wireless network problem

billybigfoot · Post by **billybigfoot** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 7:16 am

I've recently purchased a new laptop and am trying to enable file and printer shareing.
I allready have 2 pc's connected via cable on a wireless router, both can "see" each other and exchange files and use the printer.
My problem:
The laptop has internet access but cannot "see" the pc's or use the printer, and the pc's can't "see" the laptop.

I've ran the network setup wizard about 4 times now but still no joy.

Any help would be greatly recieved.

Thanks in advance.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 7:24 am

Double check that file and print sharing is set in the exceptions of the XP firewall on the wireless connection on the laptop..not the LAN connection.

billybigfoot · Post by **billybigfoot** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 7:35 am

Done that, still no joy. when I click on "view workgroup computers" I get the message: Mshome is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions. The network path was not found.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 8:13 am

Go into TCP properties of the connection being used..advanced...click the WINS tab...and flip the radio button to enable netbios over TCP/IP. Default is to obtain from a DHCP server, or let Windows figure it out by itself. On freshly installed PCs..this usually works fine..but on some PCs that have been around a while..you sometimes need to kick it in the butt and flip it to "enable".

Do this on all PCs.

Can you get replies if you ping the other PCs by IP address?
Can you get replies if you ping the other PCs by computer name?

If you do a "search for computer"...by IP name..does it show up?
Same if by computer name?

Triple check to see that your wireless clients are actually connecting to YOUR wireless network. I've seen it happen lots of times..where wireless clients latch onto a neighbors..thus..of course you won't get access to your local network. This is why it's important to have your own unique SSID..and not the default.

billybigfoot · Post by **billybigfoot** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 8:43 am

I've now enabled netbios over TCP/IP, still no joy.

I CAN ping by name and ip the other pc's but CAN'T find any pc by name or ip when I "search for computer".

The SSID is unique - it was the first thing that I DID think of.
Hope I'm not causing you too much grief, I've got splinters from scratching my head!!!

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 9:02 am

Another thing to check....is depending on the history of the computers....sometimes you end up getting what I called "master browser wars".

Viewing the network neighborhood..requires maintenance of a list of computers netbios names. What happens...on a network, is that there is normally an "election" of which computer will be the "master browser" of the network. Strangly enough..there can only be 1..you'd think in a peer to peer network all PCs could just do it by themselves..but..well...this is how it is.

Normally on larger networks..a domain controller will fill this role. But on peer to peer networks...the computers are supposed to go through an election..the newest operating system gets the job..if those are all equal..I don't know what the steps are to figure it out from there. But anyways...sometimes you have to grab them by the throat and force it yourself.

On 2K/XP..can do this using either of 2 methods. Choose your main computer..and make it the master browser. This should be the computer that's on the most. Now..on the other PCs..disable it.

Either go to your services..and disable browser service
or
do it in the registry...
regedit
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Browser\Parameters IsDomainMaster=FALSE

You can built 100 networks in a row..every now and then you run across one that just doesn't work right..even though you've done all the steps correctly. Often this will happen on computers that have been around a while...maybe had a software firewall or two installed and uninstalled, different brands of antivirus, perhaps some malware that affected the winsock/tcp stack.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 9:05 am

This tool can help too
http://www.snapfiles.com/reviews/WinSoc ... xpfix.html

Rebuild the winsock/tcp stack from scratch

billybigfoot · Post by **billybigfoot** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 9:42 am

OK now I'm vexed.
Tried both suggestions (that sockxpfix prog's pretty good, does all the work for you) didn't solve the problem though.
Just a thought, when I set up my system I only had the laptop connected via wireless, would it make any difference if I had it wired as well?
It's not too much of a problem, Ill just have to transfer stuff with a usb stick for the time being. I'll try again later to get it working as it's there so I'd really like to be able to use it.
Thanks again for all your help.

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 1:12 pm

just out of curiosity, do all computers have the same workgroup name?

billybigfoot · Post by **billybigfoot** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 1:25 pm

Yes, on setup I kept the default "MSHOME" workgroup which up untill I added the laptop worked perfectly and infact still does between the two wired pc's.
I've just done another "search for computer" and found when I look for pc1 or pc2 I get two search results for each and irrispective of which result I double click on I can still connect to it, but when I search for the laptop I get only one result but still can't connect to it, I get the error message "The server does not accept remote requests."

Any insight you may have would be welcome.

billybigfoot · Post by **billybigfoot** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 4:57 pm

Alls up and running now, the answer:

Open Network Connections, highlight the connection (either wireless or nic) then click "Advanced" (at the top of the window) and choose "Optional Networking Components" wait for the wizard to load and then put a tick in the "Other Network File and Printer Services" check box. Click OK and Bobs your fathers brother.

The only thing left to do was open "My Network Places" and click on "Add a network place" in the "Network Tasks" pane on the left hand side of the window, follow the prompts and Roberts a relative again.

I know it's basic, but then I have got a wooden head!!!

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