Wired & Wireless

[Guest]

I have a smal network, two laptops and one desktop. We are networked through
CAT5 cabling, a switch and a BT Business hub for broadband. The two laptops
cannot see each other's shared folders, or the network printer, wired but can
wirelessly. The desktop can see the two laptops when they are wirelessly
connected. The desktop cannot see (ping) the printer but connects OK over
USB. NetBIOS is enabled, the OS is XP Pro all round. I am at a loss as to
what is wrong. Any help gratefully accepted.

 

[Chuck]

I have a smal network, two laptops and one desktop. We are networked through
CAT5 cabling, a switch and a BT Business hub for broadband. The two laptops
cannot see each other's shared folders, or the network printer, wired but can
wirelessly. The desktop can see the two laptops when they are wirelessly
connected. The desktop cannot see (ping) the printer but connects OK over
USB. NetBIOS is enabled, the OS is XP Pro all round. I am at a loss as to
what is wrong. Any help gratefully accepted.

Most frequently, the "cannot see" problem is the browser which is interfered
with by personal firewalls.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html

But when you mix Ethernet and WiFi, as casually as you appear to be doing, the
browser itself becomes a problem.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/04/nt-browser-or-why-cant-i-always-see.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/04/nt-browser-or-why-cant-i-always-see.html

Look at BOTH "browstat status" and "ipconfig /all", from each computer, and
diagnose the problem. Best to look TWICE - once when wirelessly connected (and
no problem?) then again when Ethernet connected (and problem exists). Read this
article, and linked articles, and follow instructions precisely (download
browstat!):
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp

And where does USB enter into the picture? How does the printer connect?
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/background-information-useful-in.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/background-information-useful-in.html

 

[Robert L [MVP - Networking]]

Can they ping each by IP?

Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
I have a smal network, two laptops and one desktop. We are networked through
CAT5 cabling, a switch and a BT Business hub for broadband. The two laptops
cannot see each other's shared folders, or the network printer, wired but can
wirelessly. The desktop can see the two laptops when they are wirelessly
connected. The desktop cannot see (ping) the printer but connects OK over
USB. NetBIOS is enabled, the OS is XP Pro all round. I am at a loss as to
what is wrong. Any help gratefully accepted.

 

[Guest]

I've been through all that with no success.

 

[Guest]

The network printer is connected by USB to the desktop as it cannot see the
network printer via the network.

What is the problem in mixing wired and wireless. Microsoft networking is
designed to handle this, isn't it?

Sorry to be grouchy, but I've spent all day on this problem, reading through
your excellent blogs, and haven't really got anywhere. Now I am going to have
to slog upto Clapham again and go through the browser business.

It isn't supposed to be this hard!

 

[Chuck]

The network printer is connected by USB to the desktop as it cannot see the
network printer via the network.

What is the problem in mixing wired and wireless. Microsoft networking is
designed to handle this, isn't it?

Sorry to be grouchy, but I've spent all day on this problem, reading through
your excellent blogs, and haven't really got anywhere. Now I am going to have
to slog upto Clapham again and go through the browser business.

It isn't supposed to be this hard!

Laurence,

With a single, fixed (7 x 24) connection, ie Ethernet, it would be a lot easier.

With WiFi involved, and possible casual disconnections, it will be complicated.

Grouchy is understandable. You will have to work out the details though.

Look at BOTH "browstat status" and "ipconfig /all", from each computer, TWICE -
once when wirelessly connected (and no problem?) then again when Ethernet
connected (and problem exists).

And look at it this way. YOU can have a pint or two of real beer when you are
done. I have to settle for American piss.

 

[Guest]

I'll give it a go. I think we should both settle for a chilled bottle of
Californian Pinot Gris, though!

 

[Guest]

Sorry, forgot to say in all my gloom that I am aiming for a 24/7 Ethernet
connection in the office.

 

[Chuck]

Sorry, forgot to say in all my gloom that I am aiming for a 24/7 Ethernet
connection in the office.

Well, I will second the motion for 24/7 Ethernet. If you have any computers
running the browser which use WiFi at least stop that.

Other than a personal firewall problem, the easiest way to end up with a browser
conflict (and segmented browse domain / visibility problem) is to have a browser
server using WiFi, and casually disconnected while live.

Diagnose the problem with "browstat status", run from computers on each
different segment.