Windows XP Networking

[Guest]

I am building a home office network for a client. It has the following
equipment two desktop PCs one running XP professional (PC1) the other running
XP home (PC2), a laptop running XP professional (PC3). The router is an SMC
wireless G connected to a cable modem for Internet access. At this time I
have not turned on any router security such as WEP or firewall security.
PC1 connects to the router via an internal Ethernet card. PC2 connects via
an internal wireless-G card. PC3 connects via a wireless-G PCMCIA card.
At one time PC1 and PC3 were networked to the same router and were sharing
files and two printers directly connected one to each PC. At that time the
PC1 was connected via the wireless card that is now in PC2.
Additionally there is a new printer to replace the two direct connects. The
printer is a HP 2550n and is connected via one of the hardwired ports on the
router.
I can connect to the Internet from any of the PCs. PC1 was set up as the
first and the network diskette was built from it. After setting up PC2 and
connecting PC1 directly to the router via a hardwired port I took the
diskette (originally built on PC1) and installed the Home office network on
PC2. I could not see nor ping any of the other two PCs or printer on the
network from PC3 but can access the Internet. PC2 no longer could see nor
ping PC1 or PC3 yet I can print via the network to the new printer and access
the Internet. When selecting "View workgroup computers" on PC1 it showed
three PC icons with the correct names for each PC. However if I right mouse
clicked on PC2 or PC3s icon and selected properties I got an error message
that it could not find the PC. Additionally it did not show the icon for
shared folders from either PC2 or PC3. When selecting "View workgroup
computers" on PC3 I got the message that it could not find the server, you
may not have rights to access the server contact your network administrator
or something close to that. When selecting "View workgroup computers" on PC2
it showed an icon for PC2 only. I even tried reinstalling the network
diskette on PC2 with no change. I then rebuilt the home office network
starting with PC1 and creating the network diskette from its build. Then
setting up PC2 and PC3 with the same results. Finally since it was the newest
machine I started with PC3 building the network diskette and installing it
onto PC1 and PC2. This time when selecting "View workgroup computers" on PC2
icons for PC1 and PC2 came up but I still could not access properties on PC1
and no shared folder icon showed from PC1.
I cannot think of asny thing else to try. Is there some hidden
security/firewall I do not see? I do not have service pack 2 on any of the
machines. My client had installed it on PC3 but it was causing problems and I
removed it.

 

[Nick Blinow]

Since all pc's can access the internet, you should be able to ping the
router. Are the pc's getting an ip assignment from the router successfully?
If yes can they ping each other by ip address?
Client for MS Networks is installed and enabled.
File and Printer Sharing is installed and enabled.
There is a share on each pc.
Control panel, network connections, LAN, support, repair.
Tcp/ip is installed and enabled and set to DHCP to get ip address.
Router DHCP is enabled.
Al pc's have unique names and are set to the same workgroup.
Do the pc's show up using the command NET VIEW?

HTH

 

[Guest]

I can ping the router and can access its admin via IE from anyone of the
three PCs.
Yes each PC has a unique IP address assigned it via DHCP 192.168.2.100, 101,
104
Yes and no I can ping PC1, from PC3. I cannot ping PC2 from either PC1 or
PC3 and cannot ping anything from PC2 except route.
Yes Client for Microsoft Networks is installed and active.
File and Print Sharing is installed and active.
Each PC shows a shared folder.
All pcs have unigue names and same workgroup name
Did not ry Net View since I could not ping
I have reviewed all settings in Control panel/Network
Connections/LAN/Properties and have repaired each PCs LAN.