home network file-sharing probs

[FastLearner]

Hi all. I just set up my home network today (or tried to, anyway) which consists of a wireless router, an ethernet wire connected PC, a PC card connected laptop, and a shared DSL connection. All of the hardware (except for the DSL modem) were made by Siemens and belong to the Gigaset series. Anyway, here's my problem:

I can access the internet with both the PC and the laptop. I CANNOT get the computers to recognize each other. When I search for other computers on the network from within My Network Places (yes, I gave both computers the same workgroup name), I am getting an error saying that I do not have the rights to view the network workgroup computers. This problem is happening from both the PC and the laptop, so I'm assuming I screwed something up with the router configuration, but I'm not quite sure. I have picked a few folders and granted permissions on bthem just to try everything out, but it's just not working. Any help would be appreciated...:D

--

[PrntRhd]

What Operating systems are on each PC (and laptop)?
What computer Name for each PC/laptop?

[FastLearner]

yes, here is the info:

PC
__
WinXP Home
name: garyspc


Laptop
____
Win XP Home
name: garyslaptop

Thanks.

[PrntRhd]

See Paul's reply to a similar question in this post:
http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26864&highlight=XP+guest

[FastLearner]

Basically, that's what I've already done. Do I need to actually run the wizard, or was simply choosing to share my C drive okay? At any rate, my problem seems to be somewhat of an access issue, but neither of my computers can recognize the other. The only thing that is being shared is the internet connection. Even when I allowed the entire C drive to be shared (my PC), it is still not showing up on My Network Places, but the name of the workgroup is showing up.

[PrntRhd]

Did you put a Guest account for the other computer into the first and vice versa?

[FastLearner]

No, I am the only user on both computers--admin rights, I think :)

[PrntRhd]

I seem to remember having to make a guest account with the specific name of the computer to be connected to on each to be able to share on each.

[FastLearner]

Thanks--I'll give that a try. Do you mean just create a second user for each computer and give them full rights and privileges? Seems like a lot of unnecessary work, but I'm getting desperate at this point.

[PrntRhd]

Try this first:
practically networked (http://www.practicallynetworked.com/qa/qa20030130.shtml)

[FastLearner]

Great link. Thanks. I'm reading through it as we speak!

[Paul Komski]

http://www.wown.com/j_helmig/wxplanch.htm for a page with lots of easy to follow pics.

[FastLearner]

Thanks Paul. I'm going to check that out right now. I tried to follow through with the wizard and I even tried creating new accounts on both computers, but the two computers just cannot recognize each other--either that or they are not allowed to talk to each other yet. I'm hoping the link you gave me will do the trick. Thanks again:)

[PrntRhd]

newbie2004,
Just checking, are both computers FAT or both NTFS?

[FastLearner]

Both are NTFS. I checked all of my settings, and they appear to be the same as the ones demonstrated on the link Paul gave me. NetBios is enabled on both computers. I must've changed something, but now on my laptop (name: garyslaptop), The name of the laptop (only, but it's a start) is showing up under the workgroup computers with a Windows Explorer search. The same attempt with the PC results in the same 'ole "You don't have the permissions to look at this network" type of message.

[FastLearner]

And just when I though it couldn't get any worse, I am NO LONGER able to connect to the internet from my laptop anymore--SERVER NOT FOUND error every time. The desktop is connecting fine to the internet, however. Ya know, my life was much easier before I went out and bought this darned router. And just think, when I'm done with this project, I still need to install my USB Wireless adapter to my PC to eliminate the cables altogether--except, of course, for the Cat5 cable running from my router to my DSL modem, and the other Cat 5 running from the DSL modem to the DSL splitter!

So, let me recap my problem, since I'm starting to think I will never be able to fix this one.

I have a router (fresh installed) and a laptop with a wireless PC Card (also freshly installed). I have no home network whatsoever. The only thing I still can do (thank God) is connect to the internet with my desktop through the router and then through the DSL modem. I cannot enjoy ANY of the other benefits associated with a home network, such as file-sharing, printer sharing, or a shared internet connection. The crazy thing is I have followed instructions found in all of the instruction manuals to a tee.

Please Help!!!!!

[Variable]

Windows XP Home only uses the guest account for networking. If both machines are XP home there is likely not a permission issues with networking (since there are none, permissions sent, that is.) You can turn off the Guest account but, this shouldn't cause any problems with file sharing, but if you have it turned off, turn it on.
Are you sure that both machines are XP HOME? Right click My Computer, Properties, It should be on the General Tab.
If somehow two XP home machines can't do file sharing then you have a firewall blocking it. You did share the Drives right? Not just a folder.

Don't worry about security behind the firewall i.e. internal network. Your using XP home. There is none.

[FastLearner]

Hi. Yes, I am sure both machines are running Windows XP Home Edition, and they both have Service Pack 1 installed. I thought one of the tips was going to pan out because I selected an entire drive this time to share with the network, and for about 10 minutes, my computer was churning and it looked like it was making my hard drive available to the network. But then, when I logged back into the network with both computers after restarting my system(or logged onto to the router since I have no network), the same thing is happening. If a firewall is preventing me from sharing files, would it also prevent me from being able to detect the other computers on the network, or prevent me from sharing an internet connection? If so, where would this firewall be--in the router or in the OSs? How can I turn this off? I have turned off WEP for the time being, even though I don't think that was the problem--one less obstacle for now, I guess. Thanks so far.

[Variable]

no, usually if a firewall is blocking you, you can see the network share, but not access it. I thought you could see the share but, not access it. Are you using WEP?
Try connecting the laptop via cat5 to the router and network them, that way you can you know its a wifi setting causing the problems. Also,are you useing static or DHCP assigned addresses? Use DHCP to verify it's not a user issue with addressing. If both machines get IP's and settings from the router and you have the machines sharing files you should see each of them in network properties. You don't have to reboot to do this btw, you can make changes and leave them alone.

[FastLearner]

Hi Variable. I have turned WEP off for the time being just to remove it from the equation. I will try to connect the laptop with CAT 5 cable (oh man, another 20 bucks!) and see if the network will work then. As of now, both log in to the network, but I am not allowed to see them--I am seeing the name of the workgroup, however, from within Windows Explorer. It
is just when I try to open the workgroup to see the other machines on the network that I am told I do not have the permissions to access these network resources. Quite possibly some WiFi setting, but I'm not sure. I'll let you know if I'm able to access the network correctly with the laptop hardwired to the router--my guess is 'no', but it's worth a shot.

[FastLearner]

Oh yeah. I forgot to mention that when in run the IPCONFIG command with the laptop, NO standard gateway address is showing up. Should it be? One is showing up with my desktop when I run the same command. The laptop does, however, show an IP Address and subnet mask. May explain why I can't access the internet with the laptop. The file sharing problem--beats me. The STATUS page of my router is showiung that both machines are able to log onto the network with no problem. No WEP yet, but when the time comes, I'm sure I'll be asking questions about that too.:)

[Variable]

You have turned off the firewall built into XP? No software firewall isntalled? You didnt answer on the DHCP question.

[FastLearner]

I am using DHCP assigned addresses on both machines. I did not turn any firewalls off--should I have? Anyway, I was able to make a little progress today. I manually inserted the gateway address into my laptop (still using DHCP for IP address and subnet mask--which is assigning the proper addresses as far as I have seen) and I am now able to connect to the internet again from both machines. I still have no network access rights to view the network resources, however. The thing that is killing me is I know I am only one or two small settings away from being able to use my network, but I just can't figure out what is wrong. Quick question, does Remote Support have to be turned on? I was not sure, so I left it at its default setting for now--disabled.

[Paul Komski]

You have probably double-checked everything but ...

Are you sure you are sharing at least one folder on each computer. Sharing it such that the upturned hand icon shows on the shared folder in My Computer? If you are sharing the whole drive (not recommended) ensure you don't just use the default admin share but add a new share with a new name.

Do all the pcs have the same subnet mask setting; say 255.255.255.0.

If you are not doing so it could just be worth logging on to each computer with the same log-on name AND use a password. These are not generally mandatory but it takes certain areas out of contention.

By Remote Support do you mean enable Remote Desktop. If so this would, AFAIK, be a red herring with respect to te networking settings.

[FastLearner]

Sorry, i don't know the acronym AFAIK--does this mean I should not enable Remote Desktop? Boy, I hated asking that because everyone probably thinks I'm an idiot by now (I saw you all nodding your head up and down.LOL)

I am seeing the upside-down hand in My Computer for the drive I have chosen to share.

As far as the rest of your post--I don't understand. Why would I need to add a new user account in order to use my network--the one in which I will be the only user? It is not making sense to me. And to be truthful, I don't really know what you meant by shares--or how to assign them, for that matter. I once tried adding a new account, but the new user had absolutely nothing loaded except for the basic Internet Explorer, etc. All programs and settings were not appearing for the new user.

Thanks for your patience!!

------------------
"It's better to be pissed off than pissed on." - Unknown, 1999:)

[malcore]

Remote access should be disabled by default until you set a computer to share a resource. Remote desktop is not necessary.

Things to double-check for a home network:

1. All computers are in the same subnet.

2. NetBIOS over TCP/IP is enabled on all computers.

3. There are TCP/IP bindings for "File and Printer Sharing" and
"Client for Microsoft Networks" on all computers.

4. XP's Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) is disabled on the local
area network connection. ICF is for use only on a direct connection
to the Internet using a dial-up, DSL, or cable modem.(You are using a router as a gateway) Control Panel > Network Connections > Local Area Network - right click > Properties > Advanced - uncheck ICF (protect my computer....)

5. All other firewall programs, such as ZoneAlarm, are properly
configured. Disable them while troubleshooting the network.


Edit- and BTW (by the way), FWIW (for what it's worth) AFAIK means "as far as I know", AFAIK. ;) :p (hate these net acronyms myself)

[FastLearner]

Malcore, your tip #4 has resulted in my network working as smooth as butter. I had written an entire post detailing the steps I took to check the problem, but when I tried to post, I realized I wasn't logged in and the page expired itself while I was loging in--so I'll keep this one short.

It turned out to be the only thing wrong was my ICF was enabled. I simply disabled it on both machines, restarted both machines, and bammm........:)

It worked. Thanks everyoine for all your help.

My next projects are to activate WEP--that should be fun!
and to install a USB Wireless adapter to my desktop--hoping I don't screw all my settings up and end up back in the same boat, but I doubt it. Wish me luck.:cool:

[Variable]

/sigh

:p