Having one computer see the other computer

[pomp86]

Hello

I have an XP machine and a 98 se machine. The internet connection is fine on each. The other one is being connected through a router/nic. Like I cannot get both computers to see each other. Network neighborhood on the 98se machine is so weird. network places doesn't show the other computer. File and print sharing is enabled on both computers. The workgroup on both is the same. What can be the problem? This is really annoying. Thanks. Hope to hear from someone.

[PrntRhd]

Which XP, Home?

Also what are you trying to do, share files, Internet, printers?

Which computer can see which computer?

[Paul Komski]

Subnet mask the same on both?
Has at least one file or folder been shared on both?
Logged on with same user and password on both?
Can each PC see itself?

[pomp86]

yes XP Home.

Internet is fine between both, trying to share files and printer.

Both computers cannot see each other.

I used to be able to share between each computer but for some reason now i cannot, i have no clue why.

Subnet mask is the same.

What do you mean by, Logged on with same user and password on both? .

Thanks hope to hear back.

[Variable]

Sounds like a firewall problem. If it worked before and now doesn't I would disable any firewalls running, including the built in firewall on XP home. Either that, or blow a hole in the firewalls for each PC, if you manually assign IP addresses it makes it much easier.

Windows XP Home uses simple file sharing, it does not transmit username and password during authentication, nor does it authenticate in any way, therefore, having the same username and password on each machine is irrelevant. No worries that way.

[Mark Miller]

I worked with Steve on a similar problem for months and sometimes the 2 computers could "see" each other and sometimes not . Both were even XP.
Tried everything including the firewalls. Nothing ever helped.
Thank goodness that my main concern which was both being able to connect to the internet. Always did and still does work.
I think MS networking is part voodoo and part computing
IMHO
Mark

[pomp86]

The firewall in XP home is not enabled. The firewall on my router is not enabled. I really don't know what to do. It was working fine at a point then I noticed they don't see each other anymore.

[PrntRhd]

You have two networks going on, the WAN (Internet) and the LAN (local machines on your little network. The firewall to the Internet has nothing to do with seeing the local machines at all. What IP addresses are you getting if you go to the Run command, type CMD and enter, then type IPCONFIG and enter in the black box on each?
Please post IP/Subnet/Gateway for each, then we can see what's up on the LAN addresses.
This should not be your Internet address so you should be safe posting it.

[classicsoftware]

Do you have Norton Internet Securirty installed?

If not, re-run the Network wizzard on one comoputer and make a disk and run it on the other computer.

Also, can you ping each other?

Can you search for a comouter by name or IP address?

[deddard]

You might want to look at this thread, which I posted back in the stone age:D
I had problems with XP and 98 seeing each other, and near the bottom of the thread is the solution to the problem I had.

http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17192

[Variable]

The firewall to the Internet has nothing to do with seeing the local machines at all

Any firewall, whether it is software or hardware can block computers on an internal network from communicating with each other. However, in this case, it sounds like a software firewall. As usual with this type of problem, it is hard to diagnose because we have to assume a great deal. Most people don't post enough information to make anything other than, an educated guess.

[PrntRhd]

The firewall in XP home is not enabled. The firewall on my router is not enabled.
He doesn't think he has a software firewall, I was checking for IP conflict/blockage due to IP by asking for the list of IP Configs.

[classicsoftware]

Both Zone Alaram and Norton Internet Securoty can cause a computer to not only not bee seen, but also cannot see other computers especially when you are using XP which relies soley on TCP/IP unlike Win2K or Win98 which can use NetBEUI. I have had to uninstall NIS on two computers and replace them with Sygate in order to get them to work on the network.

[Variable]

Could be he doesn't have any software firewall. You could be right that it is a addressing conflict. But, as he only specifically mentioned the built in XP firewall and the hardware firewall on the router (which by default would probably not be the issue), I think he could have NIS or ZA and not even realize this could cause the issue. Just the other week we went over the almost exact same problem with another user named Newbie something or other. I said pretty much the same thing I did in this post and the user ignored it. Lo and behold about 8 posts later he realized it was indeed the built in XP firewall.

[classicsoftware]

Variable,

You expect them to follow the adice after they ask for it?????

[PrntRhd]

I was hoping to eliminate obvious stuff (obvious to us anyway) first.
Back to Basics!

Variable:
Lo and behold about 8 posts later he realized it was indeed the built in XP firewall.
Yes I did see that, I was a bit frustrated and stepped back before your attempt.

[PrntRhd]

Pomp86,
I finally found the link I was looking for: annoyances (http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article04-108)
The comments were not about you, they were about some others.
:)

[pomp86]

I don't have any software firewalls installed and dont have the ICF enabled. What I don't get is when this was working and both computers could see each other, I never made a seperate user account on my xp machine with the same user name and password of my 98se machine. And I don't get why everything is saying you have to do that. You guys have been great replying and catching up so far!!

[PrntRhd]

from annoyances:
# I can't "see" other computers in My Network Places/Network Neighborhood

If one or more computers is not showing up in your My Network Places/Network Neighborhood folder, one of the computers is not configured properly. Here are some things to look for:

1. Make sure none of computers are set up to use a "Windows NT Domain" or a "Business Domain."
2. All of the computers should have the same setting for "Workgroup."
3. All computer should have the same protocol, clients, and services installed (e.g. TCP/IP, File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks, and Client for Microsoft Networks). Note that these protocols you have slightly different names in different versions of Windows. If you're using Internet Connection Sharing, the NetBEUI protocol should not be used; otherwise, you may need NetBEUI in order to access other computers on your network.
4. No two computers should have the same computer name.
5. Some computer names supported by Windows 2000 and Windows XP are not compatible with Windows 9x/Me, such as names with spaces. Simplify all your computer names and try again.
6. Don't discount the possibility of a hardware malfunction or a bad network cable. New network adapters (NICs) are ridiculously cheap and easily replaced.

It could even be a bad NIC card!!

[classicsoftware]

Originally posted by pomp86
Hello

I have an XP machine and a 98 se machine. The internet connection is fine on each. The other one is being connected through a router/nic.

Which one is going through the router?

How is the other one connecting?

If the XP box is not getting an IP address, that can cause the problem as the sub-net mask will be different than the one for the 98. box.

On the Windows 98 Computer:

Start->Run->WINIPCFG A small window will appear. CLick on the drop down box and select your NIC. Please write down all of the information and post it back here.

On the XP Computer:

Start->Run->CMD The command window will appear. Type IPCONFIG and press enter. Please write down all of the information and post it back here.

[pomp86]

hey guys.

You guys are great! Glad I was getting all those responses and stuff. This kid Zero from anti-spyware boards I'm in, recommended me here when I was asking for help. Thank you again for your help. I was able to finally get the two computers to see each other. I changed the workgroup name to a better one, and I changed the computer name of the 98se machine to a better one. I restarted and they are seeing each other. Then I shut down both computers completely, then I turned them back on, and they are still seeing each other. It's about time they are back to seeing each other and staying like that. I appreciate it again and THANKS!

pomp86

[pomp86]

Did anyone see my last post? Thanks, just wondering.

[PrntRhd]

yes we did. :)

What did you change on the workgroup, etc that fixed it?

[pomp86]

Yes, I actually changed the workgroup name to a better one, and I changed the computer name of the 98se machine and they still see each other after both computers are started up after a power down!!

[PrntRhd]

Uhmmmm,
Let me rephrase this:
What was the problem with the old names that you fixed with better ones? Someone might read this thread and it might help them fix theirs.

[pomp86]

I don't know. I first had it at something as the max number of characters you could use, and was like not working, then I had it at like MSHOMES, that really didn't work, so I just changed it to something better i guess and the two are communicating again. Thank you for your help, I appreciate it man.

[Variable]

**blinks**

glad it's working


Variable