Computers On Home Network Can't See Eachother

  • Thread starter Thread starter Agent_C
  • Start date Start date
A

Agent_C

I have a Linksys wireless router, connected to a cable modem,
networking a desktop and 1 laptop.

Internet connections on both computers work fine, as does VPN
pass-through. Only problem is, I can't seem to map the shared folders
on either machine to exchange data.

Could someone offer some detailed instruction?

Thanks,

A_C

Desktop - W2K SP4
Laptop - XP SP1
Linksys - WRT54G
 
XP's Personal firewall can/will get in the way.

Some wireless systems also have "privacy features" that can/will get in the
way.
 
Wish I could give you something specific. I have never used anything
wireless,..ever. I don't entirely trust them and have avoided them.
 
The biggest help you can give us would be to tell us why you can't get this
working, exact error messages and entries from the event logs would be
extremely helpful in sorting out what the problem might be.
 
The biggest help you can give us would be to tell us why you can't get this
working, exact error messages and entries from the event logs would be
extremely helpful in sorting out what the problem might be.
Click to expand...

Essentially, neither computer shows up in 'My Network Places' (when
double-clicking on 'Entire Network'), even though there are shared
folders on both drives. It's as thought Windows has nothing to map to;
even though both machines can access the Internet through the router.

IPCONFIG for both computers is unremarkable. Unique IP address (1
digit off from the other), same gateway and subnet.

So, as I originally stated, it appears as though the 2 computers can't
'see' eachother.

Thanks in advance.

A_C
 
Can you PING each machine using the others IP address?
If so try to PING with each others name.
If you can ping then check file and print sharing.
Try to connect to the other machine with the following.

Start | Run

\\computername or \\ipaddress

Also check that each machine is using the same workgroup/domain.

Set up a user account on both machines the same. IE., user name=TEST
password=PASSWORD

Logon with this name.

Make sure you have at lease one shaired folder on each machine.
Or us the hidden shair of c$ for the c: dirve.

Hope this helps
Good Luck
 
Can you PING each machine using the others IP address?
Click to expand...

No. I get a timeout
If so try to PING with each others name.
If you can ping then check file and print sharing.
Try to connect to the other machine with the following.

Start | Run

\\computername or \\ipaddress
Click to expand...

When I do this, I get a 'network path not found' error.
Also check that each machine is using the same workgroup/domain.
Click to expand...

They are.

Thanks,

A_C
 
check to see if the router is forwarding

check to see if both machines have the same gateway and that the gateway is
the IP of the router.
 
Can you PING each computer from the other, using the hard IP addresses?
This should ceratinly work. Then try mapping drives using the IP address
instead of the system name. If neither of these work, then are you sure
that both systems are in the same workgroup? They must be. Also, the same
account names must be on both computers.
 
Can you PING each computer from the other, using the hard IP addresses?
Click to expand...

No, and that's what's most perplexing; pings simply time out.

Both workgroup and account names are identical.

A_C
 
Any firewalls on either PC? If so, uninstall (don't disable) them. Check
your router setup and make sure you're not blocking F&PS there.
 
By account name I assume you don't mean computer name as they must be
different. Since you are behind a NAT device boot each computer into safe
mode with networking to see if that makes a difference. Verify that each
computer can ping it's own IP address as shown by Ipconfig /all and the IP
address of the default gateway. Each computer needs to be on the same
network. A typical class C network for instance would be 192.168.1.xxx with
a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. Each computer [ including the gateway ]
would need a unique host address in the .xxx part from 1-254 with the same
network address. You also might try using a different port on the router's
switch for any computer directly connected to it. --- Steve
 
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