network problem

cranegrad · Post by **cranegrad** » Sat Apr 13, 2002 5:24 pm

i jsut installed a linksys router on my windows xp desktop. i connected an xp laptop and another desktop running win 98. i can access the internet on all computers (cable modem) but i can't figure out how to get them to recognize each other. i've tried to run the network wizard on the xp desktop but i receive a message saying that there was an error and to manually set up my network. i enabled the printer sharing but cannot access the printer from any of the other computers. can anyone help out?

CalMcGregor · Post by **CalMcGregor** » Sat Apr 13, 2002 5:42 pm

Do you use DHCP in the router or did you assign IP addresses manually? If manually, are they all in the same network IP range and in the same subnet?

cranegrad · Post by **cranegrad** » Sat Apr 13, 2002 5:47 pm

i used DHCP.

CalMcGregor · Post by **CalMcGregor** » Sat Apr 13, 2002 5:53 pm

Ok, now more details:

the printer is a tcp/ip printer or a parallel printer?

If parallel: Where is the printer connected to? The XP machine or the win98 machine.

If TCP/IP: is the printer pingable?

Now, what do you mean with "recognize" each other? You mean the file sharing does not work?

Also post the network setup a bit more clearly. Post the TCP/IP addresses of all your devices.

cranegrad · Post by **cranegrad** » Sat Apr 13, 2002 6:00 pm

the printer is parallel and connected to the xp machine. when i say "not recognized" i mean that on the xp laptop when i go to "my network places" and then to "view workgroup computers" no other computers are listed. and when i go to network printers i only see the printer that was originally set up on the laptop.

CalMcGregor · Post by **CalMcGregor** » Sat Apr 13, 2002 6:02 pm

did you set a workgroup for both computers? Put them in the same workgroup, reboot and doubleclick the network icon. The upcoming window should be seprated in 2 sections: "Local Network" in the upper part of the window, "Unspecified" in the lower part (thats how it looks in WinXP at least). In the "Unspecified" section should be an icon called "Entire Network". Doubleclick there and chose "Microsoft Windows Network" next. In there you should see your workgroup name. When you doubleclick on this, the other computers should show up in there.

Try that first before we go on.

PS: The workgroup name should be ABSOLUTELY the same on both computers.

CalMcGregor · Post by **CalMcGregor** » Sat Apr 13, 2002 6:14 pm

nono, i'm sorry if it sounded like setting up a workgroup for printers....

I meant make sure that when you rightclick on "my computer" on all your machines, the workgroup name is the same when you check under "properties -> computer name". If the computers are not in the same workgroup, change the workgroup to "test" on all of them and reboot them. Then see if they show up.

uuuum.....your message seems gone...anyway....

cranegrad · Post by **cranegrad** » Sat Apr 13, 2002 6:19 pm

yes they both have the same workgroup name.

CalMcGregor · Post by **CalMcGregor** » Sat Apr 13, 2002 6:21 pm

file and printsharing is enabled on both machines? Try mapping a shared network drive/folder manually.

Can you ping the other machine?

cranegrad · Post by **cranegrad** » Sat Apr 13, 2002 6:21 pm

am i supposed to enter a computer description along with the computer name and the workgroup?

CalMcGregor · Post by **CalMcGregor** » Sat Apr 13, 2002 6:25 pm

computer description is not necessary.

if both machines are in the same workgroup, with the right range of ip addresses, the right netmask, both have client for microsoft networks installed AND you enable file and printer sharing AND shared it, then something must be either wrong with your windows installation or you have a hardware problem.

If all of the above is correctly setup, there is no way you cannot "see" the computers of your network.

make sure you check everything again:

1. same workgroup

2. right IP addresses

3. right netmask

4. client for microsoft networks installed?

5. file and print sharing enabled?

6. actually SHARING something?

7. both machines freshly rebooted after adjusting last settings?

cranegrad · Post by **cranegrad** » Sat Apr 13, 2002 6:29 pm

you're right, i should try again by starting over. thanks for your help. i'll let you know how it goes.

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Sat Apr 13, 2002 7:47 pm

You have to grant access by setting up user accounts on the XP machine.

This should explain it to you.........

http://www.wown.com/j_helmig/wxpwin9x.htm

cranegrad · Post by **cranegrad** » Sun Apr 14, 2002 7:48 pm

after trying again, i'm still having the same problem. it's funny, when i view the network connections on the laptop it gives 4--local area connections 1 & 2, a network bridge connection and a 1394 connection. but on the desktop that i'm trying to get everything to talk to i only have 2--local area connection #2 and 1394. i ran the " set up a home network" wizard on the LAN connection and got an error saying i had to run it again with different settings. i ran the same wizard on the 1394 connection and it seemed to work fine. i was even able to see the shared printer and file applications on both machines that i want to network. but when i click on the icons it tells me that it cannot find the path. and one other thing, when i ran the wizard on the desktop 1394 connection i couldn't connect to the internet anymore--but i still had internet on the laptop. i apologize if i'm not explaining this very clearly--i'm obviously new to this phase of home computing

cranegrad · Post by **cranegrad** » Sun Apr 14, 2002 8:05 pm

i forgot to mention that on the host computer i can see the laptop but when i click it's icon it says ther's an invalid network path. how do i input the correct path?

qball15j · Post by **qball15j** » Sun Apr 14, 2002 8:53 pm

Go to your administrative tools in WinXP and Computer Management. Go to User Account then User. Enable your Guest user account.

cranegrad · Post by **cranegrad** » Sun Apr 14, 2002 10:13 pm

i enabled the guest user account and still no luck

hatchet · Post by **hatchet** » Mon Apr 15, 2002 12:00 pm

cranegrad, have you set up a shared drive or folder on each computer? See CalMcGregor's item 6 in his 5th post. It's a simple thing, but easly overlooked.

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Mon Apr 15, 2002 2:40 pm

Enable your Guest user account.

Why in the world would he need to enable the Guest User account? It's not needed to share files on a network, not as far as I know anyway.

In addition, isn't that some kind of security risk?

qball15j · Post by **qball15j** » Mon Apr 15, 2002 2:59 pm

I've found in my setup's that I would get a log-on prompt with XP while trying to access files on another machine with the guest account disabled.

The only time I don't think you would get a log-on prompt would be if your main account user names are the same on both computers.

Enabling your Guest account could be a security risk, depends on which way you look at it. The only time I would feel that a guest account would be a security risk would be if the computer that the account was enabled was directly connected to the internet or had a static IP from your ISP.

nightowl_123 · Post by **nightowl_123** » Sun Apr 21, 2002 3:36 pm

First, work with one machine here. The one running WinXP( Computer 1). When you double click My Network places and double click on entire network(on computer 1), do you see the share you created? If you do see the share then it is a problem between the two computers. If you don't see the share on computer 1. This is what I want you to do. On each machine, click start, Run, type winipcfg. You may have to wait a couple of seconds. When the window pops up use the drop down menu to select your network card. It may currently be saying PPP. Once you choose the right network card, write down the information of host name, ip address and subnet mask, and gateway. Then close and do the same for computer 2. I think there might be a conflict with IP address and subnet mask. I had this happen to me before. Also find out the IP address of you router and subnet mask. This should all be in the documentation of your router. And there should be a section that states IP address for workstations should be between 192.168.1.1 - 192.168.1.23. Make sure your workstations IP's are between these numbers. If you are using a HUB and trying to share let me know.