Problems with LAN access to unit running XP Media Center

[mrl]

I have a home network with several computers running different op systems -
XP Pro, XP Home, Vista Home and 1 unit with XP Media Center.

The unit (notebook) running XP MC can see and access all network
file/printer shares. All other units can only see the XP MC unit in a list
of workgroup computers, but cannot access any of its shares.

Other conditions:
-XP MC unit can be accessed by all other units when it is started in safe
mode with networking
-This is a new condition. XP MC unit shares were accessible to other
network computers up until a couple weeks ago.
-All units are in the same workgroup
-All other units have full connectivity to each other
-XP MC unit runs McAfee VirusScan Enterprise, but ran it for months before
this condition existed.
-No other unit can successfully ping the XP MC unit
-When trying to access XP MX shares from a list of workgroup computers, user
gets error that "\\[computername] is not accessible. You might not have
permission.....find out if you have permissions. Network path not found"
-Condition exits whether XP MC unit connected to network via wired or wireless
-No new software has been installed since before this condition existed

Attempted remedies thus far:
-Ran network setup wizard several times on all units
-Tried with Windows firewall both on and off on all units
-Tried with McAfee disabled
-With task manager, ended processes running in normal mode to try and find
one causing this condition
-Tried to restore to a point when unit was accessible to LAN, but windows
could not restore (after going through "all the motions" as if it were
restoring successfully). Note: System restore working properly - I ran a
test)
I’m at a loss

 

[Steve Winograd]

I have a home network with several computers running different op systems -
XP Pro, XP Home, Vista Home and 1 unit with XP Media Center.

The unit (notebook) running XP MC can see and access all network
file/printer shares. All other units can only see the XP MC unit in a list
of workgroup computers, but cannot access any of its shares.

Other conditions:
-XP MC unit can be accessed by all other units when it is started in safe
mode with networking
-This is a new condition. XP MC unit shares were accessible to other
network computers up until a couple weeks ago.
-All units are in the same workgroup
-All other units have full connectivity to each other
-XP MC unit runs McAfee VirusScan Enterprise, but ran it for months before
this condition existed.
-No other unit can successfully ping the XP MC unit
-When trying to access XP MX shares from a list of workgroup computers, user
gets error that "\\[computername] is not accessible. You might not have
permission.....find out if you have permissions. Network path not found"
-Condition exits whether XP MC unit connected to network via wired or wireless
-No new software has been installed since before this condition existed

Attempted remedies thus far:
-Ran network setup wizard several times on all units
-Tried with Windows firewall both on and off on all units
-Tried with McAfee disabled
-With task manager, ended processes running in normal mode to try and find
one causing this condition
-Tried to restore to a point when unit was accessible to LAN, but windows
could not restore (after going through "all the motions" as if it were
restoring successfully). Note: System restore working properly - I ran a
test)
I’m at a loss

On the XP MC unit:

1. Go to Control Panel > Security Center and see if it shows any
firewall other than Windows Firewall.

2. Open a command prompt, enter this command, and reboot:

netsh winsock reset

If that doesn't help, something that only runs in normal mode is
causing the problem.

Using Start > Run > Msconfig, disable all startup items. Boot
normally, and see if access from other computers works. If it does,
enable one startup item, reboot, and try again. Repeat until you find
the culprit.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Desktop Experience)

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

 

[mrl]

To Daniel:

Yes, McAfee VS has been installed on the XP MC unit long before this netwrok
access limitation surfaced. It appears to be just AV, no IS or FW.

Yes - File/Printer sharing is enabled on the XP MC unit. I have run the
network setup wizard numerous times.

To Steve:

Resetting the winsock catalog had no impact

I disabled all startup items and restarted. This also had no impact

I also took it a step further and disabled all non-Microsoft services (in
addition to startup items). No impact

Looking at the processes running in both safe mode and normal mode (with
startup items disabled and only microsoft services running), the only
difference in normal mode seems to be more sessions of svchost.exe (both
LOCAL SERVICE and SYSTEM) and spoolsv.exe

Still no resolution.

XP MC unit in a list

of workgroup computers, but cannot access any of its shares.

You mention you have mcafee, is it install on the XP MC unit?? And is this
basically a AV software or is it comes with feature like internet security as
well??

I would suggest you to temporary uninstall mcafee and any third party
firewall other than win xp. Reboot and try accessing again. Lastly did you
enable file sharing on the xp mc unit?

I have a home network with several computers running different op systems -
XP Pro, XP Home, Vista Home and 1 unit with XP Media Center.

The unit (notebook) running XP MC can see and access all network
file/printer shares. All other units can only see the XP MC unit in a list
of workgroup computers, but cannot access any of its shares.

Other conditions:
-XP MC unit can be accessed by all other units when it is started in safe
mode with networking
-This is a new condition. XP MC unit shares were accessible to other
network computers up until a couple weeks ago.
-All units are in the same workgroup
-All other units have full connectivity to each other
-XP MC unit runs McAfee VirusScan Enterprise, but ran it for months before
this condition existed.
-No other unit can successfully ping the XP MC unit
-When trying to access XP MX shares from a list of workgroup computers, user
gets error that "\\[computername] is not accessible. You might not have
permission.....find out if you have permissions. Network path not found"
-Condition exits whether XP MC unit connected to network via wired or wireless
-No new software has been installed since before this condition existed

Attempted remedies thus far:
-Ran network setup wizard several times on all units
-Tried with Windows firewall both on and off on all units
-Tried with McAfee disabled
-With task manager, ended processes running in normal mode to try and find
one causing this condition
-Tried to restore to a point when unit was accessible to LAN, but windows
could not restore (after going through "all the motions" as if it were
restoring successfully). Note: System restore working properly - I ran a
test)
I’m at a loss

On the XP MC unit:

1. Go to Control Panel > Security Center and see if it shows any
firewall other than Windows Firewall.

2. Open a command prompt, enter this command, and reboot:

netsh winsock reset

If that doesn't help, something that only runs in normal mode is
causing the problem.

Using Start > Run > Msconfig, disable all startup items. Boot
normally, and see if access from other computers works. If it does,
enable one startup item, reboot, and try again. Repeat until you find
the culprit.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Desktop Experience)

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