Two error messages

[Robertm]

Four days into this and the network still can't be setup. Two error
messages. One says there is an IP conflict and the other says the workgroup
"MSHOME" is not available. I've read every post here, downloaded pages and
pages of instructions, followed every step and the computers still won't
talk to each other. I downloaded the utility Network Magic and it configured
the whole system in 10 minutes and it all worked, but it appears to be
spyware so I don't want to run it. What does this utility know that the
Microsoft Setup Wizard doesn't know? I have a DSL modem with Netgear RP614
Router. The computer with Win XP home has Norton firewall and the other
computer with Win2K has Zone Lab. Should I uninstall both firewalls and see
if this is causing the problem? Any ideas?

Bob

 

[awwald]

There're many things to be done before WinXP communicates well in a
network within a workgroup environment. Tell me what you want to do and
I'll guide you step by step

 

[Chuck]

Four days into this and the network still can't be setup. Two error
messages. One says there is an IP conflict and the other says the workgroup
"MSHOME" is not available. I've read every post here, downloaded pages and
pages of instructions, followed every step and the computers still won't
talk to each other. I downloaded the utility Network Magic and it configured
the whole system in 10 minutes and it all worked, but it appears to be
spyware so I don't want to run it. What does this utility know that the
Microsoft Setup Wizard doesn't know? I have a DSL modem with Netgear RP614
Router. The computer with Win XP home has Norton firewall and the other
computer with Win2K has Zone Lab. Should I uninstall both firewalls and see
if this is causing the problem? Any ideas?

Bob

Bob,

If you have an ip conflict, then one of the computers involved in the conflict
is not going to connect to the network. That could well cause the second
message ""MSHOME is not available".

Can you please describe your network in detail, what devices connect to what,
and how is each configured? Maybe "ipconfig /all" from each computer?
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>

 

[Robertm]

Bob,

If you have an ip conflict, then one of the computers involved in the
conflict
is not going to connect to the network. That could well cause the second
message ""MSHOME is not available".

Can you please describe your network in detail, what devices connect to
what,
and how is each configured? Maybe "ipconfig /all" from each computer?
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>

From the DSL line coming in to the DSL Modem to the Netgear RP614 Router.
From the Router to each computer network card. One computer OS is XP Home
and the other computer OS is Win 2000 Pro. Seems like a fairly
straightforward setup. Each computer can connect to the internet without the
other computer being turned on, no problem. Both computers can connect to
the internet with two users, no problem. But, I can't get either computer to
recognize a network or recognize each other. Can files be shared without
creating a workgroup? The problem is I don't know what I'm supposed to be
creating and the wizards ask questions for which I have no answers.

Bob

 

[Chuck]

From the DSL line coming in to the DSL Modem to the Netgear RP614 Router.
From the Router to each computer network card. One computer OS is XP Home
and the other computer OS is Win 2000 Pro. Seems like a fairly
straightforward setup. Each computer can connect to the internet without the
other computer being turned on, no problem. Both computers can connect to
the internet with two users, no problem. But, I can't get either computer to
recognize a network or recognize each other. Can files be shared without
creating a workgroup? The problem is I don't know what I'm supposed to be
creating and the wizards ask questions for which I have no answers.

Bob

Bob,

You "create" a workgroup by setting the Workgroup name the same on both
computers, so start by doing that. That should enable both computers to be
visible in Network Neighborhood, unless there are other problems.

If both computers are in the same workgroup, and both computers are connected to
the network successfully (as in both can connect to the Internet), then you
check the browser, and name resolution. Start by looking for misconfigured /
overlooked firewalls, and at registry setting restrictanonymous.
Misconfigured / overlooked firewalls:
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html>
Registry setting restrictanonymous:
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/07/restrictanonymous-and-your-server.html>

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

 

[Robertm]

Bob,

You "create" a workgroup by setting the Workgroup name the same on both
computers, so start by doing that. That should enable both computers to
be
visible in Network Neighborhood, unless there are other problems.

If both computers are in the same workgroup, and both computers are
connected to
the network successfully (as in both can connect to the Internet), then
you
check the browser, and name resolution. Start by looking for
misconfigured /
overlooked firewalls, and at registry setting restrictanonymous.
Misconfigured / overlooked firewalls:
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html>
Registry setting restrictanonymous:
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/07/restrictanonymous-and-your-server.html>

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

When I first connected this computer to the Internet, I didn't have the
router and I entered the IP static address assigned to me by my ISP. Then
when I added the network and the router, the computer should now be
dynamically assigned an IP by the router. I viewed the event log and it says
that the ISP static address does not match the hardware network IP address.
So it would begin to look like the static IP address of the ISP is stored
somewhere on the computer and won't let the router dynamically assign an IP
address. Is there a way to do a clean sweep of the Win 2K computer and get
rid of all the old setups so I can start over? I'm not getting an error
message on the XP computer.

Bob

 

[Chuck]

When I first connected this computer to the Internet, I didn't have the
router and I entered the IP static address assigned to me by my ISP. Then
when I added the network and the router, the computer should now be
dynamically assigned an IP by the router. I viewed the event log and it says
that the ISP static address does not match the hardware network IP address.
So it would begin to look like the static IP address of the ISP is stored
somewhere on the computer and won't let the router dynamically assign an IP
address. Is there a way to do a clean sweep of the Win 2K computer and get
rid of all the old setups so I can start over? I'm not getting an error
message on the XP computer.

Bob

Bob,

The best way for a "clean sweep" would be for you to setup both computers to get
DHCP from the router. But, if both computers have Internet connectivity, I
don't see that as being the problem, or the solution. We need to diagnose your
problem. Read this article, and linked articles, and follow instructions
precisely:
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>

 

[Robertm]

Bob,

The best way for a "clean sweep" would be for you to setup both computers
to get
DHCP from the router. But, if both computers have Internet connectivity,
I
don't see that as being the problem, or the solution. We need to diagnose
your
problem. Read this article, and linked articles, and follow instructions
precisely:
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>

OK, I've been putting this off because it won't copy and paste, so that
means getting out the paper and pencil and copying the configuration.
Tomorrow...enough for today.

Bob

 

[Robertm]

Bob,

The best way for a "clean sweep" would be for you to setup both computers
to get
DHCP from the router. But, if both computers have Internet connectivity,
I
don't see that as being the problem, or the solution. We need to diagnose
your
problem. Read this article, and linked articles, and follow instructions
precisely:
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>

OK, got rid of the IP error message. Went to TCP/IP properties>advanced
unchecked Register number with DNS or something like that and rebooted.
Error message gone. Went back and checked it again, rebooted, no error
message but network still not recognized by either computer.

Bob

 

[Chuck]

OK, got rid of the IP error message. Went to TCP/IP properties>advanced
unchecked Register number with DNS or something like that and rebooted.
Error message gone. Went back and checked it again, rebooted, no error
message but network still not recognized by either computer.

Bob,

That's a good start. Now go back and recheck updated "ipconfig /all" on your
own, or post here, per my article. We'll be here tomorrow, if you want to wait.

 

[Robertm]

Yee-Haw, everything working. One of my customers works for a consulting firm
that sets up the networks for banks. He stopped in to buy something and I
told him about my problem. He spent an hour and 15 minutes, configured and
mapped the drives. He said my main problem was that Norton Internet Security
was blocking communication. We were both thinking the problem was on the Win
2K computer that couldn't connect, but it was on the XP computer that
wouldn't let the other one communicate.

Thanks for your assistance.

Bob

 

[Chuck]

Thanks for your assistance.

Bob

Yee-Haw, everything working. One of my customers works for a consulting firm
that sets up the networks for banks. He stopped in to buy something and I
told him about my problem. He spent an hour and 15 minutes, configured and
mapped the drives. He said my main problem was that Norton Internet Security
was blocking communication. We were both thinking the problem was on the Win
2K computer that couldn't connect, but it was on the XP computer that
wouldn't let the other one communicate.

Another personal firewall eh? If I had a dollar for every one of those...
Thanks for the update, Bob.

 

[Robertm]

Another personal firewall eh? If I had a dollar for every one of those...
Thanks for the update, Bob.

Yes, the personal firewall. And that's why the Network Magic utility worked.
It was disabling both software firewalls. It didn't occur to me that it was
the firewall because I had it set to prompt and it never prompted. Instead
it just blocked communication, apparently thinking it was too risky to let
the user decide whether or not to block it.

Bob