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General discussion

File/printer sharing problems

Sep 7, 2004 2:37AM PDT

I'm trying to set up a network between two desktop PCs (one of which I've recently upgraded from 98 to XP), using a Belkin wireless router and PCI cards installed in both.

The internet connection sharing has worked from the start without any problems, but although I've tried everything I can think of to establish the file sharing, they just don't see each other at all. I've made sure that they are both in the same workgroup, but not done anything to the IP address of the second computer (do I even need to do this?).

Any help in sorting out this problem will be much appreciated.

Discussion is locked

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Re: File/printer sharing problems
Sep 7, 2004 3:00AM PDT

The IP address, NETMASK must be in the same LAN. But the usual is that a firewall is installed and working. Remember that Zone Alarm can't be disabled.

Bob

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Re: File/printer sharing problems
Sep 7, 2004 4:46AM PDT

Thanks very much for responding so quickly.

I have tried to implement your suggestions, however, further questions arise.

I have checked the Router SetUp Utility, which tells me in the LAN Settings that the router's IP address is xxx.xxx.x.1, the secondary computer is .2 and the primary computer is .3. Is this correct? Should the primary and secondary addresses be switched? Should they all be the same? The manual for the router says that the Subnet Mask does not need to be changed.

The manual says that the IP addresses can be changed if needed, but gives no clue as to how, why or to what I might want to change them.

With regards to the firewall, pardon my ignorance, but if I disable the router's firewall, will my XP firewall need to be disabled as well?

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Re: File/printer sharing problems
Sep 7, 2004 5:14AM PDT

The PC firewalls are often an issue. Your insistance to not share internal IP addresses such as 192.168.1.1 and PC addresses just hamper me helping you.

Share or call Linksys support?

You leave the wifi router settings alone for now.

Best of luck,

Bob

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Re: File/printer sharing problems
Sep 7, 2004 6:17AM PDT

I tried disabling all firewall settings, with no improvement.

The first part of the IP address, in all three cases is 192.168.2. and then 1, 2 or 3. Sorry, didn't realise you needed this.

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Re: File/printer sharing problems
Sep 7, 2004 7:11AM PDT

The 192.168.2.x is an odd setup. That tells me that the stock settings have been changed. My advice is to not do that until you get the LAN up on its feet.

Also, I did write that the firewalls such as ZoneAlarm don't have a disable setting. I don't want to go back and forth too many times about that fact. To get the network up on its feet, you check zonelabs and make sure the settings are right or just uninstall.

The netmask should be 255.255.255.0 or 255.255.0.0 Machines will not show unless the machine has a share enabled.

Bob

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Re: File/printer sharing problems
Sep 7, 2004 4:01PM PDT

Thanks for getting back to me once again.

The IP address is the default setting as supplied by Belkin.

The only firewalls in place are the router's own and the one that comes with Windows XP. As I said before, I tried disabling these, but it made no difference.

Yes, the netmask is 255.255.255.0

Best regards

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Re: File/printer sharing problems
Sep 7, 2004 11:06PM PDT

I haven't setup a BELKIN so I didn't know that issue.

It is possible that the BELKIN is firewalling between the machines. Do you have a document that details what their firewall does?

Bob