home network problem

[realolman]

I have a desktop computer connected directly to a wireless router, and a laptop computer using a wireless connection to the same router.

Both computers work fine accessing the internet, but I would like to share files between the two, and I can't seem to get it accomplished.

In the command prompt I can ping the other computer from each computer using the IP address, and I can ping the desktop from the laptop using the desktop's computer name, I can ping each computer from itself using the IP address and the computer's name, but I cannot ping the laptop from the desktop using the laptop's computer name .

I have run wizards till they're coming out my ears... what could be wrong

 

[Macca]

Any firewalls active on either system? What OS? Is File Sharing enabled? Are both PC's members of the same workgroup? Just a few ideas off the top of my head!

Macca

I have a desktop computer connected directly to a wireless router, and a laptop computer using a wireless connection to the same router.

Both computers work fine accessing the internet, but I would like to share files between the two, and I can't seem to get it accomplished.

In the command prompt I can ping the other computer from each computer using the IP address, and I can ping the desktop from the laptop using the desktop's computer name, I can ping each computer from itself using the IP address and the computer's name, but I cannot ping the laptop from the desktop using the laptop's computer name .

I have run wizards till they're coming out my ears... what could be wrong

 

[realolman]

XP pro on both. both dells.

I'm not sure about the fire walls. How do I tell?

I have run the wizards and tried to make the workgroups etc. the same.

I really don't understand the ping thing. Why can I ping either one using the IP address , but not the computer name when using the desktop to ping the laptop?

If I go to My nework places> view computers on workgroup, on the desktop, the laptop shows up.

If I do it on the laptop, it says I don't have permission.

I've done this stuff so many times ,It even seems that it doesn't act the same all the time.

I don't know why everything has to be such a pain... I bought both my son and daughter apples, and they say everything just works, no problem... Imagine that.

 

[electron]

This usually is caused by the XP firewall, check out Microsoft's how-to if you want to know how to disable it. If it works after disabling the firewall, you can work on adding exceptions to the firewall, so you can turn it back on if desired.

 

[wuench]

This is not a network issue it is a Windows issue. I agree with E, that it might be firewall I believe it can be shut off until the next reboot with "net stop sharedaccess" from the command line.

Also you can verify they are in the same workgroup by right clicking on my computer, select properties. Make sure the workgroups match.

 

[felixrosbergen]

I concur with the above recommendation....there's so many things this could be.

I know this is frustrating, after many tries i gave up trying to share my laptop drive. Since i can share my desktop drive i just put the files on there rather than take them from the other machine. You can still transfer...but it's obviously not ideal.

It's definetely solvable..if you have the patience...or the skillz....i had neither

 

[deranged]

I agree that it seems to be a windows issue.

Besides the Firewall possibility already mentioned.

2 other things come to mind.

- XP will not allow network access if the USER does not have a password.
( This is Microsoft's idea of security by default. )
You will need to have the same username and password on each pc.

- Issue with Simple File sharing ? ( I always turn it off, it is too annoying )

StevenE

 

[kwilcox]

Can't ping computer by name. Ok, try mapping a drive using the IP address of the other computer for example: \\192.168.0.1\c$

Do this by right clicking on my computer then choosing "Map Network Drive"
Choose "connect as" then put in the admin user/password of the computer you are connecting to.

Work ok? No=firewall or mis-matched credentials, yes=name resolution issue.

 

[DaveW42]

I would echo StevenE's question. Have you specifically chosen to share the directory that you would like to have available (right click on the directory, choose Sharing and Security and choose the options you want)?

Dave

 

[deranged]

Thinking about it, I would for testing purpose's connect them both to a wired connection. To eliminate any kind of wierd router/wireless issue.

StevenE

 

[tmbrown97]

deranged most likely nailed it in his first post... Open My Computer, go to Advanced Options under Tools - and the last thing on the list should be Use Simple File Sharing. Uncheck that - ideally on both sides.

Also is the permissions issue - it works best if you actually log into the computer in one way or another - there's tricks to this, but the basics are that you have to authenticate in some fashion. The easiest way is to right-click on My Computer and go to Manage - in there, go into users and make sure that you have accounts that match the username and password of the other computer.

When you're on a domain in an office this is 1000X easier - it turns off simple file sharing automatically and you're automatically on the same domain, etc... I've seen this drive a lot of people crazy, including people who do it for a living at work. But, if you know the tricks, you can be running in 5 minutes.

EDIT: And wireless shouldn't matter with a normal netgear or linksys or other home router... The business-grade ones have wireless separation, but that's much less common. If that were the issue, they wouldn't be able to ping each other most likely.

EDIT2: In lieu of trying to totally match accounts, you can just create one account as an administrator use kwilcox's instructions for mapping as that user.

 

[realolman]

deranged most likely nailed it in his first post... Open My Computer, go to Advanced Options under Tools - and the last thing on the list should be Use Simple File Sharing. Uncheck that - ideally on both sides.

I open MyComputer and on the tool bar under tools > Folder options > view > Advanced settings, it says "use simple file sharing (recommended )" is that what you're talking about? If that's it, I have unchecked that in both machines.... doesn't help. when I view workgroup computers the laptop is the only one that shows up... on both computers

Also is the permissions issue - it works best if you actually log into the computer in one way or another - there's tricks to this, but the basics are that you have to authenticate in some fashion. The easiest way is to right-click on My Computer and go to Manage - in there, go into users and make sure that you have accounts that match the username and password of the other computer.

I have created a new user on both machines and logged in as that new user on both machines, run the network wizard on both machines ... I always end up with the same result... the laptop is the only one that shows up when I click View workgroup computers

When you're on a domain in an office this is 1000X easier - it turns off simple file sharing automatically and you're automatically on the same domain, etc... I've seen this drive a lot of people crazy, including people who do it for a living at work. But, if you know the tricks, you can be running in 5 minutes..

I'd sure like that. You'd think that's what you'd expect as normal in a situation like this.

EDIT: And wireless shouldn't matter with a normal netgear or linksys or other home router... The business-grade ones have wireless separation, but that's much less common. If that were the issue, they wouldn't be able to ping each other most likely.

I have a dell desktop hardwired to a netgear WGT624 v3 wireless router and a dell laptop with XP pro OS on each... the only one that seems to be available to either computer is the laptop. the desktop never appears on either machine's workgroup.

EDIT2: In lieu of trying to totally match accounts, you can just create one account as an administrator use kwilcox's instructions for mapping as that user.

I don't understand this... nothing like this appears on my computers... I get dialog boxes with no "connect as " options

 

[tmbrown97]

Are you using Symantec Security Center, or some equivalent?

Also - don't worry about not being able to see it in My Computer yet... First see what happens when you go to \\<IP ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPUTER> -

Everything else - the simple file sharing above - yes, that's what I meant. Careful with that stupid wizard though - honestly it's totally not required - it just enables file sharing on the windows firewall and handles some of the shares.

Also, to start, go to Control Panel and Security Center and turn off the windows firewall - it's rather pointless behind a home router anyway.

 

[realolman]

I certainly appreciate the helpe everyone has given. I'd like to scream, but I suppose that would be non-productive.

Here's where I am at this point.
I have both computers hardwired to the netgear wireless router.

I can ping either computer by name from command prompt.

If I search for the computers, I can find them both.... on the laptop search results, it says the desktop is in folder: "WebClient NetWork"

On the desktop search results it says the laptop is in folder "Mshome" which is the default name I used for the home network. It actually shows 2 : same name... one has capitialized first letter and one is all lowercase.

I ran the wizards for both at the same time and did them both the same except for the names. Is one of these supposed to be a client and the other the server? I never saw anything to differentiate the two.

If I click "show workgroup connections" in My Network Places, the desktop shows the laptop only , the laptop says it doesn't have permission

In the laptop "My Network Places" there is only one folder... a shared folder... I can access it nicely from the desktop.

 

[Neurorad]

I would try consulting the book "Home Networking for Dummies".

I bet it's free in the local library.

I will read the chapter "Getting Around the Neighborhood, Chapter 10", and attempt to help you.

I'll be back.