One machine on network invisible to the others

[Muse]

4 machines on network, 2 by ethernet (both XP), 2 by wireless (one XP one Windows 7). It's peer to peer, same WORKGROUP. All machines see all others except for one thing. One of the machines isn't seen by any of the others (it sees them, they don't see it). It's ethernet and XP. What can I try to make this machine seen by the other machines?

 

[Jamsan]

Windows firewall enabled?

 

[Muse]

Windows firewall enabled?

Yes, it's enabled. But it is on other machines too. I tried turning off the firewall but the machine was still not seen by the other machines. I don't get it.

The machine is a Lenovo Thinkpad T60, and a couple of hours ago I tried to restore from a previous backup. That backup was on the only one, and it was from 12:30 PM yesterday. I watched the progress indicator for 20 minutes or so and it said 0%. I tried to restart the computer, which it did but then I got a message that Windows couldn't start because \Windows\System32\hal.dll was corrupt and I have to replace it. I Googled and found a thread where a guy explained that I could make a new installation of Windows XP in a different folder, copy hal.dll over and then delete the new installation, edit BOOT.INI, and all would maybe be good. If that doesn't work it looks like I'm going to have to go back to factory defaults from disc backup again. I just did this about a month ago, oh boy. I should have made an image of the OS partition, something I'm not in the habit of doing lately, but I really really really should! I am right now waiting for Windows XP to finish installing from the XP install disk, as described above and then I'll try the hal.dll overwrite with my fingers crossed....

 

[JackMDS]

If the firewall is a 3rd party firewall disabling might not be enough you have to try to get rid of it.

Most Firewalls install processes that run in the background at start up and intervene with the TCP/IP traffic whether they are Enable or Disable.

 

[Muse]

If the firewall is a 3rd party firewall disabling might not be enough you have to try to get rid of it.

Most Firewalls install processes that run in the background at start up and intervene with the TCP/IP traffic whether they are Enable or Disable.

The machine has an almost stock Thinkpad T60 XP Pro install. The firewall is just Windows Firewall, which is enabled by default. I didn't touch anything in there. I have looked for ways I can pass the computers into a trusted zone, but haven't found it yet.

Things got worse. I opted to restore from a backup I'd made the day before at 12:30PM and after 20-30 minutes it showed "0%" progress, so I went to the menu of Rescue and Recovery and chose "Restart". The unexpected result was that the restore was interrupted and \system32 only had around 15 files in it and Windows was inoperable. I spent an hour or two trying to restore a working copy of hal.dll (not knowing that there were a lot more files than just that corrupted or missing), but I removed the HD to another PC and discovered that system32 was almost empty and knew my only option was a complete recovery to factory defaults, i.e. format the HD and start over. That's where I am now. This time I think I'll image the HD before trying to set up the network. I have gotten out of the habit of backing up. The backup I had (and whose restore appeared to be failing) was Lenovo's not Acronis or Ghost, and was automatically generated or perhaps with my approval, not sure.

 

[JackMDS]

It can be one simple settings among many.

This is the whole story.

Win7 when configured on peer-to-peer Network has three types of Sharing configurations.

HomeGroup = Works only between Win 7 computers. This type of configuration makes it very easy to Entry Level Users to start Network sharing.

Home Network or Work Network = Basically similar(and better) to the previous methods of Work Group sharing that let you control what, how, and to whom folders would be shared with.

Public Sharing = Public Network (like Internet cafe) to reduce security risks.

For best results log to each computer's System Screen and set all the computers to be on a with the same Work Group name while each computer has its own unique name.
http://www.ezlan.net/Win7/net_name.jpg

Make sure that the Software Firewall, AV, or other components of Security allow free local traffic on all Networked computers. If you use 3rd party Security On, Vista/XP Native Firewall should be Off, and the active Firewall has to adjusted to your Network IP numbers on what is some time called the Trusted Zone (consult your 3rd Party Firewall instructions

General example, http://www.ezlan.net/faq.html#trusted

Please Note that some 3rd party Software Firewalls/AV/Security suits keep blocking aspects of Local Traffic even it they are turned Off (disabled). If possible configure the Firewall correctly, or totally uninstall it to allow clean flow of local network traffic.
If end up with the 3rd party software uninstalled or disabled, make sure that Windows native Firewall is On .

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Networking Win 7 with other version of Windows as Work Network (works very well if all computers are Win 7 too).

In the Network Center, clicking on the Network type opens the window to the right.
Choose your type of Network. Notice the check mark at the bottom, and check/uncheck it according to your needs.

http://www.ezlan.net/Win7/net_type.jpg

Win 7 - http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Networking-
home-computers-running-different-versions-of-Windows

Win 7 Work Network specific folder sharing - http://www.onecomputerguy.com/windows7/windows7_sharing.htm

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

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

In Win XP Pro with simple sharing Off, you can Visually see the Permission/Security setting , and configure them to your liking.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/learnmore/accesscontrol.mspx#securityTab

Printer Sharing XP - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/honeycutt_july2.mspx

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

Windows XP patch for Sharing with Vista (Not need for XP-SP3) - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922120

When finished with the setting of the system it is advisable to Reboot all the hardware including the Router and all computers involved.
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If you have Permission and Security issues with Vista/Win7, check the following settings.
Point to the a Folder that meant to to be share. Right click and choose properties.

In the properties
Click on the Security tab shown in the pic bellow to the right) and check that the users and their permission (shown in the pic bellow center and left) are correctly configured. Then do the same to the Permission tab.

This screen shot is from Win 7, Vista's menus are similar.

http://www.ezlan.net/Win7/Permission-Security.jpg

In both the Security panel, and the Permission panel you have to highlight each User/Group and examine that the Permission Controls are checked correctly.

When everything is OK, Reboot the Network (Router, and computer).

* Note . The Groups and Users shown in the screen-shoot are just an example. Your list will look the way your system is configured.

**Note . All users that are allowed to share need to have account onall the computers that they are allowed to connect to.

Everyone is an account, it means a group of all of the users that already have an account and been established as users. It is available to avoid the need of configuring permission to each on its own, it does not mean
Everyone that feel that they would like to login.