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can't see my networked laptop

rh71

rh71

No Lifer
Laptop: XP pro
Desktop: Vista Home
- both connected to a verizon actiontec router (which sees both machines as active)

Desktop --> router --> Laptop is not working. Tried both wireless and wired (to router). It worked fine a few days ago. File shares no good, ping by name/IP times out. Desktop just doesn't see the laptop. I put them in the same workgroup (was working fine before in different workgroups) and it's still no good.

Laptop --> router --> Desktop is working. Desktop shares are opened ok and it pings across ok, I can even write a file to the desktop (full access) from the laptop thru shares.

I've disabled my laptop firewall and it still doesn't work (it used to work with it enabled anyway). Multiple reboots on both machines and it still doesn't work. I don't know if this problem started last night but last night was when I replaced Avast AV with Avira Antivir on my desktop but you'd think that I'd see connection problems TO the desktop if that were the case anyway.

 
Since you are using a router which is not my area of expertise, I am reluctant to add my two cents, but since no one is answering you, I do have one thing to say. Given your symptoms, you should not only be looking at blocking in your laptop, you should be looking at your desktop or the router as the possible rascals blocking access.
 
If both computer works well with the Internet the issue as nothing to do with Hardware or Router.

It is a matter of correct sharing's configuration.

Maybe this can Help.

Successful Sharing involves some general consideration in Network settings, http://www.ezlan.net/sharing.html

As well as specific adjustment of each computer according to what it is allowed to be shared.

Vista File and Printer Sharing- http://technet.microsoft.com/e.../library/bb727037.aspx

Windows XP File Sharing - http://support.microsoft.com/d...x?scid=kb;en-us;304040

Printer Sharing XP - http://www.microsoft.com/windo...t/honeycutt_july2.mspx

Windows Native Firewall setting for Sharing XP - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875357

Windows XP patch for Sharing with Vista - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922120
 
I have found success by doing the following:

Use the same username and password on both machines
Give each machine a unique name
Connect each machine to same workgroup.
Disable simple file sharing
have at least one shared folder (even if there is nothing inside)

I have found that sometimes I could not even connect to another box using remote desktop unless I have a shared folder and have previously logged into that folder with my username/pass, and this only seems to work consistently if I use the same username/password (alternate accounts I would set up was a real hit or miss).
 
One more thing to add... when pinging the laptop by hostname from the desktop, it actually resolves the IP okay (but times out) - maybe it's cached somewhere (not in the hosts file). Also from my desktop when I go to Network and Sharing Center and view computers and devices, it actually shows my laptop there (even after refreshes)... trying to click into it gives me:

Error code: 0x80070035
The network path was not found.

I have made sure both machines are sharing folders and that my desktop's username exists on the laptop, but a simple ping request failing means it's probably not a sharing setup issue anyway. Again, this was working fine without all this tweaking just a few days ago. I ran CC Cleaner (registry) back then too but doubt that did anything to screw this up.
 
Firewall on either machine or possibly not having netbios over TCP enabled on every single machine on the network.
 
I've just tried an old XP machine to replace my desktop and same deal... my desktop can't see the same laptop... but the laptop can see my new desktop. Can't have both desktops connected at the same time so can't test that. I guess I need to dig deeper on my laptop here.
 
Another word to the wise. Don't go rebooting things willy nilly. It can take over 30 minutes for a browsing problem to go away after each and every reboot of a single machine.

If you can access machines by \\ipaddress then sharing is working just fine and you have a network browsing problem. Normally one shouldn't rely on network neighborhood to reach other machines.
 
On my laptop I've tried looking through Windows Firewall settings but the options of on or off are grayed out with the message that some settings are managed by group policies. I go to the exceptions tab and file and print sharing is checked on and group policy for it says no. I don't know what else to look for.

I've completely turned off Symantec Client Firewall, to no avail.

I also can't find where to install netbios to give that a try. It is not under add --> client, protocol, or service.
 
If you have Norton Firewall then Win Native Firewall is Off.

Check Norton's Trusted Zone.

As a last resort try to totally get rid of it all together.

If you meant NetBEUI, it does not work with Vista.

NetBIOS is a setting in the TCP/IP configuration.

Click on the advanced in the left windows here, http://www.ezlan.net/example/tcp-ip.jpg
 
Originally posted by: TheKub
nm.
Click to expand...

nm, whatever that means? But do not be modest TheKub, as you said in another thread, "Can't really agree on a router being a headache. Using just about any router any xp machine that hasn't been mucked around with would be online in moments."

Tell me OP, are you trouble free online in moments yet?

 
Originally posted by: Lemon law
Originally posted by: TheKub
nm.
Click to expand...

nm, whatever that means? But do not be modest TheKub, as you said in another thread, "Can't really agree on a router being a headache. Using just about any router any xp machine that hasn't been mucked around with would be online in moments."

Tell me OP, are you trouble free online in moments yet?
Click to expand...

Stop spewing crap of that which you do not understand....please. You are approaching troubleshooting with a replacement mentality and not understanding the underlying cause. This is dangerous when you keep spewing it.
 
I've practically given up. In the laptop's Norton Firewall settings, I've placed my desktop's IP in the trusted range (again, something that wasn't necessary before) and it still doesn't work. I tell the firewall not to even load on XP startup and still it doesn't work. Something had to have mucked up my network settings within the last week. Yesterday I had to reinstall my work VPN software on the laptop too (after going through support who could not adjust settings to fix the problem). And yes I've been trying this with and without being VPN connected. With the wired and wireless adapters. Remoting software such as Remote Administrator can't find the machine by IP either. Virus scans on all machines came back negative.

How the hell does it work one direction and not the other?
 
Originally posted by: Lemon law
Originally posted by: TheKub
nm.
Click to expand...

nm, whatever that means? But do not be modest TheKub, as you said in another thread, "Can't really agree on a router being a headache. Using just about any router any xp machine that hasn't been mucked around with would be online in moments."

Tell me OP, are you trouble free online in moments yet?
Click to expand...

nm = never mind, as in I asked the OP a question which was later found to be irrelevant.

If Im reading the OP correctly the internet is working fine its the shares that are not. So the router was a plug and surf operation (which is easier than configuring 2 NICs and ICS). Also, given the OPs situation should he be trying to connect with ICS it would fail as well, not because its easier or harder but because there is something wrong with the laptop.

My suggestion is that you try completely removing the all the Norton products as a test because the problems that you are describing sound very much like a firewall. The other thing to check on the router is see if the laptop\desktop IP is set to be on the DMZ.
 
Yes internet is working fine on both machines. It's not just a share problem. As I stated, remoting software into the laptop is not connecting either. This worked before as well.

Uninstalled Symantec Client Firewall, rebooted, no dice. Uninstalled VPN software (which I was forced to upgrade to a few days ago) and still no dice.

I plug in the wired CAT5 and it gives me a different IP address (192.168.1.5) instead of .3 for wireless (these are dhcp btw) and upon pinging the laptop by hostname, it knows the new IP. So it knows it's there, it just can't get through. The router should let ALL traffic go through as long as it's on the same network, no? So it really should be a laptop problem.

Also I know pinging is a simple echo request. Am I not doing the troubleshooting correctly by just trying pings? It's not just a share problem here. Any other tests I can run?

EDIT>> Through the router admin page I just tried a ping request to the laptop (IP & hostname) and that failed all 4 packets as well. These are timeouts, not destination host unreachable.
 
Im curious about the group policy message when you look at the firewall applet in control panel. Now that the Norton firewall is removed go to computer management and under the services section verify that the windows firewall/internet connection sharing is disabled (or at least not started). There is a chance that there is a GP that is configuring the firewall (though typically the firewall is disabled when you are on a domain). There is also a chance that removing the Norton firewall reenabled the builtin one.
 
I just disabled that service and the Windows Firewall page can't come up with it stopped.

I am not on a domain right now. I have admin privileges but don't know how to get to existing group policies. I looked that up and opened the group policy object editor but didn't see existing settings (mostly empty values).

As far as I can tell, I have no firewall started right now. One more thing, on the laptop, I can never do ipconfig /all successfully. For the longest time (possibly up to a year now) it results in:

Windows IP Configuration
An internal error occurred: A device attached to the system is not functioning.
Please contact MS Product Support Services for further help.
Additional information: Unknown media status code.

.. though the wired/wireless adapters have worked perfectly fine for me. I just can't seem to get that command to work but shares and remoting were ok and everything too till now.
 
I found reports that LSP-fix has worked for some users with similar issues as you are describing.

I also found a posting with someone in a similar position as you and they say they fixed it by restoring the TCPIP.SYS file. Should be in your system32\drivers folder, it may have been modified by NIS.

 
LSP said no problems detected and I wasn't willing to risk removing those files anyway.

Tried replacing TCPIP.SYS, rebooted, and it didn't help.
 
Originally posted by: rh71
LSP said no problems detected and I wasn't willing to risk removing those files anyway.

Tried replacing TCPIP.SYS, rebooted, and it didn't help.
Click to expand...

Well I suggest either a sfc or a repair install as there is something going on when ipconfig doesn't work.
 
SFC came back fine. 🙁 I guess I'll have to wait for a laptop refresh since I really don't want to mess up what is actually working on it.
 
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