New computer in, can't reestablish network

[perstare]

Windows XP Pro SP 2, Router TRENDnet TW100-S4W1CA

My wife and I each use our own desktop computer. For years, we had a network connecting them. The network was perfect.
About a week ago, I bought a custom-built desktop computer for her which is a great machine ? BUT! This new computer is resisting all my efforts to recreate our network as it was before.

When my wife's old computer was in use, we had our two computers networked
(through a wired router) like this:
1. My computer had two printers connected to it. My wife's computer could print,
using either of those two printers, through the network.
2. We have cable ISP. The cable enters our house, goes to the cable modem. The cable
modem connects to the router. Both my wife and I could access the Internet at
any time.
3. Each computer had access to the files, folders, etc. of the other computer.

The new computer (my wife's) can still get to the Internet as before. So can my
computer. But my wife's computer can't ?see? the network and can?t find the printers attached to my
computer. I have tried between 15 and 20 times to set up the network and I
have failed. I have made sure that the printers allow SHARING. That didn't
help. I have turned the router off and back on. I have reset the router. I have switched off ALL the
firewalls. No help. I?ve given new names to the computers (C2 and C3) I have tried everything I can think of for the
past two days. Nothing helped. I renamed the network (HOME) and renamed the
printers (HP and CANON) several times. No help.
The strange thing is that I REMOVED the new computer and then switched BACK to the old computer. Everything ran right. It could find the network, it could get onto
the Internet, it could print using my printers... everything normal. The
problem seems to be within the new computer.

Who knows some suggestions? Who has had experience enough to see what I am doing wrong (or what I need to do and have not done)?

Thank you. Mike B perstare@promail.com

 

[Kelemvor]

What happens if you just try to do a \\C3 or \\C2 frrom the other machine? Access Denied? Path not found?

Can you Ping each PC from the other?

 

[perstare]

I can ping each computer from the other. 4 packets sent, 4 received in a flash. 0% loss.
When I do Start>Run \\C2 on computer 3 I get the message ?The network path was not found?
When I do Start>Run \\C3 on computer 2 I get the message ?The network path was not found?
Can I conclude from the above that the network is OK but there is a problem with the computer NAMES?

Thank you. Mike B perstare@promail.com

 

[jlazzaro]

dont rely on computer names, use the actual ip address. to steal one out of Jack's book...

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://www.microsoft.com/techn...evaluate/vista_fp.mspx

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

 

[perstare]

I give the command ping c3 from computer c2. Four packets sent, four packets received in a flash, 0% loss.
BUT
When I give command ping c2 from computer c3, message is ?Ping request could not find host c2?
Recall that c3 is the new computer. (nb There is no computer c1 any more. It is no longer in use.)
Mike B

 

[spidey07]

You'll have to enable "netbios over TCP" in the tcp/ip properties of the network card. If you read some of the links posted there are very specific things that have to be exactly correct. And even then using network browsing is flaky. Just access the computers by IP address instead of name and all your browsing problems will go away.

Also, constantly changing things and rebooting will only make matters worse. It can take over an hour for microsoft browsing to get settled and working. From your description it sounds like the new computer has taken over the browsing and it isn't configured with the correct protocols and bindings. Every computer interacts with each other and troubleshooting it can't be done with normal PC trouble shooting methods.

Post the output of "net config server" and "net config workstation" on the new machine.

 

[perstare]

To Spidey 07

Thank you for posting your comment in my thread. I'm very confused though, because to the best of my knowledge, few of the things you mention relate to my network problem. Is it possible that you intended your comment for another thread?
Thank you
Mike

 

[jlazzaro]

on the contrary, everything he posted relates to your problem. have you thoroughly read through the links provided?

 

[spidey07]

You have a name resolution problem (or protocol) with microsoft browsing. This is VERY common, so common that the general answer is "use IP address instead of names" and all your trouble will be gone because microsoft browsing is inherently unreliable. This kind of question is asked at least once daily, I only say that to point out how incredibly common "I can't see my computer" is.

or just post net config workstation and net config server from each machine. This will show you what protocols the server and workstation service are bound to and allow us to see where the misconfiguration is.

welcome to the forums by the way
:beer:

 

[perstare]

OK I am now sitting at my computer, C2 and here are the results you asked for. I will make a second, similar post from my wife's computer, C3, as soon as I can convince her to leave her computer and go start supper.

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Michael G. Bonadio>net config workstation
Computer name \\C2
Full Computer name C2
User name Michael G. Bonadio

Workstation active on
NwlnkNb (0011D81BB172)
NetbiosSmb (000000000000)

Software version Windows 2002

Workstation domain WORKGROUP
Workstation Domain DNS Name (null)
Logon domain C2

COM Open Timeout (sec) 0
COM Send Count (byte) 16
COM Send Timeout (msec) 250
The command completed successfully.




C:\Documents and Settings\Michael G. Bonadio>net config server
Server Name \\C2
Server Comment C2

Software version Windows 2002
Server is active on
NwlnkIpx (000000000001)
NwlnkNb (0011d81bb172)
NetbiosSmb (000000000000)


Server hidden No
Maximum Logged On Users 10
Maximum open files per session 16384

Idle session time (min) 15
The command completed successfully.

 

[perstare]

Here are the results from my wife's computer, C3

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Bonadio>net config workstation
Computer name \\C3
Full Computer name C3
User name Bonadio

Workstation active on
NetbiosSmb (000000000000)
NetBT_Tcpip_{3C1985B2-6A66-4B1D-9162-2230764244DE} (001D7DA27759)

Software version Windows 2002

Workstation domain HOME
Workstation Domain DNS Name (null)
Logon domain C3

COM Open Timeout (sec) 0
COM Send Count (byte) 16
COM Send Timeout (msec) 250
The command completed successfully.


C:\Documents and Settings\Bonadio>net config server
Server Name \\C3
Server Comment C3

Software version Windows 2002
Server is active on
NetbiosSmb (000000000000)
NetBT_Tcpip_{3C1985B2-6A66-4B1D-9162-2230764244DE} (001d7da27759)


Server hidden No
Maximum Logged On Users 10
Maximum open files per session 16384

Idle session time (min) 15
The command completed successfully.


C:\Documents and Settings\Bonadio>

 

[spidey07]

On computer C2 you have IPX running. Remove IPX from the adapter and make sure you enable "netbios over tcp". Restart only this C2 computer after the change and give it 30 minutes or more. Do NOT go rebooting machines willy-nilly.

"Computer name \\C2
Full Computer name C2
User name ****

Workstation active on
NwlnkNb (0011D81BB172)
NetbiosSmb (000000000000) "

The NwlinkNb is IPX and there is no NetBT_Tcpip on C2. So C2 doesn't know how to resolve names over TCP/IP.

 

[perstare]

OK I am to remove IPX from the adaptor , make sure that "netbios over tcp" is enabled, Then boot and let it do its thing for at least 30 minutes.

I did this
Device Manager>Network Adaptors> Intel Pro/1000 CT Network Connection> Properties

and I can't find tabs or choices which allow me to remove IPX from the adaptor, etc.

What am I doing wrong?

Mike

 

[spidey07]

Under the general tab there should be something like "netbios for IPX/SPX", can't remember since it's been so long since I've seen it. Select that and click remove. Or if you want just list everything you see there on both computers.

 

[perstare]

Recall Spidey07?s words, ?On computer C2 you have IPX running.?
OK This is what I have tried to do? I am sitting at C2.

I went to Device Manager>Network Adaptor> Intel, etc.
(I confirmed that I had the right adaptor; I made the card blink, visible at the rear of my computer, and confirmed that the cable **was connected there**
I went to connection properties of the Intel adaptor.
I went to every last possible tab, subtab, choice, etc. etc. and did not find ?netbios for IPX/SPX?
I went to Windows Help and Support, put in keyword IPX and tried to follow the instructions to locate the particular location where I could remove IPX from the adaptor, and assure that ?netbios over tcp? is enabled.
No success.
Then I did that all over again, using the keyword, ?netbios? No success.
One of the help pages instructed me to go to Network Connections and then choose ?Incoming Connections? to get to the IPX configuration. This was impossible to do because there was no such tab, subtab or choice on the Network Connections page. The Network Connections page contains a column layout (Name, Type, Status, Device Name) but no ?Incoming Connections? selection anywhere. I clicked on the Advanced drop down menu on that Network Connections page and again did not find a tab, subtab or any combination of choices and subchoices, combinations or permutations where I could remove IPX from the adaptor, and assure that ?netbios over tcp? is enabled.
No success.
Mike

 

[mcmilljb]

I just looked at my configuration. When I installed the NW crap, it included "NWLink NetBIOS". Just Highlight all the netware/nwlink crap and click uninstall unless you're living in the 90's. Click on the TCP/IP and then Properties, a new window pops up. Then click Advanced and a new window pops up. Click the WINS tab, and you can choose "Default" or "Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP". Then just click OK all the way through.

 

[perstare]

Thank you for trying to help me out. I hope your idea works, but I don't understand "Just Highlight all the netware/nwlink crap and click uninstall unless you're living in the 90's."

Where can I find the 'netware/nwlink crap?'

I don't understand the significance of the living in the 90's

Mike

 

[perstare]

I do want to thank everyone who took an interest in my problem and tried to help me. We don?t seem to be getting anywhere; the problem seems to have no solution. When it looks like a solution is close, I can?t find the appropriate screen, page, option, tab or checkbox to finalize the cure. (Please read the last few messages to see what I mean.)
My wife is working on her **second** book and I can?t hold up her work with network issues, so I bought her a new printer (that makes three altogether now) and connected it to her computer. She now has her own exclusive printer and doesn?t have to depend on the network to work right in order to print her material. But each of our two computers is still unable to access files and folders on the other computer. That worked before the new computer came along. It doesn?t work now? and I still need that ability.

Now -- I would like to ask some advice from the forum members, but my questions are different this time:
1. Is it possible that if I buy and install a network software package (for example, Network Magic and Home Network Manager) that I might be able to get this network to work properly?
2. I doubt that the router is the problem (it worked perfectly before), but if you have opinions on that I would like to hear them.

Again, my thanks to those who took an interest and gave it their best shot.

Mike

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Originally posted by: perstare
Thank you for trying to help me out. I hope your idea works, but I don't understand "Just Highlight all the netware/nwlink crap and click uninstall unless you're living in the 90's."

Where can I find the 'netware/nwlink crap?'

I don't understand the significance of the living in the 90's

Mike

Living in the 90's meaning noone really uses novell anymore. Not really since the 90's

 

[perstare]

OK Thank you for the explanation regarding the 90s.
I don't understand 'novell' either, but it doesn't seem important at this time.

Again, anyone out there with a brainstorm idea, please post.

Thank you.

Mike