XP Home Network Problems

[Jeff Clarke]

I have 2 computers network together via a CAT 5 hub.

One computer has XP Home, the other XP Pro.

The XP Home computer is the host.

I've run the Home Network Setup on the XP Home PC,
everything ran fine. Workgroup is called HOME.

On the XP Pro side, I had it setup for a Domain
previously to connect to client's network when there.

I know there are some issues with Domains and setting up
a Home Network and was told to disable the Domain.

I believe I did that - and set it up as Workgroup, also
called HOME.

Both PC's ahve different computer names.

I then ran the XP Home Network Setup on XP-Pro CD.

Here's the issue.

On the XP Home PC, in Windows Explorer, under 'My Network
Places', 'Entire Network', 'Microsoft Windows Network' -
I see the workgroup icon for HOME - but can't access it.

On the XP Home PC, I can see my XP Pro PC and XP Home PC.

Please give me some guidelines to check to make sure I
have everything setup ok.

Please be specific (I'm a little green at this).

Thanks!

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

On the XP Home PC, in Windows Explorer, under 'My Network
Places', 'Entire Network', 'Microsoft Windows Network' -
I see the workgroup icon for HOME - but can't access it.

On the XP Home PC, I can see my XP Pro PC and XP Home PC.

Jeff,

XP Home always uses Simple File Sharing, but on XP Professional
you have a choice. To activate Simple File Sharing, go to Start,
Control Panel, Folder Options, View, and check "Use Simple File
Sharing (Recommended)". Click on OK.

If it still doesn't work, check whether your Guest accounts are
active on both computers. For more details, please see
http://www.michna.com/kb/WxNetwork.htm.

Hans-Georg

 

[Jeff Clarke]

Thanks Hans, but I still can't gain access.

On the XP Home PC (the Host) I did not have the Guest
account active, so I made it active, re-booted and tried
to access via Windows Explorer from my XP Pro PC.

Got the same error message "HOME is not accessible, you
might not have permission to use this network
resource....etc.)"

I then tried to access my XP Pro PC from the XP Home PC,
same message.

Guest account is active on both PCs
Simple File Sharing is active on the XP Pro PC.

Just seems odd, I can see the workgroup on the network,
but can't access.

I even created a user account on the XP Home PC to match
my current account on the XP Pro one...no luck.

Appreciate any further help.

 

[Chuck]

Thanks Hans, but I still can't gain access.

On the XP Home PC (the Host) I did not have the Guest
account active, so I made it active, re-booted and tried
to access via Windows Explorer from my XP Pro PC.

Got the same error message "HOME is not accessible, you
might not have permission to use this network
resource....etc.)"

I then tried to access my XP Pro PC from the XP Home PC,
same message.

Guest account is active on both PCs
Simple File Sharing is active on the XP Pro PC.

Just seems odd, I can see the workgroup on the network,
but can't access.

I even created a user account on the XP Home PC to match
my current account on the XP Pro one...no luck.

Appreciate any further help.

Jeff,

On the XP Pro computer, did you activate Guest thru Local User Manager (Start -
Run - "lusrmgr.msc")? Control Panel - User Accounts won't work the same for XP
Pro.

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[Jeff Clarke]

Hi Chuck,

I double-checked using Run, lusrmgr.msc and the Guest
account is already active.

Just to be clear...my goal is to connect to the XP Home
PC from the XP Pro pc.

Some added details that may help.

"On the XP Pro PC"
Using Windows Explorer, under 'My Network Places, I can
see the group I created called "HOME" but can't access
any further.

"On the XP Home PC"
I can also see the "HOME" group, but can go one level
deeper and actually see my XP Pro and XP Home PC names,
but cannot access the XP Pro one. When I access XP Home,
I see all my shared folders and printer.

Thanks

-Jeff

 

[Chuck]

Hi Chuck,

I double-checked using Run, lusrmgr.msc and the Guest
account is already active.

Just to be clear...my goal is to connect to the XP Home
PC from the XP Pro pc.

Some added details that may help.

"On the XP Pro PC"
Using Windows Explorer, under 'My Network Places, I can
see the group I created called "HOME" but can't access
any further.

"On the XP Home PC"
I can also see the "HOME" group, but can go one level
deeper and actually see my XP Pro and XP Home PC names,
but cannot access the XP Pro one. When I access XP Home,
I see all my shared folders and printer.

Thanks

-Jeff

Jeff,

This is definitely an authentication / authorisation issue - the shares are
visible, so not a browser problem anyway.

Check Properties for the shares - Sharing-Permissions, and Security. Each shows
you a Permissions list. "Guest" or "Everyone" has to be in BOTH lists.

If THAT doen't help, OK, let's try a new tool. SoftPerfect Network Scanner
(free).
<http://www.softperfect.com/products/networkscanner/>

SNS will produce you a nice text report, showing all visible shares.
Install and run on both computers please:
Options - Auto Detect IP Range
Options - Program Options - Scan for shared resources, All, Resolve
host names
File - Start Scanning
File - Save Results
And email me two text reports, in a zip file.

I'm "rzurcetin AT oohay DOT moc" (look at the address in the mirror). ;-)
Please DO NOT unmunge and repeat here like another person who posts here. :-(

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[Jeff Clarke]

Hi Chuck,

Hey, I got it to work!

It had to do with the firewalls.

On the XP Pro side I disabled the Windows Internet
Firewall.

On both PCs I use Zone Alarm...and had previously tried
to disable and connect - but didn't work for some reason.

What I did then was to simply setup the IP address of
each PC under a Subnet in the Trusted Zone.

At first, even that didn't work 100%...until I tried to
connect from XP Home to XP Pro and I got a Guest signon
screen.

Once I got on, I then re-booted the XP Home PC and tried
to connect from my XP Pro pc and it worked.

I then added my shared printer and I'm golden.

Appreciate all your help - you lead me on the right track.

Cheers!

 

[Chuck]

Hi Chuck,

Hey, I got it to work!

It had to do with the firewalls.

On the XP Pro side I disabled the Windows Internet
Firewall.

On both PCs I use Zone Alarm...and had previously tried
to disable and connect - but didn't work for some reason.

What I did then was to simply setup the IP address of
each PC under a Subnet in the Trusted Zone.

At first, even that didn't work 100%...until I tried to
connect from XP Home to XP Pro and I got a Guest signon
screen.

Once I got on, I then re-booted the XP Home PC and tried
to connect from my XP Pro pc and it worked.

I then added my shared printer and I'm golden.

Appreciate all your help - you lead me on the right track.

Cheers!

Awright Jeff!

Firewalls again.

Thanks for the update.

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.