rack your brain on this one...xp pro networking...

[MrDudeMan]

i have 2 computers in my dorm room and i used to be able map network drives on each of them from the other. i made my own workgroup and shared the appropriate drives, but now it doesnt work.

computer A can not see itself or computer B in network neighborhood, but computer B can see itself (and browse itself) and computer A in network neighborhood.

whats the deal? ive tried everything...i uninstalled all network cards, re-did the network setup wizard, changed it all manually, turned simple file sharing on/off...nothing!!

what do i do?

 

[yoda291]

try adding each computers hostnames inside the hosts file for both boxes and the UNC path straight out. \\computer_name\share_name.

 

[MrDudeMan]

i dont really know how to do what you just said

 

[InlineFive]

Originally posted by: yoda291
try adding each computers hostnames inside the hosts file for both boxes and the UNC path straight out. \\computer_name\share_name.

I'm pretty sure that the HOSTS file is for web browsers only. Not to mention that the computers would need static IPs, which is probably not guaranteed in a dorm.

Originally posted by: Bigsm00th
i have 2 computers in my dorm room and i used to be able map network drives on each of them from the other. i made my own workgroup and shared the appropriate drives, but now it doesnt work.

computer A can not see itself or computer B in network neighborhood, but computer B can see itself (and browse itself) and computer A in network neighborhood.

whats the deal? ive tried everything...i uninstalled all network cards, re-did the network setup wizard, changed it all manually, turned simple file sharing on/off...nothing!!

what do i do?

1. Make sure the firewalls are configured to allow Windows Filesharing. If you are using something other then the Windows firewall, make sure that you are allowing an ICMP Echo request.
2. Enable Simple File Sharing for testing. This isn't great in the long run but it will eliminate all the permission problems possible with WinXP Pro.

Are these computers both plugged into dorm room jacks or are they connected with a hub or switch?

 

[MrDudeMan]

Originally posted by: PorBleemo

Originally posted by: yoda291
try adding each computers hostnames inside the hosts file for both boxes and the UNC path straight out. \\computer_name\share_name.

I'm pretty sure that the HOSTS file is for web browsers only. Not to mention that the computers would need static IPs, which is probably not guaranteed in a dorm.

Originally posted by: Bigsm00th
i have 2 computers in my dorm room and i used to be able map network drives on each of them from the other. i made my own workgroup and shared the appropriate drives, but now it doesnt work.

computer A can not see itself or computer B in network neighborhood, but computer B can see itself (and browse itself) and computer A in network neighborhood.

whats the deal? ive tried everything...i uninstalled all network cards, re-did the network setup wizard, changed it all manually, turned simple file sharing on/off...nothing!!

what do i do?

1. Make sure the firewalls are configured to allow Windows Filesharing. If you are using something other then the Windows firewall, make sure that you are allowing an ICMP Echo request.
2. Enable Simple File Sharing for testing. This isn't great in the long run but it will eliminate all the permission problems possible with WinXP Pro.

Are these computers both plugged into dorm room jacks or are they connected with a hub or switch?

i narrowed it down to definitely being a problem with my laptop. i was able to browse the other computer from another computer in the dorm...

it was acting all screwy, so i just formatted and now it works fine. i have no idea what the problem was, but i tried all the stuff you said and nothing seemed to work

thanks for the help and suggestions. i appreciate it.

 

[ktwebb]

"I'm pretty sure that the HOSTS file is for web browsers only. Not to mention that the computers would need static IPs, which is probably not guaranteed in a dorm."

Actually no, not true. You can use HOSTS or LMHOSTS for netbios names, which is what LMHOSTS is typically used for however you can use the HOSTS file to resolve computer names. Not sure if the reverse is true. Never tried FQDN's in the LMHOSTS file.

In the few occasions I have resorted to non broadcasts, DNS or WINS for NetBIOS name resolution I've always just used the hosts file as that is the way I was taught the first time I tried it. So it isn't just for browsers. It's part of the stack's resolution tree. Can't remember the order anymore but it's something like LMHOSTS, HOSTS, DNS, WINS, then broadcasts and I may be leaving one out. A browser really has nothing to do with it.

Your right about static IP's though. Typically that would be a prerequisite to using a hosts or lmhosts file, though he may get the same IP every time even if it is a lease.

 

[imported_jambo]

turn off your firewall, if you're behind a router you probably don't need one

 

[nweaver]

Hosts file is for resolving names, for Netbios or browsers or whatever else. You can put fqdn's into the hosts file. (not a great idea normally though).

 

[ktwebb]

"You can put fqdn's into the hosts file. (not a great idea normally though). "

Assumably you mean lmhosts. Hosts is for domain names.

 

[MrDudeMan]

to clear things up...

im not an idiot. ive completed the CCNA cert and i know more than just the basics, but i couldnt figure out why this wasnt working. im not an xp pro guru like some of you may be.

the network here leases IPs but you end up with the same one all the time anyway because of ARP/RARP. we have to submit our MACs before we get a leased IP.

and i thought it was common knowledge that windows firewall is crap and should be turned off regardless. ive never had it do anything useful, in any circumstance. its the first thing i turn off after i format. i dont use firewall programs anyway...ive never had a problem with any of that, and i check frequently for spyware, incoming/outgoing connections, and viruses (super system works 2005).


oh, and btw, the computers were connected through a switch and into the dorm intranet, but that doesnt and shouldnt make any difference. there are 5 other devices in here that use the switch and none of them have ever had a problem. something must have happened to my laptop.

 

[Eltano1]

My guess is that probably your Winsock got corrupted. But u already fixed.

Eltano