Problem after using Network Setup Wizard

[Guest]

Help!
After apparently setting up a small network successfully on my PC, under
Administrator profile, I get the following error message when I click on the
network name ('Homeoffice') within My Network Places:
<Homeoffice is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this
network resource etc.…>.
I also get <Request timed out> messages when I ping the Ethernet network
adaptor IP address.

Background info: Dell Dimension P4 2.4Ghz 1Gb RAM, XP Pro SP2; Cayman
Netopia 3341 network adaptor (not router) using USB connection to PC; this PC
as ICS computer for network. A second PC shows works fine after setting a
mathcing 'Homeoffice' network i.e. no error message when I click on the
network name ('Homeoffice') within My Network Places on this PC (shows this
PC only, although both PCs are connected through an Ethernet hub separate
from the Internet network adaptor mentioned above), and pings correctly.

 

[Vincent]

The device you are referring to (Netopia 3341) is indeed a router. I
would not recommend using ICS to share the Internet connection. The
connection diagram should be as follows:

modem---netopia 3341---hub---computer 1
|
computer 2

The DHCP service on the router should be able to assign a unique IP
address to each computer.

-Vincent

 

[Guest]

Thank you, Vincent, for your very prompt reply. I hadn't thought of
connecting the way you suggest, as the Netopia 3341 installation manual says
nothing about using it this way.
I've connected it this way now, and set up the network again without ICS.
However, I still get the same error messages as stated in my first message
below. I am pinging with the new (now DHPC assigned) Ethernet LAN card
address. (Pinging works fine with the default gateway address for the Netopia
3341 site, assigned automatically).
Any ideas?

 

[Guest]

I'm a novice at this... I have a "network" problem and haven't been able to
find answers in the usual help locations. You guys sound like you know what
you're doing so perhaps you can point me in the right direction.

While attempting to recover from a lost internet connection (I have a
wireless router to get internet access downstairs) and in the process of
trying to reinstall, I set up a network. Now, I have to log in to access my
PC and the individual accounts I used to have for my daughters are no longer
available. I have a PC in my room and one downstairs for the kids and
homework... connected, like I said by this Netgear wireless router.

How to do I undo this network without getting stuck deeper and losing the
files they used to have? Desi

 

[Rock]

I'm a novice at this... I have a "network" problem and haven't been able
to
find answers in the usual help locations. You guys sound like you know
what
you're doing so perhaps you can point me in the right direction.

While attempting to recover from a lost internet connection (I have a
wireless router to get internet access downstairs) and in the process of
trying to reinstall, I set up a network. Now, I have to log in to access
my
PC and the individual accounts I used to have for my daughters are no
longer
available. I have a PC in my room and one downstairs for the kids and
homework... connected, like I said by this Netgear wireless router.

How to do I undo this network without getting stuck deeper and losing the
files they used to have? Desi

You really shouldn't post a new question as a reply to another thread -
that's called hijacking a thread. Create a new post giving relevant
information about your problem.

 

[Vincent]

Maurice,

I am unsure what the problem is. Are you trying to get file and
printer sharing to work between your two computers? Are you having
problems accessing the Internet, or is this working properly? I take
it that "HomeOffice" is the name of the workgroup on each computer. Is
this correct? Pinging the address assigned to the computer itself
doesn't really tell you much. Pinging the respective client computers
would be more helpful. So, for example, from computer A try pinging
computer B and from computer B try pinging computer A. What are the
results of this test?

-Vincent

 

[Guest]

Vincent,

Yes, you are right. I am trying to get file and printer sharing between my
two computers. Internet is now working fine on both computers, thanks to your
brilliant advice yesterday (far better than the information and setup
instructions in the Netopia 3341 manual! { ). I can't tell you how
grateful I am to you for bringing me this far. 'Homeoffice' is indeed the
name of the workgroup on each computer.

I realise that pinging the address assigned to the computer itself doesn't
tell you much. I was reduced to trying that when I found that pinging
computer A from computer B and vice versa didn't work. It seems to me that,
since pinging itself is working on computer B, but not on computer A, there's
a problem on computer A. The question now is, what is causing the problem?

 

[Guest]

Vincent,

I forgot to distinguish between the error messages that come up when I look
at My Network Places on each computer. This information might be helpful to
you.

Computer B sees computer A, but when I click on computer A's icon (on
computer B's screen), here's the message that comes up: "<Name of computer A>
is not accessible. You might not have permission etc. The network path was
not found".
I can only get as far as the 'Homeoffice' icon on computer A, as when I
click on this icon, here's the message that comes up: "Homeoffice is not
accessible. You might not have permission etc. The list of servers for this
workgroup is not currently available".

--
Maurice

Vincent,

Yes, you are right. I am trying to get file and printer sharing between my
two computers. Internet is now working fine on both computers, thanks to your
brilliant advice yesterday (far better than the information and setup
instructions in the Netopia 3341 manual! { ). I can't tell you how
grateful I am to you for bringing me this far. 'Homeoffice' is indeed the
name of the workgroup on each computer.

I realise that pinging the address assigned to the computer itself doesn't
tell you much. I was reduced to trying that when I found that pinging
computer A from computer B and vice versa didn't work. It seems to me that,
since pinging itself is working on computer B, but not on computer A, there's
a problem on computer A. The question now is, what is causing the problem?

 

[Vincent]

On compuer A, I would make sure that two items are installed for
this particular network connection:
1) Client for Microsoft Networks
2) File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks

To check these items, open up the Control Panel-->Select Switch to
Classic View (on the left hand side of the screen. If it says Switch
to Category View, you are already ok)-->Network Connections
icon-->Double click on the network connection (most likely it says
Local Area Connection)-->Properties button in the lower left

You should see a screen that in the middle says "This connection
uses the following items:" Check to see if the 2 items I mentioned are
in this list. If not, click the install button and install the missing
items. "Client for Microsoft Networks" is a client and "File and
Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks" is a service.

I would also check the Windows firewall and make sure that there
is an exception for "File and Printer Sharing." To check this, open
the Control Panel-->Windows Firewall icon-->Exceptions tab at top of
screen. In the "Programs and Services:" list, there is a checkbox for
file and printer sharing. Make sure that this is checked. Actually, I
would check the Windows firewall first, as this is more likely to be
the problem.

-Vincent

 

[Guest]

Thank you, Vincent, for being so generous with your time once again.
In Windows Firewall 'File and Printer Sharing' was not checked, and 'No
Exceptions' on the first screen was checked; they are now respectively
checked and unchecked.
In the 'Local Area Connection' Properties panel, both 'Client for Microsoft
Networks' and 'File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks' were/are
present and checked.
I also did a restart.
However, the error messages are still apearing on both computers. One slight
advance is that pinging computer A from computer B now works.

 

[Vincent]

Maurice,

Try pinging the hostname of the opposite computer from each
computer. So, for example, if computer A is named computer1, goto
computer B and run "ping computer1" from the command line. Do you
receive a reply from each computer?

-Vincent

 

[Guest]

Vincent,

This produces the error message "Ping request could not find host D6ly6mOj."
where D6ly6mOj is the name of computer 1, and I am pinging from computer2 (or
computer1). Same situation for computer2.