workgroup File sharing problem XP SP2

[SimonBDA]

Summary: I wonder if anyone can help with this strange problem. The
networked-shared folders in one of 3 PCs on a workgroup are not displayed in
ANY of the "My Network Places" windows, but they are accessible by clicking
on "My Workgroup Computers". The other 2 PCs network correctly in all
respects.

I have 3 PCs A B C on a home workgroup, all XP/SP2 with latest fixes etc,
LAN cable connected to an internet router. My userid is S with no password.

Computer A has two network-shared folders: S My documents, and (all user)
Shared Documents. In A's My computer icon display, both these folders display
the sharing hand.

B & C are perfectly networked to each other and each can see everything they
should see in My Network places on each other's PC. A B & C users can see A B
& C icons in their "View Workgroup Computers". B's and C's shared folders are
also displayed correctly within C's & B's "My Network Places". However, A's
shared folders are NOT displayed within B's & C's "My Network Places", and
B's and C's shared folders are NOT displayed in A's "My Network Places".

If on PCs B or C, I click on A B or C icon in "view workgroup computers", I
can see the shared folders on ALL the other PCs in turn, including A. Note
that B & C users CAN see A's shared folders, even though they are not
displayed in B's & C's "My Network Places". A's "View Workgroup Computers"
shows icons for A B C, and if I click on B or C I can also see their shared
folders. This is rather surprising.

In A's My Network Places, there is only one icon shown under the Local
Network icon, for S's My Documents. There is NO icon for A's shared
documents, though surely there should be?

The bottom line is that file sharing for B & C work perfectly but file
sharing for A only works in any direction via "View workgroup computers", but
not via "My Network Places". WHY??!

I have gone right through the network and file and printer sharing
troubleshooter, and checked everything like workgroup name, computer name,
installed Win components, userid, pinging the network etc, and I've rerun the
networking wizard on all computers after making any necessary changes. I've
also established that printer sharing works perfectly across all 3 computers.

Any ideas?? All help will be gratefully received.

 

[Chuck [MVP]]

Summary: I wonder if anyone can help with this strange problem. The
networked-shared folders in one of 3 PCs on a workgroup are not displayed in
ANY of the "My Network Places" windows, but they are accessible by clicking
on "My Workgroup Computers". The other 2 PCs network correctly in all
respects.

I have 3 PCs A B C on a home workgroup, all XP/SP2 with latest fixes etc,
LAN cable connected to an internet router. My userid is S with no password.

Computer A has two network-shared folders: S My documents, and (all user)
Shared Documents. In A's My computer icon display, both these folders display
the sharing hand.

B & C are perfectly networked to each other and each can see everything they
should see in My Network places on each other's PC. A B & C users can see A B
& C icons in their "View Workgroup Computers". B's and C's shared folders are
also displayed correctly within C's & B's "My Network Places". However, A's
shared folders are NOT displayed within B's & C's "My Network Places", and
B's and C's shared folders are NOT displayed in A's "My Network Places".

If on PCs B or C, I click on A B or C icon in "view workgroup computers", I
can see the shared folders on ALL the other PCs in turn, including A. Note
that B & C users CAN see A's shared folders, even though they are not
displayed in B's & C's "My Network Places". A's "View Workgroup Computers"
shows icons for A B C, and if I click on B or C I can also see their shared
folders. This is rather surprising.

In A's My Network Places, there is only one icon shown under the Local
Network icon, for S's My Documents. There is NO icon for A's shared
documents, though surely there should be?

The bottom line is that file sharing for B & C work perfectly but file
sharing for A only works in any direction via "View workgroup computers", but
not via "My Network Places". WHY??!

I have gone right through the network and file and printer sharing
troubleshooter, and checked everything like workgroup name, computer name,
installed Win components, userid, pinging the network etc, and I've rerun the
networking wizard on all computers after making any necessary changes. I've
also established that printer sharing works perfectly across all 3 computers.

Any ideas?? All help will be gratefully received.

Hi Simon,

First, are all computers in the same workgroup? Second, check the Zone settings
in Internet Explorer (yes, IE).
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2007/09/changes-in-internet-explorer-security.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2007/09/changes-in-internet-explorer-security.html

If no help yet, let's diagnose the problem, using logs from "browstat status",
"ipconfig /all", "net config server", and "net config workstation", from each
computer. 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

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.

 

[SimonBDA]

Wow - your help is fantastic..MANY thanks for guiding me to your general help
site - I had no idea such support was available. FWIW, A is model Dell
DC7100USDT(PN286ET).

First the easy bit: All computers ARE in the same workgroup called MSHOME.
I didn't realise that IE might have anything to do with this, so please note
that A uses IE7 and B & C use IE6... but I don't think this explains the
problem.

I think the problem relates to A's "Computer Name" being stored as two
different things in two different places within A - please see reasoning
below:

On A: My Network Places/S My Documents/ right click Properties shows the
comment: \\COMPUTER01\\S HP My Documents.

But the Computer Name in Control Panel/System/computer Name is "Q", because
I changed it to that, and Q is also now the name shown on the computer icons
in A's "View Workgroup Computers". B & C "View Workgroup Computers" also show
A as being named Q, and not COMPUTER01.

On A: View workgroup computers now shows 4 computers: B, C, and A twice,
once called Q and once called COMPUTER01

I've checked all the other proints in articles, but not yet browstat - that
will follow after your next reply - many thanks again.

Summary: I wonder if anyone can help with this strange problem. The
networked-shared folders in one of 3 PCs on a workgroup are not displayed in
ANY of the "My Network Places" windows, but they are accessible by clicking
on "My Workgroup Computers". The other 2 PCs network correctly in all
respects.

I have 3 PCs A B C on a home workgroup, all XP/SP2 with latest fixes etc,
LAN cable connected to an internet router. My userid is S with no password.

Computer A has two network-shared folders: S My documents, and (all user)
Shared Documents. In A's My computer icon display, both these folders display
the sharing hand.

B & C are perfectly networked to each other and each can see everything they
should see in My Network places on each other's PC. A B & C users can see A B
& C icons in their "View Workgroup Computers". B's and C's shared folders are
also displayed correctly within C's & B's "My Network Places". However, A's
shared folders are NOT displayed within B's & C's "My Network Places", and
B's and C's shared folders are NOT displayed in A's "My Network Places".

If on PCs B or C, I click on A B or C icon in "view workgroup computers", I
can see the shared folders on ALL the other PCs in turn, including A. Note
that B & C users CAN see A's shared folders, even though they are not
displayed in B's & C's "My Network Places". A's "View Workgroup Computers"
shows icons for A B C, and if I click on B or C I can also see their shared
folders. This is rather surprising.

In A's My Network Places, there is only one icon shown under the Local
Network icon, for S's My Documents. There is NO icon for A's shared
documents, though surely there should be?

The bottom line is that file sharing for B & C work perfectly but file
sharing for A only works in any direction via "View workgroup computers", but
not via "My Network Places". WHY??!

I have gone right through the network and file and printer sharing
troubleshooter, and checked everything like workgroup name, computer name,
installed Win components, userid, pinging the network etc, and I've rerun the
networking wizard on all computers after making any necessary changes. I've
also established that printer sharing works perfectly across all 3 computers.

Any ideas?? All help will be gratefully received.

Hi Simon,

First, are all computers in the same workgroup? Second, check the Zone settings
in Internet Explorer (yes, IE).
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2007/09/changes-in-internet-explorer-security.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2007/09/changes-in-internet-explorer-security.html

If no help yet, let's diagnose the problem, using logs from "browstat status",
"ipconfig /all", "net config server", and "net config workstation", from each
computer. 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

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.