Desktop computer can see laptop computer, but not vice versa

by starkeeper Aug 19, 2004 1:48AM PDT

I have two computers I am trying to network, mostly so I can share a printer.

Desktop:
Dell Dimension 4550
Windows XP Home
Intel PRO/100 VE Network Connection

Laptop:
Dell Inspiron 8600
Windows XP Professional
Intel PRO/Wireless LAN 2100 3A Mini PCI Adapter

They both connect to a Linksys wireless router (BEFW11S4) (the desktop is wired), which in turn connects to a cable modem.

I've named the workgroup Newton. The desktop can see itself and the laptop in Newton, and access anything in the shared folder. The laptop only sees itself in Newton. Both connect to the internet with no problems. My old laptop (an IBM running Windows 9 had no problems seeing the desktop. The desktop has folders shared properly, and no local firewall. Both computers can ping each other by ip address and by name.

If I boot up the laptop after the desktop, then the desktop can't see the laptop, and when I try to access Newton from the laptop, I get the following error message from Microsoft Windows Network:

"Newton 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."

And the desktop can no longer see the laptop.

The only possible contributing factor I can think of is that I originally bought the laptop with Windows XP and then installed XP Professional myself - but that was 7 months ago and I've had no other problems with the operating system.

Any suggestions?

Discussion is locked

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Desktop computer can see laptop computer, but not vice versa

by starkeeper Aug 26, 2004 1:16AM PDT

UPDATE

I finally got it to work! Basically, I had to turn off my desktop's file sharing "from the source" and turn it back on. (I also installed Service Pack 2 on both machines, but I doubt that did anything.) Now both computers can see eachother just fine (I even rebooted each machine several times in different orders to make sure). Here are the details in case anyone else has the same problem:

From the control panel, go to Network Connections. Right-click on whichever connection you are using (for me it was the Local Area Connection) and select Properties. In the box that says "This connection uses the following items:" uncheck "File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks". Reboot the computer, go back and check "File and Printer Sharing...". Reboot again.

This fixed my problem. I don't know why it was a problem in the first place, but at this point I don't care, either

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Re: Desktop computer can see laptop computer, but not vice v

by ronf57 Sep 4, 2004 11:51PM PDT

well, i have a similar problem.
i am glad to hear yours is fixed.
in my network the pc that doesn't play well is a win XP pro box connected wirelessly.
all boxes can see it all other boxes can have there shares reached. but this one box can access every other box but gives the you don't have access privelages dialogue for it drives and shares.
any ideas would help greatly.
thanks.
Ron

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Firewalls are sometimes BAD.

by fortunat Sep 11, 2005 2:58PM PDT

On an internal network a software direwall running on a local computer will disable the ability for computer A to see computer B while computer B is able to see computer A.

Turn off all software firewalls and try again. Other potential issues are caused by insufficent rights to access networked resources ie cannot share users folders from "Documents and Settings" without access violations.

Hope this helps
Jeff

Desktop computer can see laptop computer, but not vice versa

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