networking/work group

[spongebob]

-

I have two computers and use a wireless router and a USB adapter. Both
computers can access the internet with no problems. What I have been
trying for days to do is get the computers to link so that they can
share some files and the other computer can use the printer. I have
followed the XP networking wizard (several times) I have not been
successful.

On the main computer (linked to the router and modem) ‘my net work
places’ and ‘view workgroup computers’ both show the folders that I
have named for that computer nothing more. The other computer shows
nothing at all relating to the networking/work group. When I click on
view work… it tells me not accessible…might not have permission. I
have gone over it several times to no avail.
I have noted that when using the wizard it only shows the’ local area
2’ which is unplugged not the other ‘local area’ which is the one that
links us to the internet. Can that be the problem?

Any advice would be appreciated as I am at a loss as to what to do.
Please do not be too technical as I am one of those ‘click buttons to
learn what to do people’.
Thank you-

Bob,

Start by checking the list of items under Local Area Connectio
Properties, on
each computer. You need the following items in the list:
Client for Microsoft Networks
File and Printer Sharing For Microsoft Networks
QoS Packet Scheduler (optional)
Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)

Then, make sure that NetBIOS Over TCP/IP is enabled on each computer.
Local
Area Connection - Properties - TCP/IP - Properties - Advanced - WINS
Enable
NetBIOS over TCP/IP.

And make sure both computers are in the same workgroup.

Finally, check for a browser conflict between the computers. I"m no
talking
about Internet Explorer here. The browser is the program that allow
any
computer to see any other computer on the LAN. With 2 computers, yo
should
have the browser running on just 1.

Make sure the browser service is running on only 1 of the computers.
Control
Panel - Administrative Tools - Services. Verify that the Compute
Browser, and
the TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper, services both show with Status = Started.
Disable
the browser service (only the browser service) on the other.

After checking / disabling / enabling as above, power both computer
off to
reset the browser settings on each. Once both computers have bee
powered off,
power them back on.

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.

Hello Chuck,
thank you for the very detailed information. I have followed it wor
for word.
After enabling netbios, on the main computer both computers could b
seen in the workgroup, but nothing on the other one.
I disabled the browser service on the other computer, powered off/o
(on both), now the main computer no longer shows the other computer i
the work group.
Regards
Rosemary (Spongebob is my little ones favourite cartoon

 

[Chuck]

Hello Chuck,
thank you for the very detailed information. I have followed it word
for word.
After enabling netbios, on the main computer both computers could be
seen in the workgroup, but nothing on the other one.
I disabled the browser service on the other computer, powered off/on
(on both), now the main computer no longer shows the other computer in
the work group.
Regards
Rosemary (Spongebob is my little ones favourite cartoon)

Rosemary,

With the browser, you have to start by reducing its population, then fix the
problem.

Is there a personal firewall on either computer (now or ever in the past)?
Misconfigured firewalls are a common cause of this sort of problem.

The browser requires anonymous access, so look at registry key
[HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa], value restrictanonymous.
<http://www.microsoft.com/windows200...2000/techinfo/reskit/en-us/regentry/46688.asp>
<http://www.jsifaq.com/subf/tip2600/rh2625.htm>
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=246261
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=296403

For browsing to work (for each computer to be listed by a browser), each
computer must have a restrictanonymous value of "0".

The above articles refer to Windows 2000. Remember Win2K is NT V5.0, and WinXP
is NT V5.1.

Have you used the Registry Editor before? If not, it's a scary tool, but it's
pretty simple once you get used to it. Here are a couple articles that might
help:
<http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...home/using/productdoc/en/tools_regeditors.asp>
<http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/registry>

Just remember to backup the key (create a registry patch) for
[HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa] before making any changes, if
appropriate.

From the Annoyances article:
You can create a Registry patch by opening the Registry Editor, selecting a
branch, and choosing Export from the File menu. Then, specify a filename, and
press OK. You can then view the Registry patch file by opening it in Notepad
(right-click on it and select Edit). Again, just double-click on a Registry
patch file (or use Import in the Registry Editor's File menu) to apply it to the
registry.

If no help yet, provide ipconfig information for each computer.
1) Start - Run - "cmd".
2) Type "ipconfig /all >c:\ipconfig.txt" into the command window.
3) Open Notepad, make sure that Format - Word Wrap is NOT checked!.
4) Open file c:\ipconfig.txt from Notepad.
5) Copy and paste entire contents of the file into your next post.
6) Identify operating system (by name, version, and Service Pack level) with
each ipconfig listing.

Also provide browstat information for each computer.
1) Start - Run - "cmd".
2) Type "browstat status >c:\browstat.txt" into the command window.
3) Open Notepad, make sure that Format - Word Wrap is NOT checked!.
4) Open file c:\browstat.txt from Notepad.
5) Copy and paste entire contents of the file into your next post.

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.