Newbie...WIN XP networking...completely lost

Time2Kill

Golden Member
Nov 20, 1999
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I'm trying to setup a network between two PCs using a switch inbetween.

They both have Win XP installed. Both NICs are installed correctly and TCP/IP and NwLink/IPX/SPX is installed for the protocols on each machine.
IP address on machine 1 is 192.168.0.101 and the comp name is Time2Kill
IP address on machine 2 is 192.168.0.100 and the comp name is Den
Both machines are on the workgroup "Workgroup"

Niether machine can see the other one and I've been messing around with this for a couple of hours now with no luck.
I've tried doing everything manually and also tried using the WinXP network wizard.
Can someone give me a quick walkthrough on how to setup a network starting with the very basics?


Machine 1 use to be on a network with some other comps, but I changed it to this network with no luck.
 

JCROCCO

Senior member
Mar 14, 2003
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Question: Do they both have the same OS registration number installed? In Other words, was the 1 OS disk used to install BOTH OS on the machines? If so, they wont network each other.

Also, Make sure you SHARE the c: drives of each machine.

Another thing, If these are Home editions, they suck at networking. For that you need XP Proffessional. The Home version doesnt network real well.

Also, the SUBMASKS need to be the same, usually 255.255.255.0

ALso, need to have "allow others to access my files" or something like that, installed. Microsoft networking does this, i think.

I am more of a WIN98 person myself, and really dislike the winXP OS as it is a memory hog, take long time to load programs, sucks with network setup, and cant share the windows, or program files easily. But thats my 2 cents.

Hope that helps
 

ktwebb

Platinum Member
Nov 20, 1999
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Are you using home or Pro? It might be easier, at least getting network sharing connectivity, to enable simple file sharing. Basically it turns yoru XP machine into a Win9X machine network wise.

Simple File Sharing

Make sure you don't have the built in firewall running and try to ping. That is how you test your connectivity, not using Network Places. If you can ping then your pretty much there. You just need to troubleshoot resolution. Several ways to go about that. Since IPX is installed on both machines you really should be fine but pinging will tell you if you actually have connectivity. Once you've established that you can use the Search for Computer feature to find the remote PC. Of course you need to have something shared and if you haven't enabled simple file sharing you'll need user accounts setup or the guest account enabled. XP networking is not only extremely useable but a much better network OS in the hands of someone who knows what he's doing.
 

zephyrprime

Diamond Member
Feb 18, 2001
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The deal with XP and 2k with networking is they like user passwords. If you don't have user login with passwords set up, you have to use "simple file sharing". If you don't use simple file sharing, then you must set up user accounts and passwords and such because XP won't allow anonomous users to see the network.
 

AKA

Golden Member
Oct 10, 1999
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Can you ping the other IP address from one computer?


start, run type in cmd and in the command prompt window that comes up type in ping 192.168.0.101 or 100 depending on which computer your doing this from.


Let us know if you are getting a reply.
 

Time2Kill

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Nov 20, 1999
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I get no response when I try and ping.
ICF is turned off on each computer.

Submasks are 255.255.255.0

Hard drives on each computer are shared.
I've set networks up just like this before and never ran into a problem so I have no idea what is going wrong.
 

AKA

Golden Member
Oct 10, 1999
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Okay.. next step.

Try pinging their own ip address or 127.0.0.1

If you get a reply then tcp/ip protocol should be okay, at this point start looking at the hardware itself.


If you don't get a reply then you need to reset tcp/ip
Article 299357
 

Time2Kill

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Nov 20, 1999
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Both computers can ping themselves using localhost and 127.0.0.1

Is there any way to check which cd key was used when the OS was installed. I'm almost 99% sure they are different but I could be wrong.
 
Apr 5, 2003
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Don't know if this seems horribly obvious or not but have you run the "Set up a home or small office network" Wizard? This enables computers to act as devices on a network for Windows XP. It's not automatic like Windows 2000. If you haven't done this, run it on both computers (you don't need to create a networking wizard disk, but run it the same way on both computers)