Home Networking

  • Thread starter Thread starter Alan Lee
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A

Alan Lee

I have a problem with my home network, which I need some help with, please.

Desktop runs W2k
Laptop runs WXP Home with Wireless connection
Both connected to Netgear firewall/router DG834
Both members of same Workgroup.
Desktop was running ZoneAlarm but this now uninstalled and since re-booted.
No Firewall setting on Laptop.
Username and Account the same on both machines and both set at Administrator
Level.
Worked through the help in
http://www.tomsnetworking.com/Sections-article64-page1.php which nearly got
me there and set the desktop to the Master Browser. Have blocked XP from
becoming the Master Browser.

I am able to access the Laptop from the Desktop with no problem.
However I cannot access the Desktop directly : Get the security message
'Workgroup is not accessible . You might not have permissions ...'.
Interesting that I can access the Desktop by using the Run \\192.168.02
option which is the address assigned for the Desktop, so the network is
functioning.
Problem still remains that I need to link an access database on the Laptop
to the data tables on the Desktop and the system won't allow it.

Grateful for any help as this thing is driving me nuts.

Thanks, Alan
 
Phillip,
Thanks for the quick response.

Desktop is 192.168.0.2 subnet 255.255.255.0
Laptop is 192.168.0.3 subnet 255.255.255.0
Router is 192.168.0.1 subnet 255.255.255.0

Thanks, Alan


Phillip Windell said:
What is the IP# of the two machines? Are they in the same subnet?

--

Phillip Windell [MCP, MVP, CCNA]
www.wandtv.com


Alan Lee said:
I have a problem with my home network, which I need some help with, please.

Desktop runs W2k
Laptop runs WXP Home with Wireless connection
Both connected to Netgear firewall/router DG834
Both members of same Workgroup.
Desktop was running ZoneAlarm but this now uninstalled and since re-booted.
No Firewall setting on Laptop.
Username and Account the same on both machines and both set at Administrator
Level.
Worked through the help in
http://www.tomsnetworking.com/Sections-article64-page1.php which nearly got
me there and set the desktop to the Master Browser. Have blocked XP from
becoming the Master Browser.

I am able to access the Laptop from the Desktop with no problem.
However I cannot access the Desktop directly : Get the security message
'Workgroup is not accessible . You might not have permissions ...'.
Interesting that I can access the Desktop by using the Run \\192.168.02
option which is the address assigned for the Desktop, so the network is
functioning.
Problem still remains that I need to link an access database on the Laptop
to the data tables on the Desktop and the system won't allow it.

Grateful for any help as this thing is driving me nuts.

Thanks, Alan
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Alan Lee said:
I have a problem with my home network, which I need some help with, please.

Desktop runs W2k
Laptop runs WXP Home with Wireless connection
Both connected to Netgear firewall/router DG834
Both members of same Workgroup.
Desktop was running ZoneAlarm but this now uninstalled and since re-booted.
No Firewall setting on Laptop.
Username and Account the same on both machines and both set at Administrator
Level.
Worked through the help in
http://www.tomsnetworking.com/Sections-article64-page1.php which nearly got
me there and set the desktop to the Master Browser. Have blocked XP from
becoming the Master Browser.

I am able to access the Laptop from the Desktop with no problem.
However I cannot access the Desktop directly : Get the security message
'Workgroup is not accessible . You might not have permissions ...'.
Click to expand...

I assume that you mean W2K Pro and not server.
Interesting that I can access the Desktop by using the Run \\192.168.02
option which is the address assigned for the Desktop, so the network is
functioning.
Problem still remains that I need to link an access database on the Laptop
to the data tables on the Desktop and the system won't allow it.
Click to expand...

If you can access the machine by IP address and not by name then there's
a DNS issue somewhere.

Are the default gateways on the laptop and desktop set correctly, both
should be 192.168.0.1 (the address of the router)

Have you created hosts files on each machine. In W2K you should have a
file \winnt\system32\drivers\etc\hosts which should have an entry for
each machine.

It should have the following text in it to start:

---------------8<-------------------------------8<--------------

# Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host

127.0.0.1 localhost

------------------8<-----------------------8<----------------------------
--


Try adding a new entry for each machine, IP address then name(s)

What entries do you have for DNS servers on each machine?
 
Ok,..well...it all looks fine to me. I don't see anything wrong.

I have seen odd behavior with wireless systems but I am not intimately
familiar with wireless systems.

Let's wait and see if anyone else has any ideas.

--

Phillip Windell [MCP, MVP, CCNA]
www.wandtv.com


Alan Lee said:
Phillip,
Thanks for the quick response.

Desktop is 192.168.0.2 subnet 255.255.255.0
Laptop is 192.168.0.3 subnet 255.255.255.0
Router is 192.168.0.1 subnet 255.255.255.0

Thanks, Alan


Phillip Windell said:
What is the IP# of the two machines? Are they in the same subnet?

--

Phillip Windell [MCP, MVP, CCNA]
www.wandtv.com


Alan Lee said:
I have a problem with my home network, which I need some help with, please.

Desktop runs W2k
Laptop runs WXP Home with Wireless connection
Both connected to Netgear firewall/router DG834
Both members of same Workgroup.
Desktop was running ZoneAlarm but this now uninstalled and since re-booted.
No Firewall setting on Laptop.
Username and Account the same on both machines and both set at Administrator
Level.
Worked through the help in
http://www.tomsnetworking.com/Sections-article64-page1.php which
Click to expand...
nearly
got
me there and set the desktop to the Master Browser. Have blocked XP from
becoming the Master Browser.

I am able to access the Laptop from the Desktop with no problem.
However I cannot access the Desktop directly : Get the security message
'Workgroup is not accessible . You might not have permissions ...'.
Interesting that I can access the Desktop by using the Run \\192.168.02
option which is the address assigned for the Desktop, so the network is
functioning.
Problem still remains that I need to link an access database on the Laptop
to the data tables on the Desktop and the system won't allow it.

Grateful for any help as this thing is driving me nuts.

Thanks, Alan
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Bernard Peek said:
If you can access the machine by IP address and not by name then there's
a DNS issue somewhere.
Click to expand...

It is a workgroup. There is no DNS involved.
Are the default gateways on the laptop and desktop set correctly, both
should be 192.168.0.1 (the address of the router)
Click to expand...

It is a single subnet, so there is no routing involved for them to see each
other. The DFG is only to get to the Internet, but they should be able to
see each other even if the DFG is left blank.
Have you created hosts files on each machine. In W2K you should have a
file \winnt\system32\drivers\etc\hosts which should have an entry for
each machine.
Click to expand...

There should never be a need for this, especially in a workgroup where DNS
and FQDNs aren't even used.

Alan:
You said it worked with using \\192.168.02.xx , but what about doing the
same with the machine's name from a command line (not in Net'Hood)? What
about if you tell it to "search" for a machine by name in the Search
Utility? If these work but Net'Hood still doesn't then you have a Master
Browser issue. I'd would then *not* force one to be the Master Browser and
I would *not* prevent the other from being the Master Browser. I would just
put them back as they were by default and let them hold normal "browser
elections" and let them settle it between themselves who the Master Browser
will be.
 
Alan:
I checked the site in the link. I agree with him in this case,..that the
laptop (if wireless) should not be allowed to become a Master Browser. I
didn't notice earlier that the laptop was wireless.

Unfortunately, at the moment, I still don'tknow where to point the finger.
 
Phillip Windell said:
It is a workgroup. There is no DNS involved.
Click to expand...
Both are pointing to default gateway 192.168.0.1and ping is showing ok.
It is a single subnet, so there is no routing involved for them to see each
other. The DFG is only to get to the Internet, but they should be able to
see each other even if the DFG is left blank.


There should never be a need for this, especially in a workgroup where DNS
and FQDNs aren't even used.

Alan:
You said it worked with using \\192.168.02.xx , but what about doing the
same with the machine's name from a command line (not in Net'Hood)? What
about if you tell it to "search" for a machine by name in the Search
Utility?
Click to expand...
Phillip,
Tried the search from the Laptop to the Desktop but \\Desktop or the Search
will not find the fault.
If these work but Net'Hood still doesn't then you have a Master
Browser issue. I'd would then *not* force one to be the Master Browser and
I would *not* prevent the other from being the Master Browser. I would just
put them back as they were by default and let them hold normal "browser
elections" and let them settle it between themselves who the Master Browser
will be.
Click to expand...
I was just trying the Master Browser after reading the notes in the Tom's
networking Hints.
Interesting that before I made the MB change, I could see Desktop from
Laptop but could not access it with the same security problem.
After declining the MB to Laptop, it is the Workgroup that I can no longer
access.
Do you think there could be an issue in naming the Workgroup 'Workgroup' ?
Thanks for your help,
Alan
 
Alan Lee said:
Tried the search from the Laptop to the Desktop but \\Desktop or the Search
will not find the fault.
Click to expand...

It is not supposed to find a fault, it is supposed to find a machine :-)
This doesn't depend on the Master Browser just like the command line does
not depend on the Master Browser. These should work even if Net'Hood fails.
Interesting that before I made the MB change, I could see Desktop from
Laptop but could not access it with the same security problem.
Click to expand...

Go back to that point as I suggested, at least temporarily. If you can then
find the machine but not access resources that should be easier to deal
with.
Do you think there could be an issue in naming the Workgroup 'Workgroup' ?
Thanks for your help,
Click to expand...

Not unless one is mispelled. Do you have an old Win98 machines you can add
to the mix and then see which machine can access what? Win98 is much
simpler and has less to go wrong, it may help target the real problem.
 
Alan said:
I have a problem with my home network, which I need some help with,
please.

Desktop runs W2k
Laptop runs WXP Home with Wireless connection
Both connected to Netgear firewall/router DG834
Both members of same Workgroup.
Desktop was running ZoneAlarm but this now uninstalled and since
re-booted. No Firewall setting on Laptop.
Username and Account the same on both machines and both set at
Administrator Level.
Worked through the help in
http://www.tomsnetworking.com/Sections-article64-page1.php which nearly
got me there and set the desktop to the Master Browser. Have blocked XP
from becoming the Master Browser.

I am able to access the Laptop from the Desktop with no problem.
However I cannot access the Desktop directly : Get the security message
'Workgroup is not accessible . You might not have permissions ...'.
Interesting that I can access the Desktop by using the Run \\192.168.02
option which is the address assigned for the Desktop, so the network is
functioning.
Problem still remains that I need to link an access database on the Laptop
to the data tables on the Desktop and the system won't allow it.

Grateful for any help as this thing is driving me nuts.
Click to expand...

NetBIOS over TCP/IP enabled on both machines?

Ben
 
Phillip,
Took your advice and hooked up my W98 machine. This links perfectly to the
desktop and the laptop. The desktop can see the W98 system ok.
Have removed the disable Master Browser. Now figure that there must be
something amiss with the wireless connection.
Will try going back to direct cabling tomorrow to see if this is the case.
Thanks, Alan
 
Alan Lee said:
something amiss with the wireless connection.
Will try going back to direct cabling tomorrow to see if this is the case.
Click to expand...

I bet direct cabling will work fine. In the link you gave earlier mentioned
issues with the wireless's "privacy" features that get in the way. Maybe
they weren't fully delt with properly. But, I dunno,...I have never even
physically touched any wiresless equipment with these two hands :-), and I
do not look forward to ever doing so. I do not consider them secure nor
dependable no matter what measures they have taken so far with the
technology. Anything they do to make it secure also has the potential to
screw up everything else that it is supposed to do normally.
 
Other way round. Map network drive on your desktop of your
laptop using \\192.x.x.x\d. Before doing that share D or
whatever on your laptop.
 
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