Home Network Setup 1

[DWalrus]

I am attempting to setup a home network using a broadband connection (cable). I have a Linksys router, two PC's attached to it running XP Pro, one 64 bit. I have made both computers members of the same workgroup.
When I check in My Computer, one of the PC's can see both nodes but cannot access the other PC (insufficient rights-see administrator). The other PC does not see anything on the network.
What am I doing wrong? I thought this would be simple. I want both PC's to have access to the other.

DWalrus

 

[alidabiri]

if you have only 2 pc's, you could also connect them using cat5 cross over cable. anyway.
you can use IPCONFIG command from the command line to find ip addresses for each pc. then try to "ping" themselves and the other pc from the command line: ping 192.168.0.x depending on the number that ipconfig shows. if both pc's can ping (talk to each other). the rest is file sharing and access granting. you have to go to each pc and allow file sharing on the folders or drives that you want to share with other pc.
if you have automatic ip assignment selected, it usually assigns the right number to the client pc and the host pc.
try network places, and see if both have the same work group. assign the same work group to both computers. enable file and printer sharing, (you have to click a sentence that says "if you understand the rammification of file sharing, click here" or something like that. and check file and printer sharing. you can also assign password for others to access your files. once pc not seeing the other, can be caused by ip address problem or other causes.

 

[DWalrus]

I can ping both and have file and print sharing enabled. I shared the C: drive of both with no password required. Still only one PC can see the PC's on the network but cannot open anything. The other PC sees nothing in the network. The icon is there with the network name but when clicked, I get an error message telling me that I have insufficient rights. BOTHER!

D

 

[alidabiri]

what are the ip addresses for both computers? does one share connection with the other? look at control panel / admin tools / services. see if "tcp/ip netbios helper" is automatic, disabled, or manual. if disabled, double click and in path to executables, change to automatic and make sure there's a file path like
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs or something like that is present. check the same with "dhcp client" service. post back the results.
also network properties:
control panel - right click on your lan - choose properties. you should have:

client for microsoft networks
file and printer sharing for microsoft networks
QoS packet scheduler
internet protocol (TCP/IP)

find out what the properties of tcp/ip is
post back.

 

[linney]

Might be worth a look here.

Simple File Sharing- enabled

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/filesharing.htm

Simple File Sharing - disabled

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_filesharing/index.htm

http://www.michna.com/kb/wxnet.htm

 

[pbxman]

try enabling the guest account on both machines in control panel/user accounts

pbxman
Systems Administrator

Please let Tek-Tips members know their posts were helpful.

 

[DWalrus]

That's it! Enabling the Guest account on both machines. This causes one to have to log in to Windows, authenticating to the network. Thanks pbxman!

D

 

[DWalrus]

Also, making sure user accounts exists on both machines works as well. It HAD to be something small I was overlooking!

D