Problem seeing Workgroup

[Guest]

Setting up a home network for the first time. Got 2 laptops and 1 desktop
all connected wireless and able to see internet. Created workgroup and
newest laptop can see other laptop but neither the old laptop nor the desktop
are recognizing the workgroup. When I attempt to connect to the workgroup I
get a msg saying that I can't connect, that I might not have access to the
workgroup and that a list of servers is not available.

All three are running XP Home SP2. The only commonality btwn the desktop
and the laptop that's not working is that they are both using NETGEAR
wireless adapters and the laptop that's working has integrated wireless so
it's administered by the Microsoft wireless utility. Could that be the issue?

I've done all the troubleshooting through Microsoft and read some how-to's
w/no answer so far. Any help would be appreciated. We want to be able to
share files from all three computers and be able to print to the printer
connected to the desktop.

Thanks.
Alison

 

[Glen]

First thing to try is ping each computer from each computer. That will show
if the cards can see each other. Start, run, cmd will bring up a command
window. Type ping ip number whatever the ip number of the computer is you
want to ping. Example ping 192.168.0.1 or ping 192.168.0.20. As you are
using wireless adapters make sure you use the latest firmware. Did the
computer see each other in the past or have you just added to the network
and the newly added computers cant see then network.

Glen P

 

[Chuck]

Setting up a home network for the first time. Got 2 laptops and 1 desktop
all connected wireless and able to see internet. Created workgroup and
newest laptop can see other laptop but neither the old laptop nor the desktop
are recognizing the workgroup. When I attempt to connect to the workgroup I
get a msg saying that I can't connect, that I might not have access to the
workgroup and that a list of servers is not available.

All three are running XP Home SP2. The only commonality btwn the desktop
and the laptop that's not working is that they are both using NETGEAR
wireless adapters and the laptop that's working has integrated wireless so
it's administered by the Microsoft wireless utility. Could that be the issue?

I've done all the troubleshooting through Microsoft and read some how-to's
w/no answer so far. Any help would be appreciated. We want to be able to
share files from all three computers and be able to print to the printer
connected to the desktop.

Thanks.
Alison

Alison,

One of the most common causes of this problem would be a misconfigured or
overlooked personal firewall, but there are other possibilities too. What
antivirus products are you using?
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html

If no help yet, provide "browstat status" and "ipconfig /all" from each
computer, so we can diagnose the problem. Read this article, and linked
articles, and follow instructions precisely:
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp

 

[Guest]

Thank you Chuck! Got everything working together and dusted off and learned
some new computer skills too. Thanks alot!

 

[Chuck]

Thank you Chuck! Got everything working together and dusted off and learned
some new computer skills too. Thanks alot!

Thanks for the feedback, Alison!