Unable to browse the network. The network is not accessible.

[Guest]

I installed a 4 port cable dsl router. I have two computers of which one has
a printer along with road runner internet. I can access the internet from
each of the computers. I ran the network wizzard on the main computer(Win XP
sp2) and followed the directions. Then used the XP CD for the second
computer (Win 98 second edition) and ran the wizzard on that. On the Xp
machine if i go to my network places there is nothing there. Also, under
view workgroup computers I receive a message: Home is not accessible. I
might not have permission to use this network. Then if I go to the second
computer under network neighborhood I see an icon for network neighborhood.
When I go there I get a message unable to browse network neighborhood. The
network is not accessible. Confused about having two different operating
systems. I've read about user permissions?? What should I do next?? Thank
you for your help.

 

[Robert L [MS-MVP]]

have you enabled the sharing? or post the result of net share command.

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Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN, Anti-Virus, Tips & Troubleshooting on
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This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties.

 

[Chuck]

I installed a 4 port cable dsl router. I have two computers of which one has
a printer along with road runner internet. I can access the internet from
each of the computers. I ran the network wizzard on the main computer(Win XP
sp2) and followed the directions. Then used the XP CD for the second
computer (Win 98 second edition) and ran the wizzard on that. On the Xp
machine if i go to my network places there is nothing there. Also, under
view workgroup computers I receive a message: Home is not accessible. I
might not have permission to use this network. Then if I go to the second
computer under network neighborhood I see an icon for network neighborhood.
When I go there I get a message unable to browse network neighborhood. The
network is not accessible. Confused about having two different operating
systems. I've read about user permissions?? What should I do next?? Thank
you for your help.

Ginger,

Is this XP Home or Pro? This makes a difference, especially with Win98 on the
LAN.

On an XP Pro computer, check to see if Simple File Sharing (Control Panel -
Folder Options - View - Advanced settings) is enabled or disabled. With XP Pro,
you need to have SFS properly set.

On XP Pro with Simple File Sharing 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 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, use an
identical, non-blank password on all computers.

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

On XP Pro, if you're going to use Guest authentication, check your Local
Security Policies - User Rights Assignment, on the XP Pro computer, and look at
"Deny access to this computer from the network". Make sure Guest is not in the
list.

If you decide to use non-Guest authentication on XP Pro (SFS disabled, Classic
authentication), be sure to sign in to the Win98 computer using the account /
password setup on the XP Pro computer. Don't hit Escape when asked for account
(user name) / password.

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

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

 

[Guest]

Hi Chuck
The computer is using XP Home Edition. I went into the command window and
typed in the info you gave me. You'll have to forgive me but it has been
years since I typed in commands. I don't appear to have the syntax correct.
When I type in net user I see everyone on my computer but if I try to type
the whole command I get "the syntax of this command is?. Thanks.

 

[Guest]

Yes I did enable file sharing. It was part of the questions in the wizzard.
I forgot to mention that I am using home edition. What do you mean by post
the result of net share command?

 

[Chuck]

Hi Chuck
The computer is using XP Home Edition. I went into the command window and
typed in the info you gave me. You'll have to forgive me but it has been
years since I typed in commands. I don't appear to have the syntax correct.
When I type in net user I see everyone on my computer but if I try to type
the whole command I get "the syntax of this command is?. Thanks.

Ginger,

"net user guest /active:yes"

Try again. Be sure to put spaces after "net", after "user", and after "guest".
I tested and this command is very space sensitive.

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

 

[James Egan]

Yes I did enable file sharing. It was part of the questions in the wizzard.
I forgot to mention that I am using home edition. What do you mean by post
the result of net share command?

On winxp home you don't need the guest account enabled to access the
shares over the network. Your problem is more fundamental. Try going
into the security centre and fiddling with the settings in there.
Disable the firewall etc.


Jim.

 

[Guest]

Hi James:
I keep getting the error message that tells me to check with the
administrator to find out if I have access permissions. Also, I went into
security and checked under windows firewall and it says that it is set to
allow file and printer sharing etc. for networking. Are you finding that
you still have to disable it?

 

[James Egan]

I keep getting the error message that tells me to check with the
administrator to find out if I have access permissions. Also, I went into
security and checked under windows firewall and it says that it is set to
allow file and printer sharing etc. for networking. Are you finding that
you still have to disable it?

Generally you should uninstall (if possible) or at least disable
firewalls until connectivity problems are resolved. Misbehaving
firewalls are frequently the cause.

After one of my sp2 updates recently, I couldn't share files (or even
ping the computer) until file and printer sharing was made an
exception even though the firewall was supposedly disabled for that
interface. The eventual solution for me was to system restore back to
a pre-sp2 point and re-install sp2. Then it all worked as expected.
There was no error massage during either installation of sp2 so what
went wrong the first time was all silent and in the background.


Jim.