XP Networking Woes

[laxplayer39]

Hey all - I have a problem. Let me explain the way my computer network (or lack thereof) is setup.

My cox cable modem is fed to the uplink port of my hub. My computer is connected to the hub , so is the family room one and so is my dads work comp.

Anyways I installed WinXP on the family room comp and on my comp because I want to be able to share printers and files with each other. And I dont want to share anything with my dad work computer (cuz his is suck, like a p2 200 or something and I dont wanna install xp on that).

So anyways for the life of me it WONT let me share files with the outside computer and on my computer. Its so weird, its like they are on two different networks!!

I would appreciate any help - and the weird thing is that all three computer get the internet but none of them can get each others signals.

Any help would be APPRECIATED!!!!!
Thanks
Sunil

 

[n0cmonkey]

Are you using ICS or a router or anything? If not they could very well be on different subnets and that could be a reason they cant share files.

 

[laxplayer39]

no im not using a router or this ics business...what should i do now?

 

[n0cmonkey]

<< no im not using a router or this ics business...what should i do now? >>



So you have 2-3 ip addresses. Check those ip addresses and subnet masks. If the subnet masks are something like 255.255.255.0, the first three octets of the ip addresses would probably need to be the same, ie 192.168.0.1 and 192.168.0.2. Also, make sure they have the same workgroup in the networking properties.

 

[laxplayer39]

how do i check them in winxp and how do i change them?

 

[Dunbar]

File and Print sharing on?
Using the same protocol on all (TCP/IP?)
Part of same workgroup?
All firewalls turned off?
Can you see the other comps and their drives?

 

[n0cmonkey]

<< how do i check them in winxp and how do i change them? >>



ipconfig /all

 

[laxplayer39]

File and Print sharing on?
yes
Using the same protocol on all (TCP/IP?)
i dont know - can you help me out on this?
Part of same workgroup?
yes - MSHOME
All firewalls turned off?
I think so - how can I check?
Can you see the other comps and their drives?
no - that the problem!

 

[laxplayer39]

<< ipconfig /all >>



whats that? what does that do?

 

[n0cmonkey]

<<

<< ipconfig /all >>



whats that? what does that do? >>



It will show you all the ip configurations. Do this in a DOS prompt.

 

[Zlash]

Unless you bought more IPs you won't be able to do it that way on cox. Right now i think your subnet should be 255.255.240.0 and your IP should be 68.something.

 

[Zlash]

And since you have XP, right click on my network places and see if it says "Enabled, Firewalled" next to your connection. If so you have to go in and turn off the XP built in firewall hehe, i had to find that out the hardway.

 

[Dunbar]

I'm assuming these are all Windows XP machines. Here's a couple links:

Enabling File and Print Sharing

Checking subnet mask

BTW, I don't know how secure this is since you're not behind a router. Enabling File and Print Sharing with TCP/IP will let everyone on your subnet (and potentially the internet) access your computer. You should try binding it to NetBui but that's hard in Windows XP and I don't know if it would work in your situation. The best thing would be to buy a NAT router/firewall.

 

[laxplayer39]

i have bought 3 different ips through cox and they do it such a way that its the computer name that changes so its like CXBLAHBLAH - A / - B etc etc

well anyways i never entered the comp name on either xp machine and they both STILL WORK! thats crazy!

so anyways what exactly do i need to do to have both my comps on the same network? this is *$$*#(@ annyoing not to be able to print from my comp and to have to use AIM to share files

ARGHHH!

 

[Zlash]

Lax, cox is not using @home's old scheme anymore of computer names etc for IP addressing. I'm not sure how you will get 2 or 3 ips through them now since they are running DHCP to give out addresses now which does not need the computer name.

You shoulda got your conversion kit etc and ran that right?

 

[Zlash]

Oh the easiest way to do what you wanta do is to dump the extra IPs or whatever your paying for and get a Router.

 

[laxplayer39]

well i converted with my old o/s - do i need to reconvert w/ xp now?

and i havent converted my outside comp yet either


and i will look into getting a router but is there anyway i can start sharing like now?

pLMK
thanks

 

[Dunbar]

Have you followed the steps on the links? Are you on the same subnet? Firewall will kill it every time. You should stop buying extra IP's and get a router ($100ish.)

 

[Zlash]

If you converted once that's fine then, that software on the CD is crap as it is and screwed up a lot of things on my XP system. No i don't think you can share like you want right away unless you set up one of your machines as a server.

 

[laxplayer39]

well i dont really understand the whole bit about the subnet / ip thing - can anyone clarify what values should be in eaCH ONE?

 

[n0cmonkey]

<< well i dont really understand the whole bit about the subnet / ip thing - can anyone clarify what values should be in eaCH ONE? >>



It depends on how Cox has it setup. SEtup an ftp server (well secured) on one of your machines and share files that way. Itll be easier until you get a router or something.