Re: XP Network Problem.....



< stuff removed>

Hi again, Chuck.

I read the procedure about de/reinstalling the NVIDIA Controller drivers and
am a little nervous about this activity. With eMachine tech support help I
was able to locate the driver, so I am ready to go. During my conversation
with the tech he told me that the settings for the hardware firewall were set
by the antivirus program -- in my case, Norton Antivirus 2005. The only
"non-virus" component of that system is a worm protector which Security
Center identified as a firewall. I turned it off, and Windows Firewall, with
no luck. So, I'm not sure the tech was right about resetting the hardware
firewall. However, before I plunge into this terrain, I want to be sure
there isn't something else we might first try.

Here is an idea...

In your articles you comment that one should not "host" the browser in an XP
Home OS machine. And that's exactly what I have done. How do I switch the
hosting to the Lenovo with the XP Pro? And might that not fix my problem?

Maybe it's important to remember that the Lenovo can see and manipulate the
shared resources in the eMachine computer and in the Dell running ME. The
eMachine and Dell are able to see and manipulate each other's shared
resources. While the eMachine and the Dell lists the Lenovo's presence (in
Network Neighborhood), neither can see the Lenovo's shared resources, much
less access them.

I just want to explore anything else before I fiddle with drivers and create
a non-standard configuration in an otherwise totally standard machine.

Lee,

I recommend not using XP Home for the browser, if you have a choice, simply
because diagnosing browser problems is slightly easier using XP Pro. XP Home
will run as a browser if there are no problems. I highly recommend ensuring
that any Windows 9x (95, 98, ME) computer not run the browse master.

Both seeing a computer (as a server in browstat status, and in Network
Neighbourhood) and enumerating them, both involve SMBs. The former, though,
involves SMBs broadcast by the computer being seen. The latter involves a
direct exchange of SMBs.
1) eMachine to Lenovo: "Please list your shares".
2) Lenovo to eMachine: "Here is the list".
So the latter is more susceptible to interference by any problem that blocks
SMBs. This could be the hardware firewall (which also involves software
components in the LSP - and I don't know why that is), or it could be NAV and
the anti worm.

The nVidia nForce has been known in various forums for causing problems with
file sharing. If you read some of the linked articles, and the posts from other
folks seeking help, you'll note that some versions of the nForce just don't
work. I'm not going to condemn the nForce point blank though, as I'm not sure
that the problems are totally caused by their drivers. Unfortunately, I can't
exonerate them either.

And you have NAV 2005, and the anti worm protection. Did you configure that
properly? That's also been found to be a problem. If you can't configure it,
then you may have to un install NAV. And there are two problems there.
1) Un installing NAV is a major pain in the ***.
2) You are un protected when you do this.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/un-install-security-products-carefully.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/un-install-security-products-carefully.html

So let's discuss these issues, but in the end, it's your computer. I'll advise
you with all that I know.

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.


Thanks for that explanation. How do I establish a particular computer as
the host for the browser? Think I'll try to set the XP Pro machine as the
browser host as an initial step and see what that does. Takin' baby steps
here..... ;-)

BTW, during the past several diagnostic sessions the machine running ME has
been turned off. ( Doesn't effect the remaining machines' behaviors. ) And
it has not been listed as the browser host at any point.
.