XP Home computer missing from workgroup?

  • Thread starter Thread starter windman
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windman

Help! I have 2 PCs (XP Home, SP2), 1 Mac (OSX 10.4.5), and a 5100
ReplayTV box on my home network (Linksys BEFW11S4 router). The only
computer that can be seen on all other computers is on of the PCs
(laptop, wireless connection). The desktop PC and Mac are not visible
from the "view workgroup computer" window on the PCs. I have turned on
file sharing, shared a directory, verified that I can see the other
computers with ping, but I cannot get full two way sharing to function.
I've read on the web that perhaps I'm having "master browser"
problems. I have looked on the computer management program (desktop
PC) and I do see some Errors in the Event Viewer/System view that refer
to "MrxSmb". This refer to conflicts with the master browser. I've
also read to try "%SystemRoot%\nsw.log". The output of this is curious
- see below. Like it's trying to change the name, but it can't?

Network Setup Wizard Log
Attempting to set computer name
Old computer name is the same as new computer name - not setting.
Setting server description (comment): Mike's New Home Computer 3GHz,
800MHz FSB Pentium
Attempting to set workgroup name
Workgroup name is the same as the old one - not setting.
Shared Printer: HP OfficeJet R80xi
Shared Printer: Canon MP780 Series Printer
Shared Printer: Canon MP780 FAX

If anyone has some suggestions I would greatly appreciate it!

Mike
 
windman said:
Help! I have 2 PCs (XP Home, SP2), 1 Mac (OSX 10.4.5), and a 5100
ReplayTV box on my home network (Linksys BEFW11S4 router). The only
computer that can be seen on all other computers is on of the PCs
(laptop, wireless connection). The desktop PC and Mac are not visible
from the "view workgroup computer" window on the PCs. I have turned on
file sharing, shared a directory, verified that I can see the other
computers with ping, but I cannot get full two way sharing to function.
I've read on the web that perhaps I'm having "master browser"
problems. I have looked on the computer management program (desktop
PC) and I do see some Errors in the Event Viewer/System view that refer
to "MrxSmb". This refer to conflicts with the master browser. I've
also read to try "%SystemRoot%\nsw.log". The output of this is curious
- see below. Like it's trying to change the name, but it can't?

Network Setup Wizard Log
Attempting to set computer name
Old computer name is the same as new computer name - not setting.
Setting server description (comment): Mike's New Home Computer 3GHz,
800MHz FSB Pentium
Attempting to set workgroup name
Workgroup name is the same as the old one - not setting.
Shared Printer: HP OfficeJet R80xi
Shared Printer: Canon MP780 Series Printer
Shared Printer: Canon MP780 FAX

If anyone has some suggestions I would greatly appreciate it!

Mike
Click to expand...

This computer description is unnecessarily long and has punctuation
in it:

Setting server description (comment): Mike's New Home Computer 3GHz,
800MHz FSB Pentium

Try a simpler comment (one word should suffice).

Long shot, but I have had stuff like this make me pull my
hair out until I found out that it was causing problems.

Also make sure that you have the desktop MAC address in the
MAC address filtering setup page for the router. Don't forget---
ALL MAC addresses for ALL computers you're gonna connect
to the router must appear here - wired or wireless.
 
Also make sure that you have the desktop MAC address in the
MAC address filtering setup page for the router. Don't forget---
ALL MAC addresses for ALL computers you're gonna connect
to the router must appear here - wired or wireless.
Click to expand...

Surely this only applies if one is using MAC address filtering? If not
using that, the list can be empty. Mine is.

I use a D-Link 624 wireless router and the wired computers do not use
MAC address filtering at all, only wireless devices.

MikeB
 
Changing the description allowed both of my PCs to be able to share
data!!! Thanks!

I can also see the home PC (troublesome one) now on my Mac for sharing
data. I still cannot see my Mac in the workgroup. I think it's a name
problem. When I ping the IP address of the Mac on the PC it works
fine. But, when I try and use the name of my Mac it doesn't work. Not
sure what to do with this - I'll investigate on the web...

Next, I will be trying to get my printers on the PCs and Mac's to
shared as well - they do not work yet.

Thanks for the help!
 
I do not use Mac address filtering. I'm not concerned about outsiders
connecting to my network. It's too far to the nearest house.
 
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