Can't network my pc

[andygo]

Reinstalled XP Pro and amazingly it 'saw' my laptop and my laptop 'saw' my main pc. Greta I thought, the wireless network is up and running again.

However, after installing several lots of software and Norton the 2 'puters cant see each other any more. However, the laptop can still print and access the net via my main pc.

I have run the network setup wizard several times with no change. The names of the 'puters are the same - main and laptop - but I can't even map the drives.

The laptop still has the icon for the main pc in the network addresses folder, but say it is not accessible when you try to open up the folder. Everything is shared and ticked, but nothing seems to make any difference.

Any thoughts folks?

Andy

[Jinx]

Software Firewalls on your pcs (e.g. zone alarm)?

[andygo]

I've only got Norton A/v and Firewall, but have disabled them to no avail....

[nickjm]

Have you installed XP service pack 2? If so it could be that firewall that's blocking it.

[icamm]

permissions on file sharing?

[andygo]

Hard drives are shared, and as i understand it, the XP firewall only looks after internet connections, which it allows, as the laptop can connect to the net and use the printer which is connected to my main pc.

[Jinx]

andygo said:

Hard drives are shared, and as i understand it, the XP firewall only looks after internet connections, which it allows, as the laptop can connect to the net and use the printer which is connected to my main pc.

I had a similar problem linking with my mates PC. In the end I gave up using the automated wizard and changed the tcp/ip settings from auto to a specific IP addresses. I did turn off all firewalls initially (after disconnecting the broadband connection) and slowly brought them back in one at a time. One last thing; I assume you are using a crossover cable (I thought I was the first time - doh! ).

[andygo]

I am using Wireless network.

Bit I find hard to get around is that without me running the network wizard, from a clean install everything was working just fine. Must be a setting somewhere.

[Jinx]

Have you turned off the encryption on the wireless connection (not advisable for long term use...)?

[andygo]

I havn't got the Dlink programme installed. My laptop sees the networked printer as \mainsamsung1200 and prints perfectly. I ssume therefore that that part of the network is working. Weird.

[malman]

what happens if you go Start -> Run Then enter

\\name of otherpc

or

\\ipaddress of other pc


do this from the laptop and desktop and see what happens

>> Edited by malman on Friday 2nd December 16:36

>> Edited by malman on Friday 2nd December 16:37

[icamm]

Did the connection break before or after you setup internet connectin sharing?

[andygo]

How do i get the ip addresess (or should that be addresses? !)

nothing happens when I type in the other pcs names.

[icamm]

andygo said:

How do i get the ip addresess (or should that be addresses? !) nothing happens when I type in the other pcs names.

Numerous ways, you can go through the networking GUI in Control Panel or start a cmd tool (goto run and type in cmd) and then type ipconfig at the prompt

[roy the boy]

Turn off Windows firewall - you might be surprised

[sp60]

andygo said:

Hard drives are shared, and as i understand it, the XP firewall only looks after internet connections, which it allows, as the laptop can connect to the net and use the printer which is connected to my main pc.

Nope, the windows firewall applies to the network connection, whether that be wireless, Wired ethernet or 'Dial up' (usb adsl or modem). The windows firewell blocks incoming traffic only, and by default will block all incoming traffic. Exceptions can be added on a connection by connection basis (I think). The reason it all worked on first install is because original versions of xp pro do not enable the firewall by default. I imagine you are installing the xp pro from an earlier version then patching up to sp2. sp2 enables windows firewall and will stop your machines seeing each other. Open up your wireless network connection properties, click on the advanced tab, firewall settings and check the 'file and printer sharing' checkbox (and any other services you need) which should allow you to see the other computer. If this doesn't work, disable the windows firewall to get it up and running. The router should take care of firewall out onto the web which removes the biggest security risk

[andygo]

I have tried turning off the Windows firewall to no avail.

When I go to network settings and do a search for 'laptop' the search results box instantly displays a 'not found' message. Its as though it doesn't even try to do a search. There's none of the usual torch waving icon displayed.

Really annoying.

BTW, thanks for all your suggestions. Keep 'em coming!

Andy

[sp60]

ok, back to basics, open a command prompt, type in ipconfig (both machines) and look for the ip addresses. Then attempt to ping each machine from the other. Both machines need to be in the same subnet. (probably 192.168.0.x) Hopefully they will have picked up their ip addresses from the router using dhcp so should be. If set manually, make sure they are in the same subnet. IF they cannot ping each other, yet are on the same subnet, there is a firewall issue somewhere, whether that be on the local machines or on the router. If they can ping each other, then it'll be a netbios issue (the way windows maps names to ip addresses in lieu of dns) If you use ping -a ip address of other machine this should fetch the name of the remote machine into the local netbios name cache allowing you to refer to it by name from that point.
have fun!

[andygo]

Well, both my machines can ping each other, but don't show their respective names. Any ideas?

[andygo]

After more work, when running the network setup wizard after changing the names of my main pc and my user name the laptop would recognise the presence of a internet connection on the newly named pc, but still they wont share files or drives, even though the networked icons appear on their respective machines.

Just cannot get them to see each other....

Pain. getting bored now!