Workgroup is not accessible.

[Dwaine]

Hi,

I have XP Pro on 3 computers and 98SE on a fourth. I
have enabled file sharing on the 98 computer and am able
to access it consistently from one of the XP Pro
computers. Another XP Pro computer can see the workgroup
and workgroup computers, but is sporadic in accessing the
other computers' files and/or printers. The third XP Pro
computer is unable to see the workgroup at all and
returns "Workgroup name is not accessible. You may not
have permission to use this network resource."

I have tried using IP and NetBEUI with the same results.
I have verified that all firewalls are turned off and
that all machines are able to ping each other and the
gateway. I have also run the wizard. I've searched the
knowledge base and have checked all of the suggestions
there.

Any ideas folks?

Thanks,

Dwaine

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Hi,

I have XP Pro on 3 computers and 98SE on a fourth. I
have enabled file sharing on the 98 computer and am able
to access it consistently from one of the XP Pro
computers. Another XP Pro computer can see the workgroup
and workgroup computers, but is sporadic in accessing the
other computers' files and/or printers. The third XP Pro
computer is unable to see the workgroup at all and
returns "Workgroup name is not accessible. You may not
have permission to use this network resource."

I have tried using IP and NetBEUI with the same results.
I have verified that all firewalls are turned off and
that all machines are able to ping each other and the
gateway. I have also run the wizard. I've searched the
knowledge base and have checked all of the suggestions
there.

Any ideas folks?

Thanks,

Dwaine

1. Permanently disable XP's built-in Internet Connection Firewall on
local area network connections -- it's for use only on a direct modem
connection to the Internet. Disable and un-install all other
firewalls while troubleshooting. Details here:

Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/ic_firewall.htm

2. Use only one protocol for File and Printer Sharing. If the network
needs more than one protocol, unbind File and Printer Sharing from all
but one of them. Details here:

Windows XP Network Protocols
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/network_protocols.htm

3. Make sure that NetBIOS over TCP/IP is enabled on all computers.
Details here:

Enable NetBIOS Over TCP/IP (NetBT)
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/troubleshoot/netbt.htm

4. Run "ipconfig /all" on XP and look at the "Node Type" at the
beginning of the output. If it says "Peer-to-Peer" (which should
actually be "Point-to-Point") that's the problem. It means that the
computer only uses a WINS server, which isn't available on a
peer-to-peer network for NetBIOS name resolution.

If that's the case, run the registry editor, open this key:

HLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Netbt\Parameters

and delete these values if they're present:

NodeType
DhcpNodeType

Reboot, then try network access again.

If that doesn't fix it, open that registry key again, create a DWORD
value called "NodeType", and set it to 1 for "Broadcast" or 4 for
"Mixed".

For details, see these Microsoft Knowledge Base articles:

Default Node Type for Microsoft Clients
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;160177

TCP/IP and NBT Configuration Parameters for Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314053
--
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

 

[Dwaine]

Thank you for your suggestions. Tried those things, and
still having the same problems. IPCONFIG returned a node
type of unknown. The registry had no NodeType nor
DhcpNodeType entries, so I created a NodeType and set the
value to 4. The only network connection with the
firewall set was the dial-up connection, but still got
the same problem when I disabled it. I also tried using
NetBEUI and unbinding IP from file services, but still
same issue.

What is really wierd is that one XP Pro workstation works
perfectly and can even access the two that have problems
as well as the 98 system. One can access the 98 system,
but hangs when trying to print to a printer on it. The
third can sometimes see the workgroup and sometimes gets
the error. Even when it accesses the workgroup, it still
cannot see the other workstations.

Any other ideas?

Thanks,

Dwaine

-----Original Message-----