Windows XP Home workgroup problems

[Guest]

I am running a small home network (2 XP computers and one 2K Pro) and am
having problems getting one of the XP computers and the 2K Pro machine to get
access to the workgroup. Both XP machines have SP2 installed. Whenever I
try to view the computers in the workgroup, I get the "<workgroup> is not
accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource.
Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access
permissions. The network path was not found." error message. For the sake
of explaination, we'll call the errorless computer "BOB", the other XP
machine "TED", and the 2K Pro machine "2KP".
BOB can use any network resource and ping any other computer w/o any
problems. TED can ping 2KP, but not BOB. 2KP can ping TED, but not BOB.
All 3 computers have identical ipconfigs (except IP address obviously) and
are set up for using NetBIOS over TCP/IP. My primary concern is getting TED
to see BOB and use his printer, 2KP can rot for all I care as he is not ever
used.

Please help me, I've been over tons of newsgroup and other suggestions, but
nothing seems to help.

 

[Chuck]

I am running a small home network (2 XP computers and one 2K Pro) and am
having problems getting one of the XP computers and the 2K Pro machine to get
access to the workgroup. Both XP machines have SP2 installed. Whenever I
try to view the computers in the workgroup, I get the "<workgroup> is not
accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource.
Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access
permissions. The network path was not found." error message. For the sake
of explaination, we'll call the errorless computer "BOB", the other XP
machine "TED", and the 2K Pro machine "2KP".
BOB can use any network resource and ping any other computer w/o any
problems. TED can ping 2KP, but not BOB. 2KP can ping TED, but not BOB.
All 3 computers have identical ipconfigs (except IP address obviously) and
are set up for using NetBIOS over TCP/IP. My primary concern is getting TED
to see BOB and use his printer, 2KP can rot for all I care as he is not ever
used.

Please help me, I've been over tons of newsgroup and other suggestions, but
nothing seems to help.

Are the XP computers running Home or Pro version? This will make a difference.

When pinging any computer, ping both by name and by ip address. And report
exact text of any error received.

From each computer, rigorously test connectivity and name resolution:
1) Ping itself by name.
2) Ping itself by ip address.
3) Ping the other two by name.
4) Ping the other two by ip address.
5) Ping 127.0.0.1.
6) Ping the router.
Report success / exact error displayed in each test (24 tests total).

Asymmetrical ping problems are usually caused by badly configured or misbehaving
firewalls. For Windows Firewall (built in to XP SP2) make sure that it is on,
with the File and Printer Sharing exception enabled, on both Bob and Ted. Any
other firewall either now, or in the past, on any computer?

If the firewall is not the solution, connect Bob and Ted in each other's place.
That is, use the cable and router port from Bob to connect Ted to the router,
and the cable and router port from Ted to connect Bob. Is the problem still
with Bob?

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