Re: Home LAN : XP Pro SP2 - passwords ? Master browser ?
- From: Chuck <none@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: 2 May 2005 11:09:03 -0500
On Mon, 2 May 2005 13:57:38 +0200, "Pete Kennedy" <peterkennedy@xxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
>Hi,
>
>I recently connected a new laptop running XP Pro SP2 to an existing network
>with the host desktop running XP Pro SP2 and a client running XP Home SP2. I
>have a very common problem in that the host can't see the new laptop in my
>network places. Sometimes, the other laptop, running XP Home SP2, can see
>the new laptop, and sometimes it can't. The new laptop can access the other
>computers' files. I think the problem was initially caused when the network
>cable was plugged into the new laptop for the first time - DHCP attributed
>an IP address and the (third party) firewall immediately thought an attack
>was coming from the host and blocked it. So, an election was held and the
>new laptop designated itself as the master browser. So now the LAN has
>perhaps two master browsers and, chaos.
>
>I've read that you can disable the browser service but that its not
>necessarily a good idea to do so. I wonder therefore whether it wouldn't be
>a better idea to reinstall the network connnection on the new laptop without
>running the firewall at the same time. I can then configure the firewall on
>each PC manually to stop false "attacks". Is this advisable or is there a
>better solution ? And what would happen when the laptop was opened without
>being connected to the LAN - another election ?
>
>Also, I have seen that user account passwords must be used on XP Pro
>machines with simple file sharing enabled. However, the desktop XP Pro and
>the old laptop running XP Home see each other just fine without passwords
>and can access each others files. So, is it really necessary or is the
>current situation a reflection of a duff network configuration ?
>
>Thanks for your advice.
>
>Cheers
Pete,
The complaint "Sometimes, the other laptop, running XP Home SP2, can see
the new laptop, and sometimes it can't" is likely a browser problem. Please
read my browser article:
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/04/nt-browser-or-why-cant-i-always-see.html>
The problem is not false "attacks" that can be blocked by a firewall. The
problem is the master browser election process.
If the laptop is running the browser service, and you start it without
connecting it to the LAN, then yes, it will quite likely elect itself a master
browser. Connect it, and you will have chaos again.
If you're running Simple File Sharing on all computers (XP Home and Pro), the
Guest account is used for authorisation. You need to either have an identical
password, or no password, on all computers.
--
Cheers,
Chuck
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not necessarily a bad thing - it comes from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.
.
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