XP Workgroup Problem

  • Thread starter Thread starter PaulG
  • Start date Start date
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PaulG

I have a wireless network which pretty much works fine but has one
small failure which confuses me greatly. I'd really like to
understand what is causing the trouble as well as fix it.

My main home computer BASE is running XP Home and ICS. I have a
workgroup and shares set up and everything works fine from 2 of the 3
laptops in the house.

The 3rd laptop LAPTOP is running XP Pro and used to work fine too but
now cannot see any of the other computers in the workgroup.
Everything else works correctly.
- All machines have File sharing enabled.
- All machines are members of the same workgroup
- All machines use WEP with the same key.
- All machines have NETBIOS over TCPIP enabled
- LAPTOP can access the internet via BASE
- LAPTOP can access shared folders on BASE
- LAPTOP can ping BASE
- BASE can ping LAPTOP
- BASE sees BASE and LAPTOP in the workgroup
- When LAPTOP tries to "View Workgroup Computers" it gets the message
that the "workgroup is not accessible. You might not have permission
.............
- Makes no difference if firewalls are turned off.

The only thing I can think of is that there must be some protocol
which is only used for workgroup discovery (which fails) and not for
sharing (which works) and which is in some way messed up on LAPTOP.
Does anyone know if there is such a thing and how I can check it out?

I know I can fix it by a reinstall of LAPTOP but I'd prefer to
understand what is going on.

Any pointers would be most appreciated.

Thanks ... Paul
 
I have a simmilar problem did you install the Advanced
Networking Pack for Windows XP
KB817778
 
I haven't knowingly installed the advanced pack ... though I'm never
absolutely certain what Windows Update gets up to.

Had a thought though. Turned off the wireless on LAPTOP and connected
it to BASE via Ethernet and suddenly LAPTOP can see all the workgroup
computers.

I'm not sure how much of the TCPIP stack is common between adapters
but I guess most of it. Does anyone know if this is true?

So I think this means that either
1) The wireless device driver on LAPTOP's Philips wireless adapter is
doing something odd.
or
2) There is some subtle configuration difference between the Ethernet
and Wireless adapter setups which I can't spot. They look identical
to me.

In the absence of anything else I may try the advanced pack when I get
a moment to see if it makes a difference.

May also try deleting the wireless adapter and starting again - only
problem with this approach is that if it works I won't know why!

I would still appreciate other ideas before I give up.

Thanks ... Paul
 
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