Re: View Workgroup Computers

Hi Steve,

Here's the answer to your questions below:

Can the computers ping each other by IP address and by computer name?
For example:

ping 192.168.1.101
ping desktop

The desktop (server), yes, both IP and name.
The laptop (client), yes on IP, no on name. (maybe it is not important, the
name of my desktop is WXP)

NetBIOS over TCP/IP is "Enabled" on both machines, both LAN and wireless
connections.

Start both computers in "Safe mode with networking", and try accessing
them through My Network Places and "\\computer". If that works, a
misconfigured firewall (ZoneAlarm or Windows Firewall) is probably
causing the problem.

Done, nothing works, neither the run \\computer, nor the ping IP or name ,
on both PCs.

Does either computer have a recent version of
Norton or PC-cillin Antivirus?

Nope. I only have ZA Free version and AVAST Home Edition (free) on both
machines.

Mistery or WXP?

Thanks
Alex



"Steve Winograd [MVP]" <bcmaven@xxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:mgahe2h34p98n4p2bpko4ppav0qh23lhps@xxxxxxxxxx
In article <#iceTAExGHA.3964@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Metallo"
<doriawar@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi,

I have a small home network connected as follows:

- My Desktop (Server) wired
- My Laptop (Client) wireless
- One Printer
- Linksys router WAG354G V.2
- OS on both computers: WXP Pro SP2 fully updated

Both computers have a static IP address.

I have shared the printer and a few folders in my desktop, of course the
workgroup name is the same on both machines.
I also configured my firewall (ZA free edition) and the result is OK,
from
my laptop I can share the printer and access the folders on my desktop.

The question is the following:
If I click "View Workgroup Computers" on my desktop, I see nothing
If I click ""View Workgroup Computers" on my laptop, I see only the icon
of my laptop but not my desktop.

I read on some forums that this is because I don't use the NetBEUI
protocol,
but I also read that while it might solve the problem, it opens to
security
issues.
In addition, being both OS WXP Pro, I should not have any problem and
that
using TCP/IP should be fine.
This is the theory, the reality is what I described above.

Can anybody help me to solve the dilemma?

Thank you
Alex

TCP/IP is the only protocol you need. NetBEUI is an un-supported
protocol in Windows XP. Microsoft wouldn't have dropped support for
NetBEUI if Windows XP networking required it. In fact, no version of
Windows has ever required NetBEUI for networking. I've written about
it on this web page:

Windows XP Network Protocols
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/network_protocols.htm

On each computer, make sure that:

1. In the local area connection properties, there are check marks in
the boxes for "File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks" and
"Client for Microsoft Networks".

2. Any firewall program is configured to allow access by other
computers on the local network.

3. The Server service is running and is configured to start
automatically.

4. NetBIOS Over TCP/IP (NetBT) is enabled:

a. Open the Network Connections folder.
b. Right click the local area network connection.
c. Click Properties.
d. Click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).
e. Click Properties.
f. Click Advanced.
g. Click WINS.
h. Click the Enable NetBIOS Over TCP/IP button.

If those suggestions don't help, try accessing the other computer
directly, without using My Network Places. Click Start > Run, type
the other computer's name in the box in this format, and click OK:

\\computer

If that fails, see whether the computers can ping each other, by IP
address and by name.

Hi Steve,

Thank you for your suggestions.

The only thing that was not enabled was the NetBIOS Over TCP/IP button,
all
the rest was already as you mentioned.
Maybe, I was not clear with my previous mail, the two PCs communicate
without problems, they can ping each other and I can share the printer and
see the folders.

My problem is that I cannot see the icons if:

I click "View Workgroup Computers" on my desktop, I see nothing
If I click ""View Workgroup Computers" on my laptop, I see only the icon
of
my laptop but not my desktop.

I believe I should see both PCs on both machines, or not?

One point, if I type \\computer in Run, I get an error: "No Network
provider
accepted the given network path"
This is very strange as well, as I said the two PCs ping each other.

My router has the DHCP server enabled and I use static IP addresses in
both
PCs.

What to do?

Thanks
Alex

You're welcome, Metallo.

As you can see from reading messages in this news group, network
browsing in My Network Places is unreliable. It's so unreliable that
I recommend not using it all. Instead, access the other computer by
typing its name in the Start > Run box as I showed above. After
access using Start > Run is working, you can troubleshoot My Network
Places if you want to.

Can the computers ping each other by IP address and by computer name?
For example:

ping 192.168.1.101
ping desktop

If IP address succeeds and computer name fails, there's a problem with
name resolution, which uses NetBIOS over TCP/IP. Be sure to set
NetBIOS over TCP/IP to "Enable", not to "Default".

Start both computers in "Safe mode with networking", and try accessing
them through My Network Places and "\\computer". If that works, a
misconfigured firewall (ZoneAlarm or Windows Firewall) is probably
causing the problem. Does either computer have a recent version of
Norton or PC-cillin Antivirus? Those programs contain firewall
components.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com


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