XP and ME Networking Problem

[Guest]

I just bought a new Windows XP computer that I want to network with my existing Windows ME computer to share files and a printer. I have a wireless DSL Gateway (Actiontec GT701), with a switch hooked up to provide extra ethernet ports, and I was able to get both computers onto the internet without a problem. But, I can't seem to get the 2 machines to see each other. On the XP machine, its own shared folders can be seen in My Network Places, but I can't see the shared folders from the ME machine. On the ME machine, I can't see anything in Network Neighborhood. I can ping the other computer from the command prompt from both machines. I had Norton Internet Security installed on both computers, but de-installed the program using the Windows uninstall feature. And, the ICF on the XP machine is turned off.

Any suggestions on how to get this fixed?

 

[Luke]

Hi,
Can you just check whether the LAN connections on the computers are
bridged (on both computers);
1. Open network connections 2
2. Check whether there is a network connection that is shown as a
bridge icon.
3. I there is then disable it and then delete it.
If that doesn't work then please try the following:
Check to see if Simple File Sharing (Control Panel - Folder Options -
View - Advanced settings) is enabled or disabled.
For XP Home with Simple File Sharing enabled, make sure that the Guest
account is enabled, thru Local User Manager (Start - Run -
"lusrmgr.msc"), on each computer. Do any of the computers have a
software firewall (ICF or third party)? If so, you need to configure
them for file sharing, by opening ports TCP 139, 445 and UDP 137, 138,
445, and / or by identifying the other computers as present in the
Local (Trusted) zone. Firewall configurations are a very common cause
of (network) browser, and file sharing, problems.
Let me know if the problem still exists, Luke.

 

[Guest]

I checked, and the LAN connections are not bridged. Simple file sharing is enabled, and the Guest Account is enabled. The XP computer has the ICF, but I have it turned off, so that shouldn't be the problem. Both computers don't have any kind of firewall software installed at this point. The problem still persists, and I'm wondering what to do next.

Thanks,

John

 

[Luke]

Some other things that I have known to help has been to manually
configure the LAN connection. First make sure that you have tried
re-running the networking wizard. If that has not worked then try the
following:
1. Open the properties for your LAN connection
2. Remove all of the protocols, services and components in the box on
the properties page (you will not be able to remove TCP/IP).
3. Then install the following:
-Client for Microsoft Networks
-File & Printer sharing....
(If the top 2 alone don't fix the problem try adding the bottom 2 as
well below
-NWLink NetBIOS
-NWLink IPX\SPX...
4. Restart the computer (try this on both machines)
Let me know how you get on, Luke.

 

[Guest]

Once I added NWLink NetBIOS and NWLink IPX\SPX, I was finally able to have the 2 machines see each other. However, after I rebooted the machines, the connections were lost again. I tried going through your steps again, and no luck.

One additional question -- I'm noticing now that I have several items in my network conntections besides the LAN icon. There is a "Local Area Connection on Linux IGD" which is enabled. And a "1394 Connection" that was enabled earlier today, but now seems to be disabled. Does this sound right?

 

[Luke]

Hi,
Thanks for the update. Do I understand you correctly that you have 3
connections? This I394 Connection is know to cause problems. Could you
please try deleting the connection and then re-starting to see whether
it appears again. Could you also do the following:
1. Open 'run' from the start menu
2. Type 'cmd'
3. Then type 'ipconfig.all' at the command prompt
Could you send me the info. If you cannot copy it please e-mail me a
screenshot of the results.
Thanks, Luke.

 

[Guest]

I can disable the 1394 Connection, but delete is greyed-out, so I can't delete it. When I type "ipconfig.all" at the command prompt it says it's not a usable command. Should I just type in "ipconfig"?

 

[Luke]

Hi,
Thanks for the info. At the cmd propmt please type 'ipconfig /all'
(sorry it was a typo before.
Luke.

 

[Guest]

I was able to copy the info. Do you have an email address I can send the info. to? Or, would pasting the info. into a public forum like this be safe?

John

 

[Luke]

Hi John,
To be on the safe side please send the info to

(e-mail address removed)

Thanks, Luke.

 

[Guest]

Sent the info via email.

Thanks,

John

Hi John,
To be on the safe side please send the info to

(e-mail address removed)

Thanks, Luke.

 

[Luke]

Hi John,
Thank you for the log info. I could not find anything wrong in it.
However this I394 connection is worrying me. Is this connection present
on both machines? In order to find out more about this connection
please could you do the following:
1. Open the support center
2. Choose tools
3. Choose help & support center tools (left-hand side)
4. Choose network diagnostics
5. Click scanning options and check all boxes.
6. Click scan your system
7. Save the report to file and please e-mail to me.
Thank you, Luke.

 

[Guest]

I just emailed you the report.

Hi John,
Thank you for the log info. I could not find anything wrong in it.
However this I394 connection is worrying me. Is this connection present
on both machines? In order to find out more about this connection
please could you do the following:
1. Open the support center
2. Choose tools
3. Choose help & support center tools (left-hand side)
4. Choose network diagnostics
5. Click scanning options and check all boxes.
6. Click scan your system
7. Save the report to file and please e-mail to me.
Thank you, Luke.

 

[Luke]

Hi John,
Thanks for the info. Well your primary network adapter seems to be
configured fine so that would suggest a problem with either this I394
connection or the ME machine. What error message comes up when you try
to delete the I394 connection? With regards to the other LAN connection
(Linux IGD) I think you're correct in that it is not normal. Can you
try to disable and then delete this connection. I think a good idea
would be to check out the ME machine if the ME can see the XP but not
vica versa. Can the ME access shares on XP as well? I'll try and do
some more research. In the meantime for the ME machine can you check
the following:

To act as a client computer, a computer running Windows 98 or Windows
Me must have the Client for Microsoft Networks component installed. To
verify that the Client for Microsoft Networks component is installed,
do the following:
1. On a computer running Windows 98, right-click Network Neighborhood,
and then click Properties. On a computer running Windows Me,
right-click My Network Places, and then click Properties.
2. On the Configuration tab, under The following network components are
installed, verify that the Client for Microsoft Networks component is
installed.
3. If it is not installed, click Add.
4. In Select Network Component Type, double-click Client.
5. In Select Network Client, click Microsoft under Manufacturers, and
then double-click Client for Microsoft Networks under Network Clients.
6. Click Close.
7. Restart the computer if needed.

To act as a server computer, a computer running Windows 98 or Windows
Me must have the File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks
component installed. To verify that the File and Printer Sharing for
Microsoft Windows component is installed, do the following:
1. On a computer running Windows 98, right-click Network Neighborhood,
and then click Properties. On a computer running Windows Me,
right-click My Network Places, and then click Properties.
2. On the Configuration tab, under The following network components are
installed, verify that the File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft
Networks component is installed.
3. If it is not installed, click Add.
4. In Select Network Component Type, double-click Service.
5. In Select Network Service, double-click File and printer sharing for
Microsoft Networks.
6. In Network, click File and Print Sharing.
7. Ensure that both check boxes are selected, and then click OK.
8. In Network, click Close.
9. Restart the computer if needed.

For the Windows XP machine can you just check some things that I may
not have suggested at:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308007

Thanks, Luke.

 

[Mark]

Can you just check whether the LAN connections on the computers are
bridged (on both computers);
1. Open network connections 2
2. Check whether there is a network connection that is shown as a
bridge icon.

Your post was a while ago, but I found it when I was searching for a
solution to the exact same issue. I followed the information in this
post and everything works fine.

So this is just to say, "Thank you."