Ugh... home network people? HELP please!

[AZ Vic]

OK... I have never messed with a home network of any kind. So I figured I would get the stuff to do it

No, really I needed to expand so the wife and I could both work our bus together. So, I went and bought a new laptop and wireless linksys setup and tried to set it up.

I got the cable modem hooked up and both computers can access the internet, no problem. I can view shared files that are located on my laptop from my desktop... but not the other way around.

I cannot get the laptop to view the files on the desktop.

When I try to access "view workgroup computers" from my laptop, it denies me and says:

"Mshome 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 network path was not found."

I want to be able to access files both ways - I will not have any that are "hidden" from the other. Is there any way to set it all up in one swoop?

The laptop is wireless and the desktop is hardwired. XP OS on both. Linksys G wireless router.

I would really appreciate some help here guys - I can not afford to pay someone to come out and set this up.


Thanks in advance,

Vic

 

[AZ Vic]

come on guys... I know someone out there knows how to fix this. I am sure I am missing something stupid but I cannot figure it out through internet forums, help sites, and microsoft help...

I did find out that I can not ping my desktop from my laptop using IP address. They can both ping themselves and the desktop will ping the laptop.

So, is it something easy... or, should I just take this stuff back and get my $1250 refunded?

This is killing me here


Thanks again guys for the time...


Vic

 

[klrv6]

Need a little info first!

1 - Are both computers running XP SP2 or does one have SP1?

2 - Do you ever take the laptop to public places?

3 - Do both computers have the same account names/passwords and belong to the same workgroup? I would make up your own workgroup name so others will have a harder time connecting to you.

4 - Do any of the accounts not have a password?

5 - Do any of the computers automatically boot into XP without requiring a password?

Let me know.

No don't take anything back!! It will be OK

 

[tjthorson]

disable any and all software firewalls on the laptop. If it then works, you need to add the "local LAN" to the set of trusted sites in your firewall's allow list....

If the workgroup is "MSHOME" chances are you used the network setup wizard.....

my condolences.....

 

[AZ Vic]

Re: Need a little info first!

Originally posted by klrv6
1 - Are both computers running XP SP2 or does one have SP1?

2 - Do you ever take the laptop to public places?

3 - Do both computers have the same account names/passwords and belong to the same workgroup? I would make up your own workgroup name so others will have a harder time connecting to you.

4 - Do any of the accounts not have a password?

5 - Do any of the computers automatically boot into XP without requiring a password?

Let me know.

No don't take anything back!! It will be OK

Ah! light at the end of the tunnel! THANK YOU!

1. I am pretty sure they both have SP2... they both have automatic firewalls through windows (isn't this a trait of the SP2?) I did download ALL updates for both computers before I started any of this.

2. Not planning on it. But I may.. if I end up traveling somewhere. But will never on a regular basis.

3. Yeah I did that after I could not get it to work. I talked with a guy that does some networking stuff and he recommended that. So I created duplicate accounts (so both sign on screens look the same) on both computers all with the same password.
I did orignally make up my own workgroup name but when I could not get it to work, I went back through again and kept everything default and planned on changing it once I was up and running.

4. Yes I have a guest account on the desktop that does not require a password

5. They will not go all the way in where I can use programs or anything. But they do get to a sign on screen that shows the accounts - I can not log on there w/o a password. Is this what you mean?

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you...


No, really... Thank you.

Vic


tjthorsen - I tried that last night. ALL firewalls were taken down and same thing. Is the setup wizard bad? You have to realize - the wizard was my only chance to even get this far

Thank you very much as well.

Vic

 

[klrv6]

Laptop?

Does your lapotop have a network card in it?

 

[AZ Vic]

Re: Laptop?

Originally posted by klrv6
Does your lapotop have a network card in it?

Ummm not sure. I did buy the wireless linksys card to connect to the router - is that it?

Other than that, I do not know if it has a network card - or even how to check to see if it has one. If that wireless card is not it, how do I check to see if it has a network card?


Vic

 

[dhjenkins]

Make sure both computers are members of the same workgroup.

Go to Control Panel>System

Click the Computer Name tab

It should say:

Workgroup: <workgroup name>

on BOTH computers, in order to be able to share back and forth easily. If it doesn't, you can just make up a name and use it on both (click "change" and make sure you're using a workgroup and not a domain).

Let me know if that works.

 

[AZ Vic]

Originally posted by dhjenkins
Make sure both computers are members of the same workgroup.

Go to Control Panel>System

Click the Computer Name tab

It should say:

Workgroup: <workgroup name>

on BOTH computers, in order to be able to share back and forth easily. If it doesn't, you can just make up a name and use it on both (click "change" and make sure you're using a workgroup and not a domain).

Let me know if that works.

Yes it is the same on both. Just double checked it...

 

[dhjenkins]

Have you tried re-running the network setup wizard on both?

The only other thing I would suggest would be to create matching usernames as 'user' accounts on each computer.

For example,

Computer A (desktop) has YOUR username of "AZ", and computer B (laptop) has oh, "AZ2" or something.

Create a user on the desktop named "AZ2" and create one on the laptop named "AZ" (so both computers have both users).

This works in 2000 - it couldn't hurt, you can always delete them later.

 

[AZ Vic]

Originally posted by dhjenkins
Have you tried re-running the network setup wizard on both?

The only other thing I would suggest would be to create matching usernames as 'user' accounts on each computer.

For example,

Computer A (desktop) has YOUR username of "AZ", and computer B (laptop) has oh, "AZ2" or something.

Create a user on the desktop named "AZ2" and create one on the laptop named "AZ" (so both computers have both users).

This works in 2000 - it couldn't hurt, you can always delete them later.

Yes, I reran the wizard on both - no luck.

The user names was one of the first things suggested to me before I ever asked here. That still does not allow me to do it.


Thanks for the help guys...

 

[AZ Vic]

Well guys... I am still stuck. I am still at the same point as the first message.

Any suggestions?


Thanks,

Vic

 

[tjthorson]

Call me at the office - I may or may not be in, but leave a callback number - we will get it sorted out....

847-253-7885

 

[klrv6]

Laptop NIC

Does the laptop have a built in network card 10/100 or gigabit? If you can't ping one of the computers while both firewalls are off, it's more than just permissions on the machines.

 

[AZ Vic]

Hey everyone! A fellow TB member IM'd with me tonight and we got it all fixed!

I have 3 freakin firewalls going! wow!

I missed one of those and that was the bug.

A very MANY thankyous to everyone who helped! What a great community!


Vic