Workgroup not Accessible using MCE

[jinnii]

Good day,

Troubles with our home network.

Computers:

A) New HP Desktop running Windows Media Center Edition 2005 (cable to
router)
B) Dell Laptop running Windows 2000 (wireless card to router)
C) Dell laptop running Windows XP Pro (wireless card to router)
D) HP Laptop running Windows ME (wireless card to router)
E) One other desktop will be running Windows XP Home, and has both a
wireless card and a cable jack.

I've set up a home network with the same Workgroup name "HOUSE," and
when using any of the laptops, I click on the Microsoft Windows
Network, then on "HOUSE" and I can see the other laptops including
itself, and can access shared folders.

But from Computer A, when I click on "View Workgroup Computers," I
receive the message, "House is not accessible. You might not have
permission to use this network resource... (etc.). The list of
servers for the workgroup is not currently available."

Have you any suggestions? While I wait for a reply to this, I am going
to finish setting up Computer E to see if it can access the Workgroup.

Thanks in advance,

JK

 

[Chuck]

Good day,

Troubles with our home network.

Computers:

A) New HP Desktop running Windows Media Center Edition 2005 (cable to
router)
B) Dell Laptop running Windows 2000 (wireless card to router)
C) Dell laptop running Windows XP Pro (wireless card to router)
D) HP Laptop running Windows ME (wireless card to router)
E) One other desktop will be running Windows XP Home, and has both a
wireless card and a cable jack.

I've set up a home network with the same Workgroup name "HOUSE," and
when using any of the laptops, I click on the Microsoft Windows
Network, then on "HOUSE" and I can see the other laptops including
itself, and can access shared folders.

But from Computer A, when I click on "View Workgroup Computers," I
receive the message, "House is not accessible. You might not have
permission to use this network resource... (etc.). The list of
servers for the workgroup is not currently available."

Have you any suggestions? While I wait for a reply to this, I am going
to finish setting up Computer E to see if it can access the Workgroup.jinnii

Jinnii,

One of the most common causes of this problem would be a misconfigured or
overlooked personal firewall, or other security component. There are several
other possibilities too, and any might be the cause of your problem. Read this
article with an open mind. Consider the browser relationships, as you look at
all 5 of your computers.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html

For more direct help, provide "browstat status" and "ipconfig /all" from each
computer (except you can't run browstat on Windows ME!). 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

 

[jinnii]

Update: I set up Computer E, and from Computer B I ran "net view" from
a command line, and can see all of the computers including A (the new
MCE PC). Again, from the laptop I can access files on all but A.
Error: Network path not found.

If I run "net view" from Computer A, I got the error: System error 6118
has occurred. The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently
available."

Does this help?

I have Norton Internet Security running on A.

 

[Chuck]

Update: I set up Computer E, and from Computer B I ran "net view" from
a command line, and can see all of the computers including A (the new
MCE PC). Again, from the laptop I can access files on all but A.
Error: Network path not found.

If I run "net view" from Computer A, I got the error: System error 6118
has occurred. The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently
available."

Does this help?

I have Norton Internet Security running on A.

The 6118 says that, if there is a computer running the browser service, it's not
sharing the browse list. This could be a firewall issue, or any other problem
discussed in my article. A set of "browstat status" is very useful here.

 

[jinnii]

Chuck, something good is happening...

After perusing a bit of your suggested reading (about firewalls), I
went through my Norton and under Personal Firewall -> Configure ->
Networking, I was able to add a range of computers within our home to
the Trusted Zone, and voila, was able to see and access most of the
computers. I will fuss with it a bit more and try to get back here to
report my findings.

Thank you for the links to your very comprehensive (way above my head
for the most part, but I've bookmarked it for reference none the less)
reference site.

JK

 

[Chuck]

Chuck, something good is happening...

After perusing a bit of your suggested reading (about firewalls), I
went through my Norton and under Personal Firewall -> Configure ->
Networking, I was able to add a range of computers within our home to
the Trusted Zone, and voila, was able to see and access most of the
computers. I will fuss with it a bit more and try to get back here to
report my findings.

Thank you for the links to your very comprehensive (way above my head
for the most part, but I've bookmarked it for reference none the less)
reference site.

JK

All right, Jinnii! It sounds like you're on the right track. Ask questions if
you need to.

 

[jinnii]

Chuck, here is the output for my browstat text. Is that helpful now
that I am able to see the other laptops?

I still have yet to be able to see the latest computer on our network,
but as I just installed Norton 2006 on that I suppose it has a firewall
issue as well to review.

Status for domain HOUSE on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{0DDD83FE-0EEB-4B0B-8928-1F317A9FEC46}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: JK-A
Master browser is running build 2600
1 backup servers retrieved from master JK-A
\\JK-A
There are 4 servers in domain HOUSE on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{0DDD83FE-0EEB-4B0B-8928-1F317A9FEC46}
There are 1 domains in domain HOUSE on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{0DDD83FE-0EEB-4B0B-8928-1F317A9FEC46}

 

[Chuck]

Chuck, here is the output for my browstat text. Is that helpful now
that I am able to see the other laptops?

I still have yet to be able to see the latest computer on our network,
but as I just installed Norton 2006 on that I suppose it has a firewall
issue as well to review.

Status for domain HOUSE on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{0DDD83FE-0EEB-4B0B-8928-1F317A9FEC46}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: JK-A
Master browser is running build 2600
1 backup servers retrieved from master JK-A
\\JK-A
There are 4 servers in domain HOUSE on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{0DDD83FE-0EEB-4B0B-8928-1F317A9FEC46}
There are 1 domains in domain HOUSE on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{0DDD83FE-0EEB-4B0B-8928-1F317A9FEC46}

This says that this computer is a member of workgroup HOUSE, and is picking up
server datagrams from 4 servers. You should now run this on the new computer,
and see what it sees. But you do indeed have to configure NAV / NPF first.

 

[jinnii]

Dear Chuck,

I love it when a plan actually comes into place.

I came down to try to see what was wrong with the last computer giving
me problems (JK-E), booted her up, and while waiting for the network
signal to be affirmed saw a message about a Bridge (network cable
unplugged). Again, I recalled briefly reading in one of your links
something about a Network Bridge being one possible issue when
networking. As this PC had just gone through a fresh format/install,
and I couldn't even reach the internet this morning (after sucessfully
installing the network card yesterday), I decided to open the network
connections and there was a bridge (cute graphic...)! So, I took a
chance and deleted it as I had never even heard of one before
yesterday, and voila! Internet, ...and I can see all of our home
workgroup computers!

Your advice about keeping an open mind when reading your links worked
('though most was hard for a mom, self taught in computers to
understand).

One of the most common causes of this problem would be a misconfigured or
overlooked personal firewall, or other security component. There are several
other possibilities too, and any might be the cause of your problem. Read this
article with an open mind. Consider the browser relationships, as you look at
all 5 of your computers.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-vis...>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-vis...

For more direct help, provide "browstat status" and "ipconfig /all" from each
computer (except you can't run browstat on Windows ME!). Read this article, and
linked articles, and follow instructions precisely (download browstat!):
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighbo...>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighbo...

Many thanks, I think it is all working quite well now.

Cheers! Jinnii

 

[Chuck]

Dear Chuck,

I love it when a plan actually comes into place.

I came down to try to see what was wrong with the last computer giving
me problems (JK-E), booted her up, and while waiting for the network
signal to be affirmed saw a message about a Bridge (network cable
unplugged). Again, I recalled briefly reading in one of your links
something about a Network Bridge being one possible issue when
networking. As this PC had just gone through a fresh format/install,
and I couldn't even reach the internet this morning (after sucessfully
installing the network card yesterday), I decided to open the network
connections and there was a bridge (cute graphic...)! So, I took a
chance and deleted it as I had never even heard of one before
yesterday, and voila! Internet, ...and I can see all of our home
workgroup computers!

Your advice about keeping an open mind when reading your links worked
('though most was hard for a mom, self taught in computers to
understand).


Many thanks, I think it is all working quite well now.

Cheers! Jinnii

Thanks, Jinnii! Glad to have helped!