Can't see comp on network, but can search for it and find it

[Yakkum]

What the heck is going on. The title of my post pretty much sums up my problem. I have a home network with two computers presently and they are connect through a switch which connects to the cable modem. It used to work fine but now there is something wrong, I just can't seem to see the other computer through network neighborhood. I can only search for computer and find the other one then. It is the same on both computers. Can anyone help me with this? What am I doing wrong?

 

[ktwebb]

name resolutions issue. Comes with the windows territory. Adding NetBEUI usually will clear this up. You can also disable browse master on one of the boxes and that will likely clear it up as well.

 

[Yakkum]

Wow, thanks for the quick response. It sounds like you know exactly what to do. Unfortunately I still am a little confused as to what to do. How do I fix it and do the things that you are suggesting that I do? Thanks.

 

[ktwebb]

Adding NetBEUI on each machine is as easy as going to the network icon in the control panel, click add - protocol - NetBEUI. To disable master browser highlight file and printer sharing, click properties, and one of the tabs will allow you to disable it. This is all assuming you are using a Win9x/ME variant. Havent really done alot of work 9X/ME machines lately but those are the general steps.

 

[AcidzT]

i have this same prob, hell ive seen it on 2 ocasions i have a amptron (read: cheap) mboard for a 2ndary system, everything works fine with my rounter, and i can map drives and such but if i just goto network neighborhood i cant seen any of the comps conevted. I DO have netbui installed


I guess its no biggie, i just map all the drives anyway

 

[ktwebb]

Well if the master browser trick doesnt work for you, you can always create a simple hosts file. That should clear up the problem with or without NetBEUI and regardless of whos master browser. Pretty easy to create and maintain on a small LAN as well.

 

[Garion]

If you have NetBEUI installed on both computers and can't browse, two things come to mind:

1: Do both PC's have something shared? If you don't have anything shared a machine doesn't show in Network Neighborhood.

2: Go to the Properties of NetBeui in the network control panel and go to the advanced tab. Make sure the "Use this protocol as the default protocol" box is checked on BOTH computers.

Those two should cure nearly all your ills, unless something more major is wrong.

- G

 

[Doh!]

when the computer finds the networked computer by doing a search, map the networked computer. it will show up in your explorer every time.

 

[Yakkum]

Thanks for all the quick responses. These anandtech forums never cease to amaze me. The NetBEUI thing didn't do the trick. It didn't seem to help at all in fact but what ended up solving my problem was the master browser settings. It took me a while because I basically just had to keep trying out new combonations with different comps with different settings. I finally got it to work with my more powerful and newer dell with master browser enabled and the older system as automatic. It was a surefire pain in the ass. I guess that's just my luck though. Anyway, thanks a lot and if anyone can tell me why all of a sudden with these settings it works it would be a cool little treat. See ya.