ARG!! I CAN'T ACCESS MY LAPTOP FILES!!

[FlymanX]

Okay, so I just bought a 10/100 Network PC card for my laptop which is a Dell Inspiron 5000. I hooked it up to my Dell Dimension XPS T500 using some CAT 5 wires and a 10/100 NetGear Hub. Anyway, I can browse all of my Desktop's shared files from my Laptop, but when I try to look at my Laptop's shared file from my Desktop, I just can't do it!! I mean, the computers can ping each other just fine, but when I try to access my Laptop files, nothing!! Well actully, I can see the Laptop in the Network Neigborhood, and can actually open it up and browse the contents, but when I go to open a shared file, the hour-glass pops up and stays there for a really long time, which usually doesn't happen on a 10/100 network. What the hell is wrong!!?? I've called every company and all they can say is, call another company!! Big help!! Anyway, this really sucks and I'd like to resolve it as soon as possible. And another thing, when I start up a LAN game of Half-Life using my Desktop as a sever, the Laptop can't join. I can only make the server on the Laptop and join that game. It's really annoying since the laptop is dumb and only has 64 megs of RAM.

 

[Santa]

What Protocal are you using? TCP/IP , IPX/SPX, Netbui??

We need more information from your Network Neighborhood properties..

Perhaps your Network Card is bad that is another possibility you might want to explore.

Pinging each other is the first step but there are alot of other networking mechanics involved to get them to talk to each other and share files.

 

[FlymanX]

I'm using TCP/IP for all the sharing, including internet connection sharing. IPX is there just so I can play games.

 

[fishy101]

You might want to check your gateway on the laptop. Make sure it's the same one as that of the desktop.

Hope this helps.

 

[FlymanX]

Yeah, I set the gateway on the laptop to the IP of the desktop. I think that's only good for internet connection sharing though, since my desktop is the one that's directly connected to the internet.

 

[DieselMan]

I sometimes have the same problem, and I found out that this has MORE TO DO with the 2 network card not being fully compatible; for instance, on one of my desktops I have a 3 com 3c905b-tx, one of the flagships NIC's for 3com. Guess what? This card will not work properly with my laptop 10/100 pcmcia card, but if I connect my latptop to any other desktops on my hub, it's ok!

And I've tried my laptop at my friend's house who also happens to have a 3c905b-tx on his desktop! Everywhere else I go, my laptop connects fine, and the other desktops can browse and view my files. Only when dealing with computers having a 3c905b-tx that my PCMCIA card does not work right. I am not blaming on the 3com NIC's: Just get another PCMCIA card for your laptop and see if this solves the problem (I have the advantage of having 4 PCMCIA NIC's in my laptop bags, so I've been doing lots of different testing). Good luck!

 

[FlymanX]

Thanx for the help, but my problem isn't comepletely resolved. I bought another PC card and the same problems are happening!!?? Help!!!

 

[fergiboy]

This may sound a little dumb but make sure you have file/print sharing enabled on the labtop.

 

[FlymanX]

Yeah, that was kinda dumb