home networking question

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Guest

I have two computers, one running Windows 2000 Professional and another on Windows XP; they're connected via a little home router that also has a cable modem connection. Here's my problem:

I'd like to have the two computers able to see each other in each of their Network Neighborhoods, without requesting passwords, so I can easily share files back and forth between them. Now, on the 2K box, the System Properties/Network Identification shows the Workgroup as "APARTMENT", and on the XP box, System Properties/Computer Name shows the same Workgroup ("APARTMENT"). Note that I have the built-in XP firewall enabled on the XP box, and a freebie firewall enabled on the 2K box.

The behavior I'm getting right now is: the 2K box can't seem to find the XP at all; hitting "Computers Near Me" gives an error message "Apartment is not accessible. The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available". Hitting "Entire Network/Microsoft Windows Network/Apartment" gives the same thing. And doing Start/Run/ and then \\computer2 says that it can't be found. On the XP box, it's odd -- "Entire Network/Microsoft Windows Network/Apartment" shows just computer2 (itself), so I can't make computer1 show up in Windows Explorer; BUT, doing Start/Run/ and then \\computer1 does work.

Any ideas how to get this networking straightened out would be much appreciated!

Thanks,
Joshua
 
Joshua said:
I have two computers, one running Windows 2000 Professional and another on Windows XP; they're connected via a little home router that also has a cable modem connection. Here's my problem:

I'd like to have the two computers able to see each other in each of their Network Neighborhoods, without requesting passwords, so I can easily share files back and forth between them. Now, on the 2K box, the System Properties/Network Identification shows the Workgroup as "APARTMENT", and on the XP box, System Properties/Computer Name shows the same Workgroup ("APARTMENT"). Note that I have the built-in XP firewall enabled on the XP box, and a freebie firewall enabled on the 2K box.

The behavior I'm getting right now is: the 2K box can't seem to find the XP at all; hitting "Computers Near Me" gives an error message "Apartment is not accessible. The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available". Hitting "Entire Network/Microsoft Windows Network/Apartment" gives the same thing. And doing Start/Run/ and then \\computer2 says that it can't be found. On the XP box, it's odd -- "Entire Network/Microsoft Windows Network/Apartment" shows just computer2 (itself), so I can't make computer1 show up in Windows Explorer; BUT, doing Start/Run/ and then \\computer1 does work.

Any ideas how to get this networking straightened out would be much appreciated!

Thanks,
Joshua
Click to expand...

You must permanently turn off ICF on the XP PC; ICF inhibits F&P sharing.
As a general rule, when chasing network problems, you should (at least
temporarily) remove all firewall and AV apps. I hope that your little
router has at least NAT (most do), since that is a firewall against inbound
attacks.

It helps if the router is a DHCP server, and if both PCs are set up as
DHCP clients; that gets both PCs in the same IP subnet. Also, check
the DNS settings for both PCs -- they should, in most cases, have the
same values as the WAN-side of the router. Make sure each PC can ping
itself and the other PC; if ping-by-number works but ping-by-name fails,
you have a DNS problem.

W2K and XP both check credentials to allow resource sharing. One easy
way to avoid tripping over that is to use the same (username & PW) on
both PCs; if you don't like that, then perhaps activating the Guest
account with no PW will suit you. And, whatever account you use must
have access rights to the folders you want to share.
 
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