?

Really need help !

Please help if you can.

Thanks

Yes, a PC with an NTFS drive can see a PC with a FAT32 drive, and vice
versa.

Browsing a Windows network can be difficult at times. When it isn't
working, try accessing another computer directly by typing its name in
the Start | Run box in this format:

\\computer

These tips should help you get everything working:

1. Permanently disable XP's built-in Internet Connection Firewall on
local area network connections -- it's for use only on a direct modem
connection to the Internet. Disable and un-install all other firewall
programs while troubleshooting. When un-installing a firewall
program, use the un-install procedure provided by the manufacturer .
Don't use Control Panel | Add or Remove Programs, which might not
completely un-install it.

For more information, see:

Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/ic_firewall.htm

2. Use only one protocol for File and Printer Sharing. If the network
needs more than one protocol, unbind File and Printer Sharing from all
but one of them. Details here:

Windows XP Network Protocols
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/network_protocols.htm

3. Make sure that NetBIOS over TCP/IP is enabled on all computers.
Details here:

Enable NetBIOS Over TCP/IP (NetBT)
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/troubleshoot/netbt.htm

4. Run "ipconfig /all" on XP and look at the "Node Type" at the
beginning of the output. If it says "Peer-to-Peer" (which should
actually be "Point-to-Point") that's the problem. It means that the
computer only uses a WINS server, which isn't available on a
peer-to-peer network for NetBIOS name resolution.

If that's the case, run the registry editor, open this key:

HLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Netbt\Parameters

and delete these values if they're present:

NodeType
DhcpNodeType

Reboot, then try network access again.

If that doesn't fix it, open that registry key again, create a DWORD
value called "NodeType", and set it to 1 for "Broadcast" or 4 for
"Mixed".

For details, see these Microsoft Knowledge Base articles:

Default Node Type for Microsoft Clients
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;160177

TCP/IP and NBT Configuration Parameters for Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314053
--
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

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the help, still trying your options

Does it matter if I am using mostly drives which have been formatted in FAT 32

Does it matter if the guest account is disable in Win XP Home Edition

Is it better to go all NTFS or does it matter

How do I run Network Setup Wizard when I have a hardware firewall between my 16 port ethernet switch and my DSL modem. Is that a residential gateway

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Thanks for the help, still trying your options.

You're welcome.

Does it matter if I am using mostly drives which have been formatted in FAT 32?
No.

Does it matter if the guest account is disable in Win XP Home Edition?

It doesn't matter whether it's disabled in Control Panel | User
Accounts. Disabling it there prevents someone from logging in as
Guest from the local computer's keyboard, but it has no effect on
networking.

Is it better to go all NTFS or does it matter?

It doesn't matter.

How do I run Network Setup Wizard when I have a hardware firewall between my 16 port ethernet switch and my DSL modem. Is that a residential gateway?

An residential gateway is a device that connects to a broadband
Internet connection and shares it between multiple computers. It
typically has a built-in DHCP server that assigns each computer a
private IP address, such as 192.168.0.x or 10.x.x.x.
--
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