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General discussion

networking winxp boxes thru router

by wahzoo Jan 22, 2004 10:23PM PST

I need some help networking a new box into an existing home network. I have a linksys router with two PCs networked into it already. I have plugged in my new box into this router, set my workgroup as the same workgroup as my current network, enabled network file and print sharing in all the computers, made sure the client for microsoft networks box is checked and tcp/ip is checked in my Local Area Connection box.

My problem is, I cannot see my network! I am able to surf the internet and check email, do MSN messenger...all without problems. But I cannot see other computers on the network, and the other computers cannot see the new box! I've tripled check all the settings on the computer to ensure they are correct. The only thing I see that is different is, that under Network Connections, my new PC only has a "Local Area Connection" under "LAN or High-Speed Internet" section, whereas in my other computers they have this and "Internet Connection" under "Internet Gateway" as well. Could this be my problem? How do I get it on my new pc??

I have had some experience building and setting up networks, so this kinda baffles me.

Discussion is locked

5 Posts
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Re:networking winxp boxes thru router
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jan 22, 2004 10:33PM PST

Here's the usual.

1. A firewall is installed and working.
2. The workgroup name is not the same.
3. Nothing is shared (Hint: a machine does NOT show if it shares nothing. This is PROPER BEHAVIOUR!)
4. Open a command prompt and try NET VIEW
5. According to Microsoft, the NN (Network Neighborhood) can take minutes to days to populate. The command line of NET VIEW is faster.

Bob

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Re:networking winxp boxes thru router
by wahzoo Jan 22, 2004 10:37PM PST

Ok, I've somehow managed to get the other computers to see the new PC on the network. I've managed to get the new box to see the network as well (network only, not the computers).

When I try to access the new pc from another computer I get "\\NEWPC 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 when I try to access the network from my new computer I get "\\NEWPC 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 list of servers for this workgroup is currently not available."

I have intentionally made a shared folder on my new PC in hopes that my other computers can access it, but it was fruitless.

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Re:Re:networking winxp boxes thru router/which XP?
by Steven Haninger Jan 23, 2004 1:18AM PST

Are you using XP Pro or Home? Are they all using the same partition structure as mixing NTFS and FAT-32 may be an issue. If XP Pro, there is an option to use or not use "Simple File Sharing". There can also be issues depending on how you log in at startup...usernames, passwords, etc. How do you get your IP addresses for the PCs. I have found that providing static addresses seems to get things connected more quickly. Hope you get this sorted out. Repost with the fix and good luck.

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Re:Re:Re:networking winxp boxes thru router/which XP?
by Christian3D Feb 9, 2004 5:31AM PST

Networking in XP is so unnecessarily difficult compared to 2000.

I have encountered similar problems? Not sure if this is the safest thing to do but it works.

Two things to note? Firewall is on by default? and second Windows XP does not refresh automatically.

Firewall issues - This is usually what messes everything up.
By disabling the Microsoft Firewall you will then be able to see this computer from your network.

To disable your firewall go to Network Task, Click on the ?View network connections? then right click on whatever connection you are using, and then select ?Properties??.

Now click on the ?Advanced? tab. You will see that by default, the Internet Connection Firewall is checked. Uncheck this.

Second issue, after you make changes, XP in most cases will not update the network screen until you close the windows and re-open. Sometimes several times.

One other hint to finding the network if you are unable to see your changes,
Right Click on the ?Start? bar, if you choose ?Explore? , then scroll down to ?My Network Places? , then to Microsoft Windows Network? and then either on Mshome or Workgroup, you should see your other computers there.

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Re:networking winxp boxes thru router
by cpsnow Feb 8, 2004 9:24PM PST

Open an explorer window | in the address field type in \\newpc\share_name (where share_name is the name of the shared folder. Also, are you logging on to both computers as the same User name/password?

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