Home network no connect?

[notenought]

Hi, I am new here. This is a great board. I am not sure if this is the right place to post my question, but here goes:
1) Just added a 4 port dsl router to share the internet. Use default DCHP. All 4 computers can get on to the internet ok at the same time. No problem here, mission accomplished.
2) Enable file and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks. All hard drive on all computers are set to share to everyone with no password.
3) None of the computer see each other in Network Neighorhood?? No icon show up there. All 4 computers are set up to the same default workgroup name "Workgroup" with unique computer name.
4) From computer 1 ping the dynamic assigned IP address of a second computer returns 4 timeouts. They don't talk to each other!
1 computer uses Windows 2000, 1 uses Windows ME, and the other 2 uses Windows 98 SE. What do I need to do to setup the home network to share files and printer and also play some network game with each other? Any pointer is very much appericated.

[YODA74]

If the printer you wish to share is on COMP1, open the Printers folder in "My Computer" on COMP1 and right click on the printer you wish to share. This window is similar to the drive sharing window except there is only the option of a single password. You do not have to assign a password unless you want to. Simply click on "Share As" and assign a name to the printer.

Once the printer is set to be shared, you can set up the printer on the other computer (COMP2) by opening the printer folder in "My Computer" on COMP2 and clicking the "Add Printer" icon. The Windows "Add Printer Wizard" will prompt you to choose a local or network printer, choose network and click next. Now it will ask you for the "Network path or queue name". Instead of typing in the path, click the "Browse" button under the field and you will see a new window titled "Browse for Printer". You will see a drop list of the network neighborhood. At the bottom of the list you will see the name of the other computer (COMP1) and just to the left of it there will be a + sign in a box. Click the + sign and the printer will be shown under the computer name. Highlight the printer and click "Ok".

The computer will now install the printer from the driver files from the other computer. After the installation is complete, I recommend printing the test page to be sure it is set up correctly///Hope this helps a little.

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Treading,Troden,Trails
HERE (http://www.davematthewsband.com)

[andyswork@beci.net]

I have had the same problem. First check your tcp/ip settings for the same numbers on your card only. Then go to network places or network neighborhood right click and click on find computer, type in the names, I had to do this about 4 or 5 times for all of em to be seen. Good luck.

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One day I will be a pro, Thanks Andy

[notenought]

Thanks for the replies. I am not at a point I can share printer yet. The current problem is none of the computer see each other except the Windows 2000 computer. I also did the find computer multiple times, it always come up empty. I forget in my first post that the Windows 2000 computer do see all the other computers in My Network Places or using the find computer. But when double click on the computer icon it take a while to come back with a dialogue box saying there is no path to that computer. All the Other 3 computer don't have anything show up in Network Neighborhood. I am not sure what you mean by "check your tcp/ip settings for the same numbers on your card only"?

[This message has been edited by notenought (edited 12-14-2001).]

[iisbob]

Useing W2000 on a network is a little more tricky than the W9X kernel machines.

It's mostly to do with the way NT ( W2000 is based on the NT OS ) handles security. The win9X machines aren't very security conscience so you normally have no problem sharing their resources ( or seeing them ) on a network-all you have to do is enable the file&print sharing in Network Neighborhood.

For W2000 you do basicly the same, set your permissions for everyone as you wish ( read only, full control, etc. ) then you have to create a user account in the names of your PC's for W2000 to recognize them and allow them on it's network.

Create a set of users with your other PC's identification names and set their user levels { admin, guest, etc.. } then W2000 will recognize thenm and you'll be able to see your W2000 machine on them and share files from your w2000 to them.

Just as you had to specifiy password settings on your connection of the W9X machines, you'll have to do the same when you map to the W2000 machine; if you intend for them to use the mapped drives consistently i'd recommend checking the box that states " recconnect at logon ".


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iisbob
""I was gratified to be able to answer promptly, and I did. I said I didn't know."
Mark Twain

[notenought]

iisbob, thanks for the reply. I think I know most of what you said. I already did all those except create a set of users with your other PC's identification names and set their user levels. That might explain why the W2K machine see all the other computer but were not able to open it and verse versa. But how come the 2 w98 se machines don't see each other? Likewise with the ME machine? Something here I can't get over. And also the ping. None of the computer can ping the other. All come back with timeouts. Yet all are surf'ing the inet at the same time! Strange!!!

[Gallaeglagh]

Something to check on the Win 98/me machines is the network protocols. I find if you have these 3 installed they should be fine. TCP/IP, NetBEUI and IPX/SPX

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Indecision may or may not be my problem

[notenought]

I have Microsoft Networks, Microsoft file and printer sharing and TCP/IP. I don't have NetBEUI and IPX/SPX. My understanding is that NetBEUI and IPX/SPX are for Novel networking. I am not connected to any Novel network of computer. All these computers are on Microsoft OS and networks. AM I worng on that?

[iisbob]

NetBeui { network BIOS extended user interface } is for small networks of up to 10 PC's, and it's non-routable, which means you can't use it for internet access. It's a Microsoft standard. IPX/SPX was a protocol developed by Novell for their NOS { network operating system }, it's fallen by the wayside as moreo and more networks are defaulting to the older TCP/IP standard { same protocol the net uses }.

Normally TCP/IP is installed as the default protocol in your netowrk setup; make sure you have the same workgroup name on all systms, make sure you have a unique IP for each system with the subnest mask verifying their network standard. Example: PC 1 has an ip of 192.152.5.23, PC 2 will have an ip of 192.152.5.24- both will have a subnet mask of 255.255.255.125, { this last octet is arbitrary really, it'll be different for each ip }

This is typical of a Class C network with a large no# of networks but a small no# of clients.

If you are using Internet connection sharing, your main PC, { the server } should prompt you doing the IC process to insert a floppy so it can configure the settings for all your clients.

If you're unable to ping a client this means that your ip's are not configured correctly.

You may have to start over from the begining and reset all your network settings.

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iisbob
""I was gratified to be able to answer promptly, and I did. I said I didn't know."
Mark Twain

[Ghost_Hacker]

Hate to say this guys.... but your getting ahead of yourselfs http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

This fellow uses DHCP. His IP adresses should already be correct ,all things being equal.

To check what your IP addresses are type "IPconfig" at a dos promtp. The default gateway and subnet mask should be the same on all computers. Only the IP address will differ.


When you look at net 'hood your looking at the browse list not at any computers. This list can be out of date, so type "\\computername" in the "run" window to troubleshoot your problem.

There are already a few post which give details on how to fix this problem. Have you look at them?


Good luck http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif



[This message has been edited by Ghost_Hacker (edited 12-16-2001).]

[Rick]

also Winipcfg will give you the IP info needed,
Even using alaboard or other share software.
You will need to run it on each node

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To ERR is HUMAN
To REALLY screw things UP, YOU NEED a COMPUTER !

[Ghost_Hacker]

One last thing before I logoff for today.

Have you tried placing a hub between the computers and the router.
This will get rid of any chance of the problem being related to the router's configuration.

[notenought]

You are all correct. I am using DCHP and the IP address are all assigned automatically and correctly when the computer powers up. And I also have a switch put in one of the long cable run to have onr ME and one 98 SE machine pluged into the switch. Also that I am not having any computer running as a server. There is no server in my home network. I meant to set up every computer in the same workgroup and use peer to peer network, no server needed. The internet sharing is handled by the DSL/Cable router which is powered on 24/7. None of the computer is setup for inet sharing via Windows. These are all good basic checks. I know about the winipcfg and the ipconfig, in fact that's how I find out the IP address assigned to the computer in question. I find that very odd the ping from one computer to the next always returns timeouts. I think this is one of the key. But I don't know how to go about to resolve this one.

The only thing I have not done per Isbob's suggestion is to add NetBeui to the network protocol. I am going to do that today. I hope this will help. Thanks for all the help so far. You guys are great!

[iisbob]

Ghost i was running on the asumption he hadn't set it up for ICs correctly-so in this case the DHCP wouldn't apply. I usually find it much less of a headache to assign ip's myself staticly in a small network than to depend on dynamic routing.

This is why i suggested to him to use a manual setup. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

If you are unable to ping oine or more clients-start with the obvious and check all your physical connections,ie..cables, hubs, routers. Rememeber that every compnent you add increases the odds of a failure and also increases your troubleshooting times. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

My suggestion is for you to net one system at a time together-to trouble shoot the nic cards, hub(s) and cables, then to slowly add one client at a time( do not set up ICS at this time ) until you can rule out a physical problem.



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iisbob
""I was gratified to be able to answer promptly, and I did. I said I didn't know."
Mark Twain

[diurnal]

Try this link not enoughet http://www.wown.com/

See if that helps you any.


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Sledgehammer will save the day!

[notenought]

Hi iisbob. What is ICS? That I don't know, may be that is my problem?
Now here is the latest status. I have only the W2K and the Win ME machine powered on. Both machine connected to one of the 4 ports on the DSL router directly vic NIC and CAT 5 cable. Both computer get an IP address assigned by the router. Both can get on the inet at the same time. None can ping each other. The W2K machine see the ME computer but when click on the icon, the error message is NO Path to that Computer. The Win ME machine don't see the W2K machine at all.

Now I added NetBeui protocol per iisbob to both machines and reboot both of them. The W2K machine can get to all the folders and file in the Win ME machine. Success! The Win ME machine so see the W2K machine via find computer but not Network Places. Use the find computer result and double click the W2K machine icon result in some sort of not logon error. I think this is the W2K security thing. I need to work out the W2K file sharing premission. Currently I have everyone and full access set. But the Win ME still can't get in. Thanks for the help. This is one big step forward. I have been stuck here for 2 weeks already. No I need to figure how to open the W2K machine for everyone to access then I am home free.

[notenought]

Thanks diurnal, I am reading this site now.

[Ghost_Hacker]

iisbob...I usually find it much less of a headache to assign ip's myself staticly in a small network than to depend on dynamic routing.

Agreed....That's why I always keep some asprin close at hand http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif


A rant


Hmm.....It's sad really that this forum already has post which can solve this problem. A little time invested in searching would have gotten this problem solved a few days ago. Instead I see us go back over the same details time and time again. (perhaps this only "bugs" me as I'm not a good typist http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif or mabey I should do the search myself and simply point people to the right thread. )


The solution to this guys problem is to enable the "guest" account. (not very secure but it will work) Later he can go back and review his WIndows 2000 account setup. Seems this same answer was posted not more than a few weeks ago.... http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/Forum15/HTML/000642.html

Oh well, too bad the "FAQ archive" isn't up to date... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif




[This message has been edited by Ghost_Hacker (edited 12-17-2001).]

[notenought]

Thanks for your rant, Ghost_Hacker. Please don't stop, I learn even as you rant.
I did perform several search before I made the first post. But the results of the search is so huge (100+) it's hard to filter them. I am sorry that I don't know how to pick the proper phase for the search.
Ok, I read your other post. Great info! I now know I need to work out the W2K security thing. Currently, the W2K is setup to share the hard drive to everyone with full control. But still no go in the Win ME machine. Could this related to the ping won't go through (time outs) to each computer by any chance?
What is the significance of have a non blank password in the Win ME machine? That's what I had. The Win ME machine is for the kids. I kind of want to keep it easy and simple for them to use. I will pick a easy password and try tonight when I get home. Thanks again for the reply!


[This message has been edited by notenought (edited 12-17-2001).]

[Ghost_Hacker]

yeah...I don't really like the search function either. It's too slow for my taste. I think I'll just start bookmarking a few of the good post so I won't loss track of them.

Anyway back to your problem http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif.....A blank password can sometimes cause problems in a network that doesn't have a server. So for troublshooting it's best to start out with a password. Then later you can remove it if you want.

Not being able to ping won't hurt you here because ,after following iisbob's advice, your now using netbuei and can now see and access each computers shares. ( a logon error means the computer can be accessed) This rules out the problem being a protocol problem.


Here some info that might help: (it's the same stuff others have already said but in "click by click" fashion.)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q258717

[notenought]

Thanks a lot. I am now reading the link you provide. Thanks again.

[iisbob]

Now some of you here reading this post can get a feel for why system admin's like myself ( and i believe Ghost ) get paid large sums of money to handle this type of problem for thousands of networked clients! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif


I don't recall suggesting using NetBEUI-i was only explaining it. You can use TCP/IP quite succesfully ( and i would suggest staying with it ) especially if you want to share the internet. { Internet Connection Sharing=ICS }.

My original suggestion is for you to start over at the beginning with only {2} two clients on the net work not hooked up to your internet connection-just the two PC's connected.

See what default ip W2000 has assigned itself; then create a user acount with the name of your WinME PC on it. Then in the W2k permisions make sure " everyone " has full control{ or read only, not really important }-then set up your WinME machine with the same ip except for the last octect { or set depending on if it's a class B or C } -Go here Ip address classes (http://www.howstuffworks.com/question549.htm) for a brief tutorial on what/how IP classes work. Just be aware That W2K usually defaults to a Class B type.

Then, say it is a Class B then set your subnet mask to 255.255.arbitrary no#.arbitrary no#-the 255 part tells the network that both machines exist on the same network, hence the " mask " part.

Ergo if it's a Class C network ip then you'd have 255.255.255.].arbitrary no#.

Briefly Class A=big network, maximum clients; Class B=medium network, medium no# of clients; and Class C=large no# of small networks with minimum no# of clients.


Hope this helps you somewhat, i know my fingers are killing me! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif





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iisbob
""I was gratified to be able to answer promptly, and I did. I said I didn't know."
Mark Twain

[Paleo Pete]

Oh well, too bad the "FAQ archive" isn't up to date...

YIKES!! I knew it would bite me someday...sorry, haven't had a lot of time...would you believe old, bald & grumpy???...slept since then???

OK seriously, I haven't been devoting much attention to FAQ recently, just reinstalled this thing and imeediately had problems again, BSOD unable to write to drive C..(turned out to be a bad IDE cable), lost back-up hard drive AGAIN...but got it back, cable again... and am also in the process of building a computer for a christmas present, plus back and knee that think they're weathervanes keeping me in bed a lot...

In addition to all that, this place has grown to the point just keeping up takes several hours a day, which is why you don't see me posting much lately...

BUT...you do have a very valid point, the FAQ really needs some attention, and I have been slacking in that area no matter what the excuses...I'll see what I can come up with to start getting some more info in there. Sorry, I should have paid more attention to it.

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Support the right to keep and arm bears.
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.dreamwater.com/paleopete/computer.htm) has been moved, please update your bookmarks.

[Ghost_Hacker]

Hey, no fault on your part Pete or with Charles either. I understand completly that there is just too many post and too little time to keep up with everything. The fact that your doing what you do just for "the fun of it" says a lot.

I'll just start bookmarking some of the better post until my typing improves http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[notenought]

Thanks for all the responses. I get tie up with work the last couple of days. Haven't had a chance to try the suggestions yet. I will come back and post my results when I get around to it in the next couple days. Thanks!!!