unknown users in My Network Places

[NickM]

I am running windows XP on a computer that connects to the internet
via a netgear wireless NIC. I have another computer downstairs
running win 98, which plugs directly into my netgear router.

Just recently I clicked on My Network Places, and noticed something
odd. There were five strange things listed there. They were called
"a on Unknown User (Host1)", "b on Unknown User (Host1)", "c on
Unknown User (Host1)", and "d on Unknown User (Host1)." I'm not sure
how long they've been there, but I've never noticed them before.

When I double clicked on them, three of them returned the error:
"\\Host1\a(or b, or c) is not accessible. You might not have
permission to view this network resource. Contact the administrator
of this server to find out if you have access permission. The device
is not ready."

When I click on the fourth, it brings up all of the files on my
downstairs PC, which I thought was pretty useful. My only problem
is, what are those others? Why can't I access them? After all, I am
the administrator of my computers. Are they other computers nearby (I
live in a condo complex with many nearby condos)?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Shawn]

You wireless NIC is looking for *any* router/access point
and has found several in your complex. The reason you
can't access the other's computers is that they may have
put an encryption or password on their wireless access.
Which, by the way, you should also do, because if you can
see them, they can see you. Check your manual for the
wireless NIC.

Also, you can tell which one *you* are quickly if your
wireless NIC allows you to define the SSID (I've just set
up my first home network recently, so I do not know all
cards come with that capability. My D-Link DWL 520+
does.) Just come up with a name for the SSID and make
sure that both computers have the same one (so the
wireless computer knows who it is supposed to attach to.)

Also, you said you can see all your files, which makes me
think that you have set up your root directory (C:\) as
the shared drive. All my reading has said that is not a
good idea (if other's can access your computer, they can
access EVERYTHING. At least by defining one to several
shared drives, they will only have access to the files in
those subdirectories, if you are "hacked").

Check out this website for some very useful and easy to
understand information on networking/routers/network
security, etc:

http://www.homenethelp.com/router-guide/index.asp

Shawn

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

I am running windows XP on a computer that connects to the internet
via a netgear wireless NIC. I have another computer downstairs
running win 98, which plugs directly into my netgear router.

Just recently I clicked on My Network Places, and noticed something
odd. There were five strange things listed there. They were called
"a on Unknown User (Host1)", "b on Unknown User (Host1)", "c on
Unknown User (Host1)", and "d on Unknown User (Host1)." I'm not sure
how long they've been there, but I've never noticed them before.

When I double clicked on them, three of them returned the error:
"\\Host1\a(or b, or c) is not accessible. You might not have
permission to view this network resource. Contact the administrator
of this server to find out if you have access permission. The device
is not ready."

When I click on the fourth, it brings up all of the files on my
downstairs PC, which I thought was pretty useful. My only problem
is, what are those others? Why can't I access them? After all, I am
the administrator of my computers. Are they other computers nearby (I
live in a condo complex with many nearby condos)?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

If you haven't already done it, enable WEP encryption on your wireless
network to prevent your neighbors from connecting to your network.

Windows XP automatically searches for and displays shared disks and
folders on a network. Have you recently created any new shares on the
downstairs PC? To see all of that PC's shares, run Net Watcher and
click View | by Shared Folders.

To install Net Watcher on 98SE, go to Control Panel | Add/Remove
Programs | Windows Setup | System Tools.

To run Net Watcher on 98SE, you can either:

1. Click Start | Programs | Accessories | System Tools | Net Watcher

or:

2. Click Start | Run, type "netwatch" in the box, and click OK.

I suspect that A, B, and C might be floppy disk drives or CD-ROM
drives.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

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

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

You wireless NIC is looking for *any* router/access point
and has found several in your complex. The reason you
can't access the other's computers is that they may have
put an encryption or password on their wireless access.

No, I don't think that's right. If the other routers or access points
used encryption, you wouldn't be able to connect to them at all, and
you wouldn't be able to see any other computers or shared
disks/folders.

Which, by the way, you should also do, because if you can
see them, they can see you. Check your manual for the
wireless NIC.

Good idea!
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

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

 

[NickM]

Thanks to all who have posted. I guess I should have thought a little
bit harder and realized that all of those letters corresponded to
drives on my downstairs computer. The letters were actually A,C,D,E,
which would be the hard drive, disk drive, cdrom drive, and cd writer
drive. Once I put a disk in the a drive, I was able to access it from
upstairs.

And I'm going to look into that encryption thing.

Thanks!