Networking Issue, Laptop to Desktop, XP Pro

  • Thread starter Thread starter Brian Schmidt
  • Start date Start date
B

Brian Schmidt

Hello out there.

I have a desktop and a laptop that are plugged into a
cable modem via a router. Additionally, the two computers
are also connected via a 1394/ Firewire cable.

I had hoped to network the two computers, but have been
having problems all day. My laptop can "see" my desktop
as a workgroup computer, but if I try to access I am told
that I do not have permission to use this network
resource and that I should contact the adminstrator of
the server. My desktop, when prompted to search for
workgroup computers, only sees itself.

I have tried disabling simple file sharing to set up a
more advanced permission set to see if this would solve
my problem. It did not so I reverted to simple file
sharing, as this is more than adequate for my needs.

User accounts on both computers are identical, one for me
and one for my girlfriend. The guest account is disabled.

I have told the networking wizard, on both computers,
that the computers are part of an internetless network
via the firewire cables, and then once as an internet-
enabled network via my router, but both times saw similar
unhappy results.

Again, any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
 
Brian said:
Hello out there.

I have a desktop and a laptop that are plugged into a
cable modem via a router. Additionally, the two computers
are also connected via a 1394/ Firewire cable.

I had hoped to network the two computers, but have been
having problems all day. My laptop can "see" my desktop
as a workgroup computer, but if I try to access I am told
that I do not have permission to use this network
resource and that I should contact the adminstrator of
the server. My desktop, when prompted to search for
workgroup computers, only sees itself.

I have tried disabling simple file sharing to set up a
more advanced permission set to see if this would solve
my problem. It did not so I reverted to simple file
sharing, as this is more than adequate for my needs.

User accounts on both computers are identical, one for me
and one for my girlfriend. The guest account is disabled.

I have told the networking wizard, on both computers,
that the computers are part of an internetless network
via the firewire cables, and then once as an internet-
enabled network via my router, but both times saw similar
unhappy results.

Again, any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Click to expand...

First, unplug the 1394 stuff. You can use your LAN via the
router for external 'net access and for local access; having
the extra connection via 1394 only adds confusion. Next,
enable the router's DHCP server, and set both PCs to be DHCP
clients; check, by Run CMD and type IPCONFIG/ALL in the CMD box,
that both PCs are in the same IP subnet (IPA=a.b.c.d, with
same a.b.c and different d's). Next, rerun the NetworkWhiz
and tell it that you have a "residential gateway". Disable
ICF on both PCs. Use only TCP/IP, with NetBIOS over TCP/IP
enabled.

Once you have a working LAN, find a solution for file sharing.
I suggest that you start by enabling the Guest account -- with
a null PW -- on each PC, and create and share a non-root folder
with a simple foldername and a simple sharename. Once that
works, you can experiment with other folders and non-Guest
accounts. And, make sure that F&P sharing is enabled.
 
Thanks kindly for your response Bob.

I went ahead as you advised, and for a small amount of
time simple file sharing worked.

Since then, however, it no longer functions and I cannot
tell why. I set some files to move from my laptop to my
desktop, when I returned the files had been transfered,
but my lan no longer worked.

I have fiddled with it and both computers "see" each
other, but tell me that I do not have permission to
access. Guest accounts are enabled, but do I have to be
logged in as guest on my desktop to get into my laptop?
That doesn't seem to make sense ...

Also, I wasn't sure what you meant by enabling NetBIOS
over TCP/ IP, perhaps that's my problem?

Thanks again!
 
Brian said:
Thanks kindly for your response Bob.

I went ahead as you advised, and for a small amount of
time simple file sharing worked.

Since then, however, it no longer functions and I cannot
tell why. I set some files to move from my laptop to my
desktop, when I returned the files had been transfered,
but my lan no longer worked.

I have fiddled with it and both computers "see" each
other, but tell me that I do not have permission to
access. Guest accounts are enabled, but do I have to be
logged in as guest on my desktop to get into my laptop?
That doesn't seem to make sense ...

Also, I wasn't sure what you meant by enabling NetBIOS
over TCP/ IP, perhaps that's my problem?

Thanks again!
Click to expand...

I don't think that NetBIOS is your problem, but here's how:

Click on Start, then on ControlPanel, then on NetworkConnections, then
right-click on your LAN, then click on Properties, then on TCP/IP,
then on Properties, then on Advanced, then on WINS, then click on
the radio button for Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP.
 
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