Problems with exsisting XP Pro Network

[outsiderGT]

Hey all,

I have already setup a working WinXP Pro SP2 network which includes a NetGear wireless router which is connected by cable to my desktop PC. The desktop is what would always be on and has my printer connected to it.

I have two laptops in my house which are obviously not on all the time but which I configured to share files/printer with my desktop. The network works flawlessly when it wants to, but it seems like every other time(more often than not), my laptops cant access my desktop PC's files or printer. Sometimes the desktop PC isnt even visible from the network neighborhood, and even when it is, it wont let me access it saying I dont have permission. The desktop will also *sometimes* let me see the laptops, and sometimes wont.

What is going? Why would my network act so strangly? (As a side note, I have no problems sharing the actual internet connection, just issues with the sharing files/printer)

 

[ktwebb]

Browser war from the sounds of it. The always on desktop should be the master browser.

Disable the other two

Go to the Start Menu, Control Panel, Administrative Tools, and open Services by double clicking on it's icon.
Find either a "Computer Browser" or "Computer Manager" service and double click on it.
Under Service Startup, choose "Disabled".
Click the "Stop" button
Click "Ok"
Close the Services Window
Close the Control Panel Window

After you've done that shutdown any computer on your network. Boot the desktop up first, then the others. Your desktop should assume and keep the master browser role.

 

[outsiderGT]

thanks alot!

I will try this as soon as I get home!

 

[ktwebb]

That was a cut and paste and after reading it you can also get to the services MMC console by clicking start, then run and typing services.msc, or just right click on My computer and click manage, then pop down to services.

 

[outsiderGT]

ok tried that out, but it didnt work... the laptops were completly unable to see the network when I did that... any other possible culprits? Same exact symptoms as I described above

 

[Lordicus]

Have you made any entries into the LMHOSTS so that it does not have to broadcast for name resolutions?

 

[ktwebb]

" ok tried that out, but it didnt work..."

You are leaving the service on, on one of the PC's correct?

lmhosts, or hosts for that matter, is a decent alternative and on a network that small, not administratively prohibitive.

 

[outsiderGT]

Originally posted by: Lordicus
Have you made any entries into the LMHOSTS so that it does not have to broadcast for name resolutions?

Could you explain further on this?

 

[outsiderGT]

Originally posted by: ktwebb
" ok tried that out, but it didnt work..."

You are leaving the service on, on one of the PC's correct?

lmhosts, or hosts for that matter, is a decent alternative and on a network that small, not administratively prohibitive.

Yes, leaving it on the main PC.

 

[ktwebb]

Could you explain further on this?

Just do a search for lmhosts or hosts on your PC. Usually in C:\windows\system32\drivers\etc I believe.

There will be instructions in the file but all you need to do is type the IP and computer name in the file. You then save it, but save it without a file extension. You can just click file and save but if you save as make sure your not saving it as a txt file. I usually change it to All files, then wrap it in "" just to be sure. Open it up again to make sure you saved it correctly. Open it in notepad. You can then test it by pinging by name. Should resolve to the IP as long as you dont' have a firewall blocking ICMP traffic. You can they try the UNC path with the computer name. Start, Run, then type \\servername, substitutin servername for whatever your trying to get to or you can also add the share in the path \\servername\share

 

[Lordicus]

Seems ive stumbled back a bit late!

Make sure the master browser issue is solved. Verify if they are all in the same workgroup. Get lmhost going if you want to resolve by name.
Try pinging. Do this near the router and then go further away, perhaps range is an issue?

 

[outsiderGT]

Never too late!

I havent had a chance to try out the LMHOST route... I have to read up on it a bit more and I've been caught up with work/school.

I can tell you for sure they are in the same workgroup and the range is fine too..

Now pinging... this was very strange... assume the desktop PC is always on (which it is)

Notebooks were working fine, but as always stopped working. When I turned them both back on, you could see the desktop, but no access. Both laptops could access each other though. (desktop was on screensaver)

I login back to my desktop, after a bit one laptop can access the desktop.... the other one cant. I tried pinging from the non-working laptop and it recieved no reply from the desktop. The other notebook got responses just fine.

Tried it again from the non-working laptop and nothing. I finally tried pinging the non-working laptop from the desktop. It went fine... then I tried from the laptop again to the desktop... this time it got a response everytime...

still stumped