One-half of Network Works

[shomaker]

I recently built a computer and thought it would be neat and easy to network it with my old computer. It may be neat but it hasn't been easy.

I use a Linksys WRT54GS router and have cabled the new computer to it and use a Wireless G USB device to connect the old computer. Both computers access the internet and I can ping both of them.

My computers have two different names but use the same workgroup which I called Home. The new computer does network and creates a network drive, z:\ by default. I can save files, etc on the z:\ drive. The old computer connects to the network (the linksys software states that it is connected and there is a connection icon in the tray) but it doesn't create a network drive nor does it "see" the z:\ drive that the new computer created. I get the following message:

"Home is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permission." Of course, I am logged in as the administrator on both computers.

The new computer uses an Intel Pro/100 M ethernet card and the new one an Intel Pro/1000 PL card. The addresses are different, one being 192.168.1.102 and the other 192.168.1.105. I have had two TIVO boxes networked for a couple of years using Wireless G USB devices and they still work.

What am I missing here?

 

[smah]

Try this

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/318030

 

[shomaker]

Thanks for the reply. After reading the link you provided, I really had high hopes that this would correct my problem. I followed all of the directions, rebooted and still have the same problem. The old computer recognizes the network and joins it but refuses to map the drive or create a networked drive.

I checked the following:

1. IP scheme is identical except for the last number
2. Subnet mask, Gateway and DNS are the same
3. I can ping each computer by address
4. When I try to ping by name it returns an Unknown Host message
5. The workgroup name is identical
6. No firewall is currently installed (I uninstalled it)
7. The username is the same on both computers and neither require a password. I disabled the password requirement in XP

Any other ideas would be gratefully appreciated.

 

[bcastner]

First issue:

"The addresses are different, one being 192.168.1.102 and the other 192.168.1.105."

Those addresses are within the default DHCP Scope of your router and should not be manually assigned.

Second issue:

"7. The username is the same on both computers and neither require a password. I disabled the password requirement in XP"

I assume you mean the restrictions on blank or empty console logons. I would be happier, and so would XP, if you enabled passwords for all users. You can use autologon if you wish, but it is a better option to password enable all accounts.

Barring that, do the following on both machines:

A. Download NTRIGHTS.EXE and place a copy in \Windows\System32

http://www.dynawell.com/reskit/microsoft/win2000/ntrights.zip

Then: Start, Run, CMD

net user Guest /Active:yes
ntrights +r SeNetworkLogonRight -u Guest
nrights -r SeDenyNetworkLogonRight -u Guest

regedit

Navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
\SYSTEM
\CurrentControlSet
\Control
\Lsa
Value name: RestrictAnonymous
Value type: DWORD

If the value is 1 or even 2, change it to 0.
Exit regedit

netsh winsock reset

Wait for the instruction to restart your computer. Restart the computer.




____________________________
Users Helping Users

 

[shomaker]

As an update:

1. The router assigned the IP addresses automatically. I believe that the last number needs to be different so as to distinguish one device from another on the same network.

2. I downloaded NTRIGHTS.EXE and followed your instructions.

3. In Regedit, the value was set to "0".

4. I reset the winsock.

Unfortunately, the problem still exists. Also, I used to be able to ping both computers by IP address but now I can only ping the new one from the old one. Of course, I still can't ping either way by computer name.

 

[shomaker]

Well, as luck would have it, I believe that my old computer has a virus. I don't believe that it is the cause of the networking problems but is sure isn't helping. In hindsight, I guess it is fortunate that I couldn't network.

In trying to do all of the things suggested, I noticed that Norton Internet Security was not loading at startup anymore. I tried several times to load it manually but it didn't. After about the 4th attempt, it loaded after a 5 minute delay and showed that everything was disabled, virus and internet security, etc. I began to notice that it was taking about 4-5 minutes between "double click" and application load for most programs. Then I lost all sound. Internet Explorer is now looking for a proxy server, something that I don't use.

Since none of this is good, I will reformat the hard drive(s) next week and start with a fresh reload of the essentials. I may wipe the hard drive(s) first with killdisk and then format and reinstall. At that point, I will try to establish a network again and see what happens.

In any event, I will let you all know what happens next week. Thanks for all of the help so far. I may need more next week but we will see.

 

[shomaker]

I formatted my hard drive and reinstalled WindowsXP. Sure enough, it was very easy to network both computers. I really didn't have to do anything special. I can now share files, pictures, printers, etc. It works great!

Regarding the virus, I uninstalled Norton Internet Security, reinstalled it, downloaded the updated virus definitions and ran a scan. It didn't find anything. When I contacted Symantec, they said that I would have to pay them to find the virus.

So, not only do I have to pay for their product, but, when it doesn't work, pay more to have them fix it.