Please help. How the hell do you network between two WIN XP computers

[Halmos]

A few week back I had posted a thread about helpine me out for connecting a win xpa nd win 98se computer. I could not solve that problem despite trying out various things.

Today I decide to connect my laptop (which runs XP) with my XP desktop through the linksys befsr41 router. I am able to ping the laptop from my desktop (however, the desktop still doesn't see the laptop). I am, however, unable to ping the desktop from my laptop. I don't think there is a problem with my cable as both connect to the internet without any problems. Also, they can ping the router without any problem.

I thought connecting two xp computers would be easy. What all do I need to have in the general tab of LAN properties? What all should I not have?
Please help.

 

[EricT]

Hmm, some strange things here...

It looks like the hardware setup is OK : both machines can ping the router & get to the internet so that's good.

2 possibilities then : when you say you can't ping the desktop from the laptop, are you then doing a ping to the desktop's name (aka ping mybigdesktop) or are you pinging the desktop's IP address (aka ping 192.168.1.1). If you're doing the first, then read on & fix your problem. If you're already doing the latter, I'd have a close look at some of XP's more annoying firewall features because it looks like you may have enabled them and in your setup you really shouldn't.

Before 2 machines can ping each other by name, they need to be able to translate that name to an IP address. Sometimes the DHCP server of your router is smart enough to realize this, and it will add the names of all the machines that get an address to the name table fo the DNS forwarder that is also built-in (to get you properly onto the Internet). In other cases you need to create/edit a file called "hosts" on both pc's. (details follow later).

Before 2 machines can share each other's resources (disk, printer) they need to be able to do the same thing as above, but at a NETBIOS level. In large networks that is done through a WINS server, in your case through a file called "LMHOSTS".

Both HOSTS and LMHOSTS need to be located in c:\winnt\system32\drivers\etc and be aware that there is already a file called LMHOSTS.SAM, which you need to rename to just LMHOSTS (or ignore and create a new LMHOSTS. nothing behing the dot).
Both HOSTS and LMHOSTS can be identical and should look something like :
Desktop 192.168.1.1
Laptop 192.168.1.2

Once both files are created you should be able to do something like "NET USE K: \\Laptop\C$" on the desktop and "NET USE K: \\DESKTOP\C$" on the laptop. There is a good chance that you still won't see anything in your "Network Places" because there is still no network browser service active at that moment. Personally I wouldn't worry about that and just make some permanent drive mappings.

If you really prefer to be able to browse to the other computer, then your best bet is to add the IPX protocol and enable netbios over it.
Both machines will then broadcast their identities and network browsing will also work... but it adds another protocol to your network.

Hope this helps,

Eric

 

[Halmos]

Eric, first of all many thanks for the detailed reply. I really appreciate it. I was pinging the desktop ip address (192.168.1.2 in my case)and not the name. The laptop ip address is 192.168.1.3.
I have a few questions:
(1) Should I rename "lmhosts.sam" file as "lmhosts." file (with nothing after the dot) and put
Desktop 192.168.1.2
Laptop 192.168.1.3
in this file. What should I do with the rest of the stuff in this file?

(2) The path c:\winnt\system32\drivers\etc is literally that or are there other things in place of etc.

(3) Where do I type "NET USE K: \\DESKTOP\C$" , as in where in laptop (on command prompt?). Does this give me access to entire C:\ of the desktop, on drive K:\ in laptop. As in what can I specify in place of $. Can I just share two folders from C:\ of desktop. In that case then do I have to create two drives such as K:\ and L:\ on laptop?

(4) Is adding IPX protocol difficult? Also, is adding another protocol to my network a problem. I mean is it a drawback in some sense. If not, that seems to be a great solution.

Would be really grateful if you can respond to me. Thanks a ton.

 

[JackMDS]

Unless you have an old game that needs IPX, you better off installing NetBEUI.

Instructions here: Set NetBEUI as the Default Sharing Protocol in WinXP.

 

[Dreadogg]

you have software firewall running?

 

[Halmos]

Thanks for the reply guys. No I don't have any software firewall running. I guess I will try installing NETBEUI.

 

[Eltano1]

Reading thru the post , first I didn't see any mention about been within the same workgroup, second, the subnet mask and third if you have shared any folder or drive in each pc, and as Dreaddog mentioned if you have any firewall enable it will prevent to connect to another pc until you allow those trusted pcs on the firewall.
So, your settings should be: same workgroup, same subnet mask (255.255.255.X), enable share and file printer or just a folder (with or without fiel and printer sharing, it's up to you), if you have firewall, add the pcs within your LAN as the trusted pcs (I don't remember exactly in XP).

Best regards

Eltano