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Networking Workgroup issue

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trent101

Programmer
Nov 4, 2005
50
AU
Hey,

Firstly, im not sure if this is the right forum but I couldnt find a specific networking one so here it is.

I want to set up a network at home using a workgroup. This is what I have.

A laptop running WinXP Home, a PC Desktop running WinXP Pro, I have a router which both of these pc's connect to, both wirelessly. I am able to connect to the internet on both computers.

Now, my problem begins when I try to network them. I use xp's network wizard to set up a network, and enter the same workgroup name on both PC's. This is where it gets weird.

On my laptop, I can see the desktop pc icon in the workgroup when I click "view workgroup computers"in My Network Places, however when I try to open the desktop, it tells me that its not acessible and that I might not have permission to view the resource.

On the desktop, when I click the "view workgroup computers" link in My Network Places, it tells me that it cannot connect to the workgroup, however, if I type \\Laptop (the name of my laptop), directly into the address bar in ie, I can access the laptop.

Why is it that I cannot view all computers in the workgroup from my desktop pc? but I can access my laptop from the desktop by directly typing in the address. And how come I cannot access the desktop from the laptop even though I can see it?

I should add that both pc's are using xp's firewall with the default settings.

Any help really is appreciated. Thanks heaps for your time.
 
Do you have any firewall on the laptop? I'd have thought the problem would have come from the PRO machine. For PRO and above, I have an account for my laptop, with a password.
I enter the domain name \\xxxxx and have to enter un/pw once per logon.
Another option would be to use the same username/password on both machines. Windows will supply it automatically.

(the machine names are different, i hope)

-David
2006 Microsoft Most Valueable Professional (MVP)
2006 Dell Certified System Professional (CSP)
 
Do you have Norton Internet Security? If so, you need to run the network wizard from within Norton.
 
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