Trying (Unsuccessfully) to Network Two Computers Together

[AJ Asalees]

I am trying (unsuccessfully) to network two computers together.

Here is my set-up:

- I have a DSL broadband connection. Connected to the DSL phone line
is a DSL modem. Connected to the DSL modem is a Linksys router that
supports connecting four computers to it.

- I have an Ethernet cable conncting the router to computer #1, which
is a Windows 2000 laptop computer.

- I also have an Ethernet cable conncting the router to computer #2,
which is a Windows XP Pro desktop computer.

- Each computer is able to connect independently (and successfully)
through the router to the Internet.

The problem I am having is that I cannot get the computers to
recognize each other on a network so that I can share files between
them. I have turned on sharing for folders on both machines and can
see the "name" of the XP computer in the "My Network Places" section
of the Windows 2000 machine. However, when I click on the name, I get
a message to the effect that the list of servers is not currently
available.

I would assume that what I am trying to do is fairly standard for
people with a braodband router and two computers. Perhaps I am
overlooking something obvious.

Any help would be appreciated.

--AJ Asalees

 

[Chuck]

I am trying (unsuccessfully) to network two computers together.

Here is my set-up:

- I have a DSL broadband connection. Connected to the DSL phone line
is a DSL modem. Connected to the DSL modem is a Linksys router that
supports connecting four computers to it.

- I have an Ethernet cable conncting the router to computer #1, which
is a Windows 2000 laptop computer.

- I also have an Ethernet cable conncting the router to computer #2,
which is a Windows XP Pro desktop computer.

- Each computer is able to connect independently (and successfully)
through the router to the Internet.

The problem I am having is that I cannot get the computers to
recognize each other on a network so that I can share files between
them. I have turned on sharing for folders on both machines and can
see the "name" of the XP computer in the "My Network Places" section
of the Windows 2000 machine. However, when I click on the name, I get
a message to the effect that the list of servers is not currently
available.

I would assume that what I am trying to do is fairly standard for
people with a braodband router and two computers. Perhaps I am
overlooking something obvious.

Any help would be appreciated.

AJ,

Are you running both Client for Microsoft Networks, and File and Printer Sharing
for Microsoft Networks (Local Area Connection - Properties), on each computer?
Do you have shares setup on each?

Are you running NetBIOS Over TCP/IP (Local Area Connection - Properties - TCP/IP
- Properties - Advanced - WINS) on each computer?

Make sure the browser service is running on each computer. Control Panel -
Administrative Tools - Services. Verify that the Computer Browser, and the
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper, services both show with Status = Started.

On any XP Pro computer, check to see if Simple File Sharing (Control Panel -
Folder Options - View - Advanced settings) is enabled or disabled. With Windows
XP Pro on the LAN with Windows 2K, you need to have SFS properly set on each
computer.

On XP Pro, and with SFS disabled, check the Local Security Policies (Control
Panel - Administrative Tools). Under Local Policies - Security Options, look at
"Network access: Sharing and security model", and ensure it's set to "Classic -
local users authenticate as themselves".

On XP Pro, and with SFS disabled, if you set the above Local Security Policy to
"Guest only", enable the Guest account, using Start - Run - "cmd" - type "net
user guest /active:yes" in the command window. If "Classic", setup and use a
common non-Guest account on all computers. Whichever account is used, give it
an identical, non-blank password on all computers.

On XP Home, and on XP Pro with Simple File Sharing enabled, make sure that the
Guest account is enabled, on each computer. Enable Guest with Start - Run -
"cmd" - type "net user guest /active:yes" in the command window.

More about file sharing, between all different versions of Windows:
<http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...db-aef8-4bef-925e-7ac9be791028&DisplayLang=en>

Is the XP computer XP SP2? Or pre-SP2?

Do any of the computers have a software firewall (ICF / WF, or third party)? If
so, you need to configure them for file sharing, by opening ports TCP 139, 445
and UDP 137, 138, 445, by enabling the File and Printer Sharing exception, and /
or by identifying the other computers as present in the Local (Trusted) zone.
Firewall configurations are a very common cause of (network) browser, and file
sharing, problems.

And AJ, please don't contribute to the spread and success of email address
mining viruses. Learn to munge your email address properly, to keep yourself a
bit safer when posting to open forums. Protect yourself and the rest of the
internet - read this article.
http://www.mailmsg.com/SPAM_munging.htm

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[Guest]

Well, the windows firewall is blocking the windows networking port on one or
both of the computers. Since you have a router you dont need a firewall. But
if you want to be super safe then open port 139 for windows networking,
also turn off all 3rd party firewalls, you can turn off firewall: how to turn
on or off windows firewall: Go to start/control pannel/network
connections/right click on your internet connection/go to properties/advanced
tab/check it for firewall/uncheck it to turn it off

 

[Guest]

This networking tutorial helped me:
http://www.homenethelp.com/web/howto/HomeNet-start.asp
You didn't mention setting the Workgroup name, which may be
part of the problem.