XP Home and local area network

[chris]

I am setting up a small home network for 3rd party, three computers all
running XP Home Ed. SP2. I came into it late in the game. Before I arrived
there were three systems, all wired and one acted as a host to allow both to
connect to the internet via cable broadband. The host machine has been
taken off line and a new system added. Also a wireless router added and two
of the three boxes connect via wireless and the third is wired.

I set up a key and a common name. All was well I even had all three in the
same workgroup and connecting to the internet. Here is the catch; I can no
longer seem to share any folders or printers. They say they are shared and
they used to be shared but not today. I can no longer see any local network
resources even though all are on the same local workgroup and hitting the
internet. I am using a Netgear WGR614 router. From one of the boxes if I
search for an IP address I find the machine in question and can see the
shares but can not map drives of connect to printer.

Is Home Ed. a strange animal or am I missing it? In the router setup I can
find no NAT table even though I know its there, it must be! Does it have
something to do with the fact that the former host box is the one the went
off line.

I need to be up to speed as I see a new situation every other day and I hate
being licked by one.

Please help

TIA
Chris

 

[Chuck]

I am setting up a small home network for 3rd party, three computers all
running XP Home Ed. SP2. I came into it late in the game. Before I arrived
there were three systems, all wired and one acted as a host to allow both to
connect to the internet via cable broadband. The host machine has been
taken off line and a new system added. Also a wireless router added and two
of the three boxes connect via wireless and the third is wired.

I set up a key and a common name. All was well I even had all three in the
same workgroup and connecting to the internet. Here is the catch; I can no
longer seem to share any folders or printers. They say they are shared and
they used to be shared but not today. I can no longer see any local network
resources even though all are on the same local workgroup and hitting the
internet. I am using a Netgear WGR614 router. From one of the boxes if I
search for an IP address I find the machine in question and can see the
shares but can not map drives of connect to printer.

Is Home Ed. a strange animal or am I missing it? In the router setup I can
find no NAT table even though I know its there, it must be! Does it have
something to do with the fact that the former host box is the one the went
off line.

I need to be up to speed as I see a new situation every other day and I hate
being licked by one.

Please help

TIA
Chris

Chris,

I'd bet your problem starts with the browser (I'm not talking about Internet
Explorer here) subsystem on the LAN. You need to have all 3 computers using the
same master browser.

Identify the two computers that typically stay online the most, designate the
first one the master browser, and the second the backup browser. Make sure the
browser service is running on the master and backup browsers. Control Panel -
Administrative Tools - Services. Verify that the Computer Browser, and the
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper, services both show with Status = Started. Disable the
browser on the third computer.

After checking / disabling / enabling as above, power all computers off to reset
the browser settings on each. Then power the master browser on, followed by the
backup browser, and then the third computer.

The Microsoft Browstat program will show us what browsers you have in your
domain / workgroup, at any time.
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188305

You can download Browstat from either:
<http://www.dynawell.com/reskit/microsoft/win2000/browstat.zip>
<http://rescomp.stanford.edu/staff/manual/rcc/tools/browstat.zip>

Browstat is very small (40K), and needs no install. Just unzip the downloaded
file, copy browstat.exe to any folder in the Path, and run it from a command
window, by "browstat status". Make sure all computers give the same result.

For more information about the browser subsystem (very intricate), see:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188001
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188305
<http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winntas/deploy/prodspecs/ntbrowse.mspx>

 

[chris]

Well Chuck I think you've hit the nail on the head, BUT Now that I've been
back to the client's home and seen the results from the browstat test I know
I don't have a master browser. I don't have any browser.

“Status for the domain MSHOME on transport \device\NetBt_Tcp”……blah blah
blah… “Browsing service is not active on this domain”.

“Master browser cannot be determined from GetAdapterStatus”.

The services you brought to my attention are and were already running
correctly. I also went through Carey Holzman's checklist of XP home
networking bumper to bumper. Machines have been shut down and restarted to
no avail.

How hard can it be to share a few files and a couple of printers on a home
network already using a common Internet gateway?

I am going back on Tuesday at 3pm CST. Your help is appreciated and very
welcome.


TIA
Chris

 

[Carey Holzman]

If these machines are XP, try running this reg patch on them:

www.careyholzman.com/xp/home/fixnet.zip

(reboot for changes to take affect)

Carey

 

[Chuck]

Well Chuck I think you've hit the nail on the head, BUT Now that I've been
back to the client's home and seen the results from the browstat test I know
I don't have a master browser. I don't have any browser.

“Status for the domain MSHOME on transport \device\NetBt_Tcp”……blah blah
blah… “Browsing service is not active on this domain”.

“Master browser cannot be determined from GetAdapterStatus”.

The services you brought to my attention are and were already running
correctly. I also went through Carey Holzman's checklist of XP home
networking bumper to bumper. Machines have been shut down and restarted to
no avail.

How hard can it be to share a few files and a couple of printers on a home
network already using a common Internet gateway?

I am going back on Tuesday at 3pm CST. Your help is appreciated and very
welcome.


TIA
Chris

Chris,

It's not hard to share files, on computers properly setup. The trick is finding
how to properly set them up.

Look at registry key [HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa], value
restrictanonymous.
<http://www.microsoft.com/windows200...2000/techinfo/reskit/en-us/regentry/46688.asp>
<http://www.jsifaq.com/subf/tip2600/rh2625.htm>
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=246261
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=296403

The above articles refer to Windows 2000. Remember WinXP is NT V5.1, and Win2K
is NT V5.0.

Have you used the Registry Editor before? If not, it's a scary tool, but it's
pretty simple once you get used to it. Here are a couple articles that might
help:
<http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...home/using/productdoc/en/tools_regeditors.asp>
<http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/registry>

Just remember to backup the key (create a registry patch) for
[HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa] before making any changes, if
appropriate.

From the Annoyances article:
You can create a Registry patch by opening the Registry Editor, selecting a
branch, and choosing Export from the File menu. Then, specify a filename, and
press OK. You can then view the Registry patch file by opening it in Notepad
(right-click on it and select Edit). Again, just double-click on a Registry
patch file (or use Import in the Registry Editor's File menu) to apply it to the
registry.

Also look at the value everyoneincludesanonymous in the same registry key.
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=278259

If that doesn't help, provide some diagnostic information here.

Please provide ipconfig information for each computer.
Start - Run - "cmd". Type "ipconfig /all >c:\ipconfig.txt" into the command
window - Open c:\ipconfig.txt in Notepad, make sure that Format - Word Wrap is
NOT checked!, copy and paste entire contents into your next post. Identify
operating system (by name, version, and SP level) with each ipconfig listing.

Please provide browstat information for each computer.
Start - Run - "cmd". Type "browstat status >c:\browstat.txt" into the command
window - Open c:\browstat.txt in Notepad, copy and paste into your next post.

 

[headch]

Thanks Carey and Chuck,

I am glad to give anything a shot once at least. I looked over the patch
and am having some difficulty deciding what the purpose of the patch is.
What is it meant to achieve? And from the notes I sent last night do you
get a feel for why machines that previously shared files no longer do. Why
does the browstat not allow an election if the services are running
correctly?

Had I been able on the 1st visit to locate a handy XP CD I'd have installed
NetBEUI and gone on my way. Do you think this might bypass the problem?

I could not help but think the problem ultimately came about when 2 machines
that had previously found one another via a host XP box no longer had the
host box available. I mentioned in an earlier post I'd been able to ping an
IP, that machine (the one I could ping) is the new box, the one that had not
been in the workgroup before. All the systems are running XP Home-SP2.

In answer to your question Chuck about my experience in the registry I do
have a reasonable amount of experience there and in most aspects of the
system hardware and software, and a fair amount of training in Microsoft OS
back as far as DOS 3.0 and rarely run across one I can't effectively
troubleshoot. I certainly did not expect this to be more than about a 30-40
minute wireless router setup and a quick sharing of resources and connecting
a printer. Now here I am 5 days later with some amount of egg dripping off
my chin.

From looking over the text in the reg patch Carey is supplying it appears
that the anonymous access is corrected but I am unclear about the purpose of
the rest of it.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NetBT\Parameters]

"NodeType"=-
"DhcpNodeType"=-
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa]

"restrictanonymous"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\lanmanserver\parameters]
"IRPStackSize"=-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
If when I install the patch on each box I still don't get the desired
results would it be a fair assumption that I might be better off
uninstalling the network completely and setting it up from scratch? In 98SE
environments this has worked wonders in the past. Is XP as cooperative or
will it simply put everything back like it was?

Thanks again
Chris

 

[Chuck]

Thanks Carey and Chuck,

I am glad to give anything a shot once at least. I looked over the patch
and am having some difficulty deciding what the purpose of the patch is.
What is it meant to achieve? And from the notes I sent last night do you
get a feel for why machines that previously shared files no longer do. Why
does the browstat not allow an election if the services are running
correctly?

Had I been able on the 1st visit to locate a handy XP CD I'd have installed
NetBEUI and gone on my way. Do you think this might bypass the problem?

I could not help but think the problem ultimately came about when 2 machines
that had previously found one another via a host XP box no longer had the
host box available. I mentioned in an earlier post I'd been able to ping an
IP, that machine (the one I could ping) is the new box, the one that had not
been in the workgroup before. All the systems are running XP Home-SP2.

In answer to your question Chuck about my experience in the registry I do
have a reasonable amount of experience there and in most aspects of the
system hardware and software, and a fair amount of training in Microsoft OS
back as far as DOS 3.0 and rarely run across one I can't effectively
troubleshoot. I certainly did not expect this to be more than about a 30-40
minute wireless router setup and a quick sharing of resources and connecting
a printer. Now here I am 5 days later with some amount of egg dripping off
my chin.

From looking over the text in the reg patch Carey is supplying it appears
that the anonymous access is corrected but I am unclear about the purpose of
the rest of it.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NetBT\Parameters]

"NodeType"=-
"DhcpNodeType"=-
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa]

"restrictanonymous"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\lanmanserver\parameters]
"IRPStackSize"=-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
If when I install the patch on each box I still don't get the desired
results would it be a fair assumption that I might be better off
uninstalling the network completely and setting it up from scratch? In 98SE
environments this has worked wonders in the past. Is XP as cooperative or
will it simply put everything back like it was?

Thanks again
Chris

Chris,

The Restrictanonymous patch is to enable the browser to work - the browser
requires anonymous access to all computers, as it runs regardless who is logged
in at the time.
<http://www.microsoft.com/windows200...2000/techinfo/reskit/en-us/regentry/46688.asp>
<http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winntas/deploy/prodspecs/ntbrowse.mspx>

The IRPStackSize patch is to solve a specialised problem with servers running
NAV, and may not apply in your case.
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=177078

The browser is a peer-peer method of cataloguing resources (shares) on your LAN.
The master browser is elected in a pretty complicated fashion; as there is no
authoritative computer deciding which becomes the master browser, it's simply
all available browsers deciding between themselves.

After changing the browser setting on any computer, you need to power all
computers off to reset the browser settings on each. Or wait up to 52 minutes
(see the long Microsoft article for an explanation about the magic number) for
all computers to reset themselves.

Installation of NetBEUI serves as a workaround when the problem is related to
the TCP/IP on the LAN (maybe a firewall misconfigured). If you have physical
connectivity issues, or if file sharing is not set up properly on one or more
computers, adding NetBEUI will not help. And if you don't setup NetBEUI
properly, it will simply hamper diagnosing the actual problem.

If browstat helps you figure the problem out, kewl. If not, try posting
browstat and ipconfig, so we can see the problem a bit easier.

As far as the egg on the chin bit, if you don't ever get that feeling, IMHO you
are not really challenging yourself. ;-)

And Chris, posting your email address openly will get you more unwanted email,
than wanted email. Learn to munge your email address properly, to keep yourself
a bit safer when posting to open forums. Protect yourself and the rest of the
internet - read this article.
http://www.mailmsg.com/SPAM_munging.htm

 

[Carey Holzman]

Great explanations, Chuck! Thank you!
(saved me some typing!)

Carey

Thanks Carey and Chuck,

I am glad to give anything a shot once at least. I looked over the patch
and am having some difficulty deciding what the purpose of the patch is.
What is it meant to achieve? And from the notes I sent last night do you
get a feel for why machines that previously shared files no longer do.
Why
does the browstat not allow an election if the services are running
correctly?

Had I been able on the 1st visit to locate a handy XP CD I'd have
installed
NetBEUI and gone on my way. Do you think this might bypass the problem?

I could not help but think the problem ultimately came about when 2
machines
that had previously found one another via a host XP box no longer had the
host box available. I mentioned in an earlier post I'd been able to ping
an
IP, that machine (the one I could ping) is the new box, the one that had
not
been in the workgroup before. All the systems are running XP Home-SP2.

In answer to your question Chuck about my experience in the registry I do
have a reasonable amount of experience there and in most aspects of the
system hardware and software, and a fair amount of training in Microsoft
OS
back as far as DOS 3.0 and rarely run across one I can't effectively
troubleshoot. I certainly did not expect this to be more than about a
30-40
minute wireless router setup and a quick sharing of resources and
connecting
a printer. Now here I am 5 days later with some amount of egg dripping
off
my chin.

From looking over the text in the reg patch Carey is supplying it appears
that the anonymous access is corrected but I am unclear about the purpose
of
the rest of it.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NetBT\Parameters]

"NodeType"=-
"DhcpNodeType"=-
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa]

"restrictanonymous"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\lanmanserver\parameters]
"IRPStackSize"=-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
If when I install the patch on each box I still don't get the desired
results would it be a fair assumption that I might be better off
uninstalling the network completely and setting it up from scratch? In
98SE
environments this has worked wonders in the past. Is XP as cooperative or
will it simply put everything back like it was?

Thanks again
Chris

Chris,

The Restrictanonymous patch is to enable the browser to work - the browser
requires anonymous access to all computers, as it runs regardless who is
logged
in at the time.
<http://www.microsoft.com/windows200...2000/techinfo/reskit/en-us/regentry/46688.asp>
<http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winntas/deploy/prodspecs/ntbrowse.mspx>

The IRPStackSize patch is to solve a specialised problem with servers
running
NAV, and may not apply in your case.
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=177078

The browser is a peer-peer method of cataloguing resources (shares) on
your LAN.
The master browser is elected in a pretty complicated fashion; as there is
no
authoritative computer deciding which becomes the master browser, it's
simply
all available browsers deciding between themselves.

After changing the browser setting on any computer, you need to power all
computers off to reset the browser settings on each. Or wait up to 52
minutes
(see the long Microsoft article for an explanation about the magic number)
for
all computers to reset themselves.

Installation of NetBEUI serves as a workaround when the problem is related
to
the TCP/IP on the LAN (maybe a firewall misconfigured). If you have
physical
connectivity issues, or if file sharing is not set up properly on one or
more
computers, adding NetBEUI will not help. And if you don't setup NetBEUI
properly, it will simply hamper diagnosing the actual problem.

If browstat helps you figure the problem out, kewl. If not, try posting
browstat and ipconfig, so we can see the problem a bit easier.

As far as the egg on the chin bit, if you don't ever get that feeling,
IMHO you
are not really challenging yourself. ;-)

And Chris, posting your email address openly will get you more unwanted
email,
than wanted email. Learn to munge your email address properly, to keep
yourself
a bit safer when posting to open forums. Protect yourself and the rest of
the
internet - read this article.
http://www.mailmsg.com/SPAM_munging.htm

 

[chris]

Well gang it's done!!

Ever heard of Norton Internet Security?? Duh! Well it had the system at a
standstill. I removed it and bautta bing everything came to life.

I had it set up right to start with.

Guess I shoulda maybe checked that sortta stuff to start with eh?

Thanks for all the help I will be back!

Cheers
Chris

soon to have a more crippled email addy in here.

 

[Chuck]

Well gang it's done!!

Ever heard of Norton Internet Security?? Duh! Well it had the system at a
standstill. I removed it and bautta bing everything came to life.

I had it set up right to start with.

Guess I shoulda maybe checked that sortta stuff to start with eh?

Thanks for all the help I will be back!

Cheers
Chris

soon to have a more crippled email addy in here.

Aha! NIS / NPF strikes again!!

Thanks for the update, Chris.