Strange Wireless network problem.....

[RBlount]

Ok, I have been working with my father on a very strange problem he is having with his wireless network. I have run out of ideas, maybe someone else will have a suggestion or two try....

Setup
Home network consisting of the following:
Two Desktops computer with 3Com 10/100 NICs (Win98)
Linksys 8Port Switch/DSL Router (connected to PacBell DSL)
Linksys WAP11 Wireless Access Point
IBM Thinkpad T21 with built-in 3Com 10/100 NIC (and Modem)(Win2K)
Linksys WPC11 Wireless PC Card installed in TP
Linksys 3 Port Print Server

Problem
When the laptop is connected to the network via a hardwire (to internal NIC). The unit connects to all other computers, internet, and print server just find.
When the laptop is working off the Wireless card, he can access the internet and the print server just fine. However he is unable to connect to any of the desktops for file sharing. The desktop show up in network neighborhood, but upon trying to connect, the connection times out.

Fixes Attempted

• Since the system works with wired connect we know (assume?) that networking protocols are cottect.
  Completely remove TCP/IP from system and reinstalled
  By studing the name resolution cache (NBTSTAT) my suspecision is that for some reason, the system will not resolve NetBIOS names when connected via Wireless card.

If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.

-Rob

 

[Eug]

What protocols are everything running? Perhaps you haven't bound the right protocols to the Linky.

 

[RBlount]

We have tried using both TCP/IP only and TCP/IP & NetBEUI both. All protocols are bound to the card.

Keep the suggestions coming. Somewhere there is a solution.

-Rob

 

[bex0rs]

When the laptop is connected via the wireless card, are you able to ping the desktop's IP's? If you ping a desktop's Netbios name, does it resolve to the correct IP?

~bex0rs

 

[RBlount]

When connected via the wireless card, the unit will not ping the desktop(s) either by NetBIOS or IP address. However, he is able to ping the Linksys Router.

Tried a new tactic yesterday. Tried to add the NetBIOS names and IP addresses to the LMHOSTS file. Still would not resolve the NetBIOS names. Does not appear to parsing the LMHOSTS file.

Like I said, I have tried many things. Thanks for everyones suggestions. Keep the suggestions coming....

-Rob