cant ping by computer name

[logi2000]

i have a home network. with 2 computers. one has windows ME and the other Win XP. since i have cable modem, i use a hub to connect the 2 computers, so they can both acces internet.
the problem i have is that i cannot see the files from each computer. if i do a ping by ipaddress it works fine, but when i try to ping them by computer name, it does not work.

both computers access internet with no problemm. they do not have an static ip address, it is dinamic.

what can be wrong ?
what should i fix, in order to see the files from one computer to another ?

 

[Serbtastic]

Put a static entry in the lmhosts files on each machine and run nbtstat -RR to reload the Netbios name cache. Of course, when your IP changes, you'll have to do this again with the new IP address.

 

[logi2000]

half of the problem is solved.

i did the lmhost thing that you said. (by the way, there where no lmhost file in neither computer, i have to create them.)

nom only the PC with windows XP can ping the Pc with Windows Me, both by name and by ip address, and it can see the files on the other PC.

The problem now, is that i cannot ping the XP computer from the WinMe computer, neither by ip or by name, what can be wrong. how can i solve that ?

 

[MattWray]

The lmhosts file is located in C:\%root%\system32\drivers\etc. Where did you create them?

Thanks,

Matt Wray
MCSE, MCSA, MCP, CCNA

http://www.sss-steel.com

http://www.total-tec.com

 

[Serbtastic]

Sounds like you have the XP firewall turned on. Shut it down to be able to ping it.

 

[logi2000]

1. lmhosts location:
in winXP is "c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc"
in winMe is "c:\windows"

the location of the lmhost file is different in win xp and in win me. Actually in boths PC the only lmhost file that initialy appears is the lmhost.sam

2. yes, i have the firewall option turned on in XP. i will turn it off, and see if it works.
but my question know is: i thought the firewall was only to prevent access by other users from the intenet, not from my LAN. is it possible somehow to have the access firewall on, and let the local user to ping and see the files in that computer?