Win 7 PCs no longer in WORKGROUP

[ChrisRChamberlain]

Hi all

Have a network consisting of 5 Win 7, 2 XP and 2 Linux boxes.

For whatever reason, the Win 7 PCs can connect to each other but can no longer see the XP or Linux boxes.

The XP and Linux boxes can connect to each other but can no longer see the Win 7 boxes.

The Win 7 boxes were added to the orginal network named 'WORKGROUP', and the XP Network Setup Wizard has been run again.

Would appreciate suggestions as to how to restore the network.

TIA

FAQ184-2483​

Chris
PDFcommander.com
motrac.co.uk

 

[vacunita]

Are the win7 machines trusting the workgroup? Are they set to be visible within the workgroup. Make sure the Win7 machines are not in a homegroup of their own as only win7 can access homegroups.

also can Xp or Linux ping any of the win 7 machines by up address?

If you try to connect to any of them by address in Windows explorer can they connect?:

\\win7machineName\folder


----------------------------------
Phil AKA Vacunita
----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

Behind the Web, Tips and Tricks for Web Development.

http://behindtheweb.blogspot.com/

 

[ChrisRChamberlain]

vacunita

Thanks for your reply

If you try to connect to any of them by address in Windows explorer can they connect?

Yes - it's possible to map/connect to Linux or XP drives from Windows 7, and to map/connect to Windows 7 drives from XP.

The SAMBA shares on the Linux boxes depend on the name 'WORKGROUP' to enable access.

The Windows 7 boxes are not in a homegroup.

Are they set to be visible within the workgroup?

Not sure how you determine that?

FAQ184-2483​

Chris
PDFcommander.com
motrac.co.uk

 

[vacunita]

Not sure how you determine that?

Make sure "Turn On Network discovery" is checked.

----------------------------------
Phil AKA Vacunita
----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

Behind the Web, Tips and Tricks for Web Development.

http://behindtheweb.blogspot.com/

 

[ChrisRChamberlain]

Network Discovery is enabled

FAQ184-2483​

Chris
PDFcommander.com
motrac.co.uk

 

[vacunita]

It seems all networking is working correctly, perhaps a Firewall rule preventing any access from anything other than a Win7 machine.

check any firewalls and antivirus you may have for such as a setting. As an additional test, try booting into safe mode with networking in any of the Win7 machines and see if they can see and be seen in the network.

If they can then its a software issue with something that is loading at start up.

----------------------------------
Phil AKA Vacunita
----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

Behind the Web, Tips and Tricks for Web Development.

http://behindtheweb.blogspot.com/

 

[flyboytim]

It's easier to connect Windows 7 machines to each other via a HomeGroup, so leave that on, it does not affect the WORKGROUP networking.

When the Windows 7 machines are ok, then from the XP machines, in My Network Places, set up a home or small office network.

Yes, use the existing connection for this computers internet access (recommended)

Add a computer description is optional

Change the workgroup name from the ubiquitous MSHOME to WORKGROUP, or whatever you call it.

Turn on file and printer sharing (this configures your firewall, you do not have to worry about rules and permissions here)

The network setup wizard then applies the settings via "Unknown Internet Connection Sharing".

On the next screen pcs go walkabouts and your XP windows firewall goes "pop" once.

Then just finish the wizard.

Your XP machine should then see the windows 7 shared folders etc.

Back to the Win7 machine Control Panel HomeGroup, Change HomeGroup Settings, Change advanced sharing settings...

Home or Work (current profile)

Turn on network discovery

Turn on file and printer sharing

Turn on sharing so anyone with network access... (or not if you wish)

Media streaming...

128-bit encryption should be no problem

Turn off password protected sharing (just for now)

Allow Windows to manage homegroup (sic!) connections (recommended)

!!!I just hate it when Microsoft is inconsistent with CamelCaps!!!

Then repeat all that for Public

Finally Save changes

All should finally be connected.

I have 2 work networked laptops that each multiboot 3 ways into Windows 7, XP and Linux Ubuntu/Mint. Linux is a breeze whichever way it connects - just network - workgroup - computer - shared folders, username/password into computer if required.

I did apply one firewall rule on the Windows 7 machine before I realized how straightforward it was.

I called it xpworkgroup, with 2 endpoints of the entire subnet, any port, any protocol, any profile, Requests inbound and out authenticated by the computer (Kerberos) Anonymous, no second method of authentication, no tunnelling, All interface types, no authorization or exempt IPsec protected connections.

http://www.fxxxingcomputers.co.uk

 

[ChrisRChamberlain]

Followed suggestions by vacunita and flyboytim to no avail.

Turned all PCs, excepting Linux servers off and ran network setup wizard on XP box.

Turned on a Win 7 box, no change.

Started again on the other XP box, no change.

On both XP boxes, attempting to access WORKGROUP through

My Network Places > Entire Network > Microsoft Windows Network

errors out with

Workgroup 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 permissions.

The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available

Shortcuts, etc to other boxes all work as expected.

FAQ184-2483​

Chris
PDFcommander.com
motrac.co.uk

 

[ChrisRChamberlain]

Finally, turned off Linux server, ran Network Setup Wizard on a XP box and bingo!

Network restored, network error gone.

Thanks to vacunita and flyboytim for your suggestions.

FAQ184-2483​

Chris
PDFcommander.com
motrac.co.uk