Re: Can't access PC on home network

On 19 Oct, 13:01, Malke <notrea...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Lester Lane wrote:
Hi all. Before I go mad can someone please provide me a list of things
that must be config'd on all PCs on a home network? I have a belkin
firewall/router that is the connection to the internet and then 2 pcs
and a laptop. In windows under My Network Places produces a tree with
the domain but nothing beyond that. Gateway addresses point to the
router and the DNS is the ISP's. I have IPX, TCP running too - what
more is there to do please? Oh - running XP Home and Pro editions.

I have a feeling it may be the DNS or WINS config. I don't run WINS
as I do not have a PC that acts as a server. and DNS is external -
again if no server how can I solve internal DNS? Thanks.

Remove all network protocols such as IPX. You should only have TCP/IP
installed. In the TCP/IP Properties, set the IP address/DNS assignments
to Automatic.

Here are general network troubleshooting steps. Not everything may be
applicable to your situation, so just take the bits that are. It may
look daunting, but if you follow the steps at the links and suggestions
below systematically and calmly, you will have no difficulty in setting
up your sharing.

For XP, start by running the Network Setup Wizard on all machines (see
caveat in Item A below).

Problems sharing files between computers on a network are generally
caused by 1) a misconfigured firewall; or 2) inadvertently running two
firewalls such as the built-in Windows Firewall and a third-party
firewall; and/or 3) not having identical user accounts and passwords on
all Workgroup machines; 4) trying to create shares where the operating
system does not permit it. Read through the general networking tips
below and if you still are having difficulties, MVP Hans-Georg Michna
has an excellent small network troubleshooter here:

http://winhlp.com/wxnet.htm

Taking the time to go through his troubleshooter will usually pinpoint
the source of the problem(s).

Here are some general networking tips for home/small networks:

A. Configure firewalls on all machines to allow the Local Area Network
(LAN) traffic as trusted. With Windows Firewall, this means allowing
File/Printer Sharing on the Exceptions tab. Normally running the Network
Setup Wizard on XP will take care of this for those machines.The only
"gotcha" is that this will turn on the XPSP2 Windows Firewall. If you
aren't running a third-party firewall or have an antivirus with
"Internet Worm Protection" (like Norton 2006/07) which acts as a
firewall, then you're fine. With third-party firewalls, I usually
configure the LAN allowance with an IP range. Ex. would be
192.168.1.0-192.168.1.254. Obviously you would substitute your correct
subnet. Do not run more than one firewall.

B. With earlier Microsoft operating systems, the name of the Workgroup
didn't matter. Apparently it does with Vista, so put all computers in
the same Workgroup. This is done from the System applet in Control
Panel, Computer Name tab.

C. Create identical user accounts and passwords on all machines. If you
wish a machine to boot directly to the Desktop (into one particular
user's account) for convenience, you can do this. The instructions at
this link work for both XP and Vista:

Configure Windows to Automatically Login (MVP Ramesh) -http://windowsxp.mvps.org/Autologon.htm

D. If one or more of the computers is XP Pro or Media Center:

1. If you need Pro's ability to set fine-grained permissions, turn off
Simple File Sharing (Folder Options>View tab) and create identical user
accounts/passwords on all computers.

2. If you don't care about using Pro's advanced features, leave the
Simple File Sharing enabled.

Simple File Sharing means that Guest (network) is enabled. This means
that anyone without a user account on the target system can use its
resources. This is a security hole but only you can decide if it matters
in your situation.

I think it is a good idea to create the identical user
accounts/passwords in any case when Vista machines are involved and it
isn't an onerous task with home/small networks.

E. Create shares as desired. XP Home does not permit sharing of users'
home directories (My Documents) or Program Files, but you can share
folders inside those directories. A better choice is to simply use the
Shared Documents folder.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computerswww.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User


Thanks very much for some useful hints. I have removed IPX/Net BIOS.
I still have some issues in getting the Microsoft Windows Network
branch of the Explorer to display all the PCs on the network.
Sometimes I can map a drive to the required PC, othertimes not. The
other PC can see and link to the one that is blind - which is how I
have managed to get round the issue but it is rather intrusive to
people's work.

From your list of classic errors I can say that we do not have two
firewalls running, the firewall (Cisco 800 box) has the network
configured as does the F-Secure and Kaspersky (different PCs not on
each!), same workgroup and all have an identical account set up.
However I do have these differences:

- Static IP Addresses
- External DNS IP address to the ISP - so maybe there is no internal
knowledge of other PCs
- WINS Server at work (laptop flips between the two) - would this
confuse the laptop when on home network which has no WINS?
- enabled LMHOSTS and NetBIOS to operate over TCP/IP though I have not
entered any IPs in the HOSTS file
- not registered in DNS option on the network properties
- Authorise as computer is selected but not as guest under
Authentication tab

So how can some PCs work and others are just blind? Thanks again for
your time on this.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Remote Web Workplace question
    ... I went to the PCs and checked the domain under the firewall setting. ... And this happens with every client PC on the network? ... it's Remote Desktop somewhere under Accessories). ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs)
  • Re: Changing folder attributes
    ... network because the shared doc folder is read only. ... computers are running, if it ever worked, how your network is set up, etc. ... With Windows Firewall, this means allowing File/Printer ... assigned to each user account can be different; ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • RE: can ping but not browse
    ... I have stopped the firewall. ... # are safed from all (security) hazards. ... firewall/bastion host to the internet ... # internet and to an internal network, ...
    (Fedora)
  • Re: Home Network -- 2 XP Machines
    ... You said TWO XP PCs... ... which included firewall too. ... you'll need to look for them on "entire network". ... Use only one protocol for File and Printer Sharing. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web)
  • Re: IP problem
    ... I disable Norton Firewall on the individual Machines, run Network Diagnostic ... All PCs assign unique names, ... 2 Desktops attached to Router ports. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web)