View Full Version : 'Simple' home network not working
Trying to set up a small home network with two PCs sharing (via ICS) an ADSL internet connection (PCI ADSL card).
PC1 - WinXP Pro (ADSL connection) / PC2 - Win98SE. Linksys EtherFast 10/100 5-Port Workgroup Switch.
Initially I used WinXP Network Setup Wizard and went through the whole procedure on both PCs with no problem - distinct PC names and identical network name were specified. The partitions to be shared were specified on each PC. Looking at 'Entire Network'/'Network Neighborhood' each PC only showed itself and no mention of the other. The NICs and cabling are installed and functioning properly. The switch detects both PCs immediately at full duplex 100Mbps. I have specified a network address in TCP/IP Properties (192.168.1.1,2 - 255.255.255.0) and have 'pinged' each PC and received instantaneous replies via the network.
All this has been checked and rechecked many times, and I've spent hours delving into books and websites on the subject.
Please! Not another few months of being banished by my e-mailing, chatrooming, messengering teenagers. Dads have rights, too.
Any help very gratefully received. Thanks.
Ghost_Hacker
08-21-2002, 07:50 PM
Well, first check out the post in this thread:
networking computer can't see itself (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15923)
Then go
here (http://www.wown.info/j_helmig/wxplnfrw.htm) to see how to check for and disable XP's firewall, which can cause file sharing problems.
Hope this helps :)
Will investigate thread asap - thanks.
Just a couple of thoughts:
1. The Win98SE PC used to have Intel AnyPoint wireless networking installed, but this was uninstalled prior to the present network. (Uninstalled 'properly' via Win98 Add/Remove.) Could there be any remnants remaining which are screwing up the current networking attempts?
2. The Win98SE PC presents a dialog at startup:
"Enter your network password for Microsoft Networking, etc."
There are no multiple user accounts on this PC. I have checked and there is no password in being. I can press Esc or click OK or Cancel with the same effect - the PC continues to boot up as normal. Where this dialog came from I don't know. My son (his PC) says that he may have installed/uninstalled some prog which triggered it.
Cheers.
Ghost_Hacker
08-22-2002, 09:12 AM
The Win98SE PC used to have Intel AnyPoint wireless networking installed, but this was uninstalled prior to the present network. (Uninstalled 'properly' via Win98 Add/Remove.) Could there be any remnants remaining which are screwing up the current networking attempts?
I doubt it. But to be sure run "winipcfg" and check that no other network interfaces are present. (use the drop down , which of course won't work if there are no other interfaces to display) You could also reinstall Windows networking by uninstalling then reinstalling all the components displayed in your network properties. However, I wouldn't recommend doing that just yet.
The Win98SE PC presents a dialog at startup:
"Enter your network password for Microsoft Networking, etc."
There are no multiple user accounts on this PC. I have checked and there is no password in being. I can press Esc or click OK or Cancel with the same effect - the PC continues to boot up as normal. Where this dialog came from I don't know. My son (his PC) says that he may have installed/uninstalled some prog which triggered it.
Open your network properties and make sure that the "primary network login" is set to "Windows logon" and not "client for Microsoft networks".
Hope this helps :)
EDIT I'm betting that your problem is XP's firewall which is enabled by using one of it's networking wizards. So disabling it for the network interface (and not the internet interface) should solve your problem.
Ghost_Hacker - thanks. I've checked through the thread that you mentioned and tried all suggestions, but to no avail.
Client for MS Networks is installed and ticked, File/Printer Sharing is enabled, NetBEUI is installed on both machines, and in TCP/IP Properties>Advanced>WINS 'Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP' is ticked.
IC Firewall is disabled, but ZoneAlarm has been running for many months on the XP PC, and the home network is in the 'Trusted Zone'.
Using <<RUN \\other_computername>> gets the reponse 'The network path was not found', but <<RUN \\this_computername>> gets a list of all shared resources on this_computer only.
I don't know how to try <<RUN \\address>> because the addresses are automatically assigned. (Is there a way of determining which address has been assigned?)
The WinXP Pro machine has only one 'Main User' account, and so a password is never requested (the 98SE PC has been detailed above).
On the WinXP machine, the Server Service is 'Started'.
I am not sure what the winipcfg command does, but I ran it on the 98SE PC (wouldn't run on WinXP) and it gave:
Host Name: this_computername.mshome.net
DNS Servers: 192.168.0.1
Node Type: Mixed
Ethernet Adapter Info: PPP Adapter
Adapter Address: 44-45-53-54-00-00
IP Address: 0.0.0.0
Subnet Mask: 0.0.0.0
(Under 'Host Name' does the 'mshome' refer to the workgroup name? My workgroup has a different name which I've checked many times.)
In Network Properties (98SE) the Primary Network Login is was set to 'Client for MS Networks', which has been recommended to me many times. I changed it to 'Windows Logon' but with no success.
Many thanks.
Whoops! Middle section above should read:
Using RUN\\other_computername gets the reponse 'The network path was not found', but RUN\\this_computername gets a list of all shared resources on this_computer only.
I don't know how to try RUN\\address because the addresses are automatically assigned. (Is there a way of determining which address has been assigned?)
Cheers.
Ghost_Hacker
08-23-2002, 01:54 PM
(Under 'Host Name' does the 'mshome' refer to the workgroup name? My workgroup has a different name which I've checked many times.)
The host name and Workgroup name have nothing to do with each other. The host name is "enabled" in your TCP/IP properties under the "dns" tap and is proably needed by your ISP. So do not delete it.
I don't know how to try RUN\\address because the addresses are automatically assigned. (Is there a way of determining which address has been assigned?)
On XP type "ipconfig" at the command prompt for a listing of the IP information for your adapters. On 98 use "winipcfg" but remember to use the drop down menu (proably under "adapter") to list the other adapter in your computer and it's IP information. Both commands will list IP information for your computers even if the addresses are "auto" assigned.
I have a problem understanding where you are in your troubleshooting session. For example how can you do this : "I have specified a network address in tP/IP Properties (192.168.1.1,2 - 255.255.255.0) and have 'pinged' each PC and received instantaneous replies via the network."
If this is true: "I don't know how to try RUN\\address because the addresses are automatically assigned.
I'll assume that you have changed some setting between postings???? Anyway, the above information should help you to get the info you need.
In Network Properties (98SE) the Primary Network Login is was set to 'Client for MS Networks', which has been recommended to me many times. I changed it to 'Windows Logon' but with no success.
Do you have any mapped drives which are "set" at startup or any program that accesses the other computer at startup?
ZoneAlarm has been running for many months on the XP PC, and the home network is in the 'Trusted Zone'.
Disable your internet connection for a second and then disable Zonealarm. Once Zonealarm is off, try the "run" command with first the name and then the IP address used.
Hope this help :)
Yes, my mistake. I had tried assigning addresses, with no success, and reverted to auto assignment.
Working through suggestions now.
Ghost_Hacker
08-23-2002, 07:11 PM
After doing some research I have found that the ICS client wizard use MSHOME as the default workgroup name it assignes computers it's ran on. ( this explains where the MSHOME host name came from. It uses the workgroup name it's giving during the install as part of the "host" name it assigns)
If you did use this wizard open your network properties,(on the 98 computer) highlight "TCP/IP.." and go to the "bindings" page. Check that "Client for MS networks" and "file and print sharing" are both enabled.
NOTE: These are not the same settings as is found in the "file and print sharing" botton. You must go to the "bindings" tab to check.
Threw in the towel after trying every suggestion and still exactly where I started.
Imaged the C: partition (as a fall-back) and installed WinXP on the second PC - immediately recognised the network. Problem 'solved'.
Cheers.
Ghost_Hacker
08-25-2002, 07:14 AM
That's one way to fix it. :D
Yes, but I appreciate your time & effort and was hoping to crack it 'properly'. Thanks.
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