network noob need help: want to network 2 XP machines with sp2

[Maximus96]

I got 2 machines at home with xp pro w/ sp2. both hooked into an old '3com Home Ethernet Gateway' router and share one DSL connection thru SBC Yahoo. Both machines can get online, one is able to see itself under WORKGROUP, the other is not able to see WORKGROUP at all. I tried the methods from that ezlan webpage of enabling simple file sharing on the one that can't see workgroup, and also installed Netbui but still can't get it to work. i also ran the home networking wizard and that didn't help neither.

i'm at work right now and can only provide info that i remember off top of my head, but i want to get some suggestions so i can try to fix it when i get home.

thank you

 

[Maximus96]

any help?

 

[amdskip]

Just create a new workgroup name and apply it to both and see what happens.

 

[Maximus96]

just tried it. the machine that couldn't see the old workgroup still can't see the new workgroup.

it tells me:
Home (the new workgroup) 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 permission...

 

[Thor86]

Use NetBeui for easier file sharing.

http://support.microsoft.com/d...-us;301041&sd=tech

 

[Maximus96]

Originally posted by: Thor86
Use NetBeui for easier file sharing.

http://support.microsoft.com/d...-us;301041&sd=tech

i've already installed netbui like i stated in the original post.

 

[jm20]

try using IP addresses to share resources. \\192.168.x.x it should prompt you with a login if the guest account is disabled.

 

[Maximus96]

will try that when i get home. thanks

 

[BigJimbo]

disable or alter the fire wall in XP

make sure Simple File Sharing is enabled in folder options >> view (tab) >> last option check box

 

[BigJimbo]

I havent used netbeui since win 98

 

[Maximus96]

Originally posted by: BigJimbo
disable or alter the fire wall in XP

make sure Simple File Sharing is enabled in folder options >> view (tab) >> last option check box

i did all this already before the original post and i could not get the machine to see workgroup. I have sygate personal firewall installed. at first i suspected that was the problem and exited out of it, but still no go.

 

[BigJimbo]

sorry i skimmed the thread and didnt catch those.

The only other thing i can think of is they are on different subnets.

255.255.0.0 = class b
255.255.255.0 = class c

 

[Maximus96]

the machines are able to ping each other, but one of them still can't see the workgroup.

 

[Maximus96]

after turning off norton antivirus and personal firewall. both machine can finally see the workgroup. however, only one is on it. the one that isn't on it can access the one that is. please help.


edit: manually specified an IP. that got it working. saw the workgroup but can't get online. then i set it back to automatically get an ip. now it sees the workgroup and gets online. thanks to all the people that help with suggestions.