Simple Home Networking issue...I HOPE! 2

[Gravitate]

Hi,

I am a web designer, but I am not too technical so bear with me. I have a home network with 2 computers and a printer. They are connected through a hub, which in turn is connected through a DSL modem. Both systems are running Win2000. The problem I am having is that I can not share files between the two systems.

I have setup the entire C drive as a share on one system, but when I go to map to the share I can not find it even if I browse. I have created shares that end with '$' and others that don't and in both cases I can't seem to get it to work.

I can see the other computer when I look at "computers near me", but I can't map to the share. The frustrating thing is that this used to work, but doesn't any longer. I am not sure how I messed it up.

My thinking was once the computers were on the same network they would automatically be aware of one another and I would be able to share files, printers etc.

Any help would be very appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Michael

 

[XgrinderX]

Michael, I have had this problem in the past as well. Make sure that File Sharing is turned on for BOTH machines. Also, I think sometimes it helps to set a share up on both machines...this may not be true but I just seem to remember doing this when I have had this problem before.

 

[wolluf]

Your post is a little incoherent. ' this used to work, but doesn't any longer. I am not sure how I messed it up' - details please - when did it work, what happened between then and when it didn't. You sound like you have a reasonable idea of networking - so do tell all - its difficult to help without those details.

 

[Gravitate]

Thanks to both for your responses. And I do agree that 'my post is incoherent'. Count yourself lucky that you don't have to speak to me in person! LOL! I digress....

So in answer to XgrinderX - I went to enable 'file sharing' on my computer (I will call this computer #1). I followed the Microsoft instructions that take me to network and Dial-up connections -> LAN -> Properties -> General -> but when I click on "file and printer sharing, the "properties" tag remains greyed out, so I can't enable file sharing in this way. Am I going about this incorrectly..what am I missing.

In response to Wolluf - I am not sure what happened. I was traveling for 3 weeks and my business partner reinstalled Win 2000, and when I got back we couldn't connect. The strange thing is the first time I don't remember doing anything special to get them to recognize each other on the network, it all seemed to happen magically. Now, it seems that I have to manually configure this all to work, which is fine accept all of my manual attempts have come up short so far.

Hope this better clarifies the situation, though it is no clearer to me!

Cheers,
Michael

 

[wolluf]

If win2k's been reinstalled on one machine, its likely the workgroup it belongs to is called 'WORKGROUP' which is default. So, if you were using a different workgroup name previously the other machine will still have this name - both machines need to belong to same workgroup. Also, has reinstalled machine had its IP address set up? (with 2 machine network and no DHCP server, both machines need a manual IP addess supplied (network properties) in the same private range - 192.168.0.1-254 being common choice) - so check this out also.

 

[Gravitate]

Hi Wolluf,

Thanks for the response. So, I went to check and both computers belong to the same workgroup that I created. When I went to check this setting, I noticed that a computer can belong to a workgroup or a domain. Is the domain something I should be concerned with? Probably not, since you didn't mention anything.

You also mentioned the IP address stuff. Forgive me as I am not too technical, but I remember when I setup my DSL, they informed me that I would have a dynamic IP assigned. This leads me to believe that I don't have a static IP, is this correct? If so, does changing the IP to 192.168.0.1-254 affect my internet connection? Also FYI, both computers can access the internet, which you have probably already assumed.

I think I am probably confusing myself and you as the quality of the info I am providing is probably insufficient. Conceptually I probably don't have a good idea of how all of this ties together. I thought I did, but it is looking more and more like I don't. I was going to try to troubleshoot this online in this type of forum, but I might be better served having someone come to my home to do this, I am just trying to save the $50 or whatever they charge, but I have probably messed something up pretty bad on my machine...

- Michael

 

[cdogg]

In addition to Wolluf's post, also make a note of the two computer names in the case that you are manually trying to map drives. Perhaps the wrong computer name is being specified?

Use the form: \\computerName\shareName\[path]

Both of these examples would be acceptable:
1) \\stealth\music
2) \\stealth\music\mp3z


========================================================

Also, when you mentioned that you cannot share files between the 2 pc's, does that mean both pc's aren't able to share or just from one to the other? If it's just a "one way" problem, then perhaps you have overlooked the security settings in the folder you are sharing?
~cdogg

"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."
- A. Einstein

 

[cdogg]

Forgot to mention that as long as "File and Print Sharing" is checked, then it is enabled. There isn't a properties section which is why the button greys out.

Last question: Is it a hub or a router that you're using?

If it's a regular hub, then you must assign static IP's to each computer. Routers have built-in DHCP servers, so you can choose the option to "Obtain IP Addresses Automatically". The dynamic IP address that you were told about deals with your DSL modem to hub/router. The pc's are separate and require 2 different IP's (192.168.0.x).
~cdogg

"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."
- A. Einstein

 

[wolluf]

Bit more - what's changed since it used to work? Also, you've got a hub, not a router so if internet works on both you must have individual IP addresses assiged by your ISP for both machines (more common is a router and one IP address (because ISPs usually chanrge more for 2) - router acts as DHCP server for LAN. But if machine's IP addresses are both external, they may not work over the LAN (can you ping one from the other?) - so you may need to install another protocol (netbeui) for the machines to be able to share filestore/printers so, I'd try installing netbeui protocol on both machines - network properties).

I'm off to bed - its very late here in UK!

 

[Gravitate]

Cdogg,

Thanks! It is a two-way problem. The thing I don't understand is I can see the other computer when I go through networking and click on "computers near me", but when I click on the '+' (which signifies EXPAND) on the computer I am trying to target and try to drill to the share, the '+' just disappears but nothing is underneath. But if I type the path literally as you suggest, it doesn't recognize it as valid.

I just read your second post - thanks again!! Um, here is where I expose my ignorance once again. It is a SWITCH, which I think is a HUB, but it might be a ROUTER!! I am sure you know the difference. Anyway, if it is a HUB then you say I need to set the IP addresses manually. Where do I do this? And if I do this is it going to mess-up my internet connection?

Thanks,
Michael

 

[Gravitate]

UK!! It is like 3AM there...thanks for staying up and helping with your posts. I checked and I already have NETBEUI enabled on my computer. Wait, it wasn't configured on the other one. Wow, I have mapped computer 2 to computer 1. For some reason now I am having difficulty mapping 1 to 2, which gets to the question that cdogg posted earlier, which was is this a one-way problem or two-way. Now it appears it is a one-way problem. Perhaps I need to reboot. I will try that and post back.

- Michael

 

[cdogg]

It's starting to sound like you have the networking side setup properly, since you can see the other computer's name. It wouldn't be there otherwise.

Let's start with something on a smaller scale. Instead of sharing the entire C: drive (go ahead and turn it off), start with a subfolder. Right-click it and go to "Sharing...". Select "Share this folder" and give it a legit share name. Click "Permissions" and make sure Everyone has full control and click OK. To make sure there aren't conflicting settings, go to the Security tab. Make sure Everyone is set up the same way and you uncheck "Allow inheritable permissions from parent to propogate to this object".

Hopefully that test works...
~cdogg

"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."
- A. Einstein

 

[cdogg]

Looks like Wolluf was right on the money!!
~cdogg

"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."
- A. Einstein

 

[Gravitate]

Cdogg and Wolluf,

Thanks!! I have the networking between the two computers working perfectly. The tip to install netbeui (which might have been wiped out when reinstalling win2K - answers the question "what's changed" seems to have done the trick.

Also the tip from Cdogg to manually type the path ended up helping me with the other computer which for some reason didn't want to find the computer through "browse".

Really a thanks to you both, I appreciate your efforts on this. How do I give you credit for the help?

Cheers,
Michael

 

[yohann]

Cdogg and Wolluf,

You are both to be commended for staying with this! My hats off to both you guys. John Farrow
Cloudcroft, New Mexico

 

[Gravitate]

I couldn't agree with you more, Yohann! Thanks again both of you - I am sharing Files and printing like the madman I am.

Cheers and warmest thanks!
Michael
Gravitate Design Studio

http://www.gravitatedesign.com