LAN connectivity issue with Linksys BEFW11S4 network

[akb195]

Hi,

I have a typical home network:
Linksys Cable modem <-> Wan Port o [Linksys BEFW11S4] o Wired port <-> Windows XP Home Edition desktop

I also have 3 wireless hosts connected to the Linksys : a Windowx XP Professional laptop, a Windows 2000 laptop and a Mac Powerbook laptop.

* All machines employ DHCP.

* All the wireless hosts (i.e. the laptops) can ping each other but cannot ping the desktop i.e. pings initiated on the laptops for the desktop do not succeed.

* Pings initiated on the desktop for the laptops succeed.

* The laptops and the desktop successfully browse the Internet.

I ran into this problem because the desktop is the print-server and I also share some files off it and it all worked for a few weeks and then mysteriously (I blame Windows update) stopped working.

I suspect it is the XP Home desktop - I have scoured everywhere for information: I have turned off all firewalls (ICF etc), enabled NetBIOS over TCP etc. I still think there may be a firewall-like thing going on with the desktop. I am running McAfee with the firewall disabled.

Any clues of where to start would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks very much,
akb195

 

[bcastner]

Often disabling the firewall is not enough. The firewall engine continues to run (look in Task Manager).

1. Properly configure the firewall to allow all traffic on your trusted zone of the local LAN, likely 192.168.1.0--192.168.1.255 in your case.

2. Watch out for antivirus software with &quot;hidden&quot; firewall components. PC-Illan, for example, would do exactly what you describe.

 

[akb195]

I dont know how to properly configure the firewall (I assume the built-in firewall?) but I am not sure this is the problem since the XP Pro laptop works just fine.

I also looked at the Task Manager and could not find any enabled firewall software. I have even uninstalled and re-installed McAfee to ensure the firewall is not enabled - but no dice.

 

[bcastner]

Repair your Winsock service on the desktop:

http://members.shaw.ca/techcd/VB_Projects/WinsockFix.zip

It would help to know exactly what error messages you get when trying to access the desktop as a network device from the laptop. If the issue is that the printers are not appearing, this is a spooler failure on the desktop. In 90 percent of the cases this is due to a printer driver corruption. See the notes here as to how to rememdy spooler failures:

http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/CleanPrinterDrivers.htm

 

[akb195]

The WinsockFix file did not help. I am still in the same situation. BTW I am sure its not the spooler that is the problem sinceI cannot even ping the desktop.

I am at a loss about what to do