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Calling all networking wizards


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Okay, I've got a humdinger of a networking problem.

 

Let me describe the setup:

 

BB modem --> Router

 

Plugged into the router is one PC and one Linksys powerline bridge.

 

Two bridges are plugged into two locations in the house, one is attached to a PC (let's call it the Office PC), the other is attached to a Netgear wireless AP with built-in router.

 

Now I'm setting up a music server PC running Windows XP Home next to the wireless router. I plug into the wireless router and I'm on the internet, no problem.

 

But I can't share files with the Office PC because of DHCP shit (I guess).

 

Okay, I figure, I'll just plug the music server PC into the powerline bridge, and at least get it sharing files with the Office PC.

 

Well, it still has internet access, but it refuses to be seen on the network. I can't acces the shared printer on the Office PC, and the Office PC can't see the music server PC.

 

The WinXP firewall is turned off on all the PCs; I'm running the Norton Internet Security firewall on them. Even when I temporarily disable Norton I can't share files.

 

I tried pinging from the Office PC and and I actually got two successful pings through (lots of lost packets).

 

The Office PC now shows the music server PC in the network Neighborhood, but it can't open it (it says it can't access it, check permissions and call the administrator).

 

WTF?! This is driving me nuts. Any suggestions? If I can get this working correctly I'd THEN like to tackle the problem of getting the two networks to talk (installing a wireless ethernet card in the music server PC and making a WinXP bridge perhaps?).

 

-j

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Have you disabled simple file sharing on the XP machine?

 

If you don't know where it is here's how to get to it.

 

Open My Computer---> Tools---> Folder Options---> View---> Scroll all the way to the bottom and uncheck Use Simple File Sharing.

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jesus....thats a mess.

 

Yes, it is.

 

Get a Mac.

 

Not feasible.

 

Have you disabled simple file sharing on the XP machine?

 

If you don't know where it is here's how to get to it.

 

Open My Computer---> Tools---> Folder Options---> View---> Scroll all the way to the bottom and uncheck Use Simple File Sharing.

 

Not there. This is XP Home Edition, remember.

 

The two PCs now see each other, but will grant access in the Network Neighborhood.

 

Help?

 

-j

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Are the machines part of the same WORKGROUP or Domain?

 

Are there 2 routers in your configuration? If yes, are both configured as routers or is one a switch?

 

Have you tried mapping the drives manually without using Network Neighborhood (192.168.1.100share name)?

 

Do you have user accounts setup on all the machines?

 

I don't have a XP Home machine in front of me to check if this is in there....

 

CMD Prompt---> secpol.msc---> Local Policies---> User Rights Assignment---> The first policy listed is "Access this computer from the network". Make sure the users you want to have rights are in here.

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Get a Mac.

 

I constantly have troubles networking with my PCs...but my Mac consistantly sees everything.

 

Sorry I haven't any advice but I'm quite certain someone who really knows networking will be by any moment now...

 

I had originally said this in my post, but decided to change it as I knew it didn't help RM....but being that you mentioned it Camp, I will expand on it.

 

OS X with Rendezvous makes networking SO MUCH EASIER, it really is as simple as plugging in a network cable, getting an IP address and off you go. And with iTunes allowing the sharing of its music library over Rendezvous(including over the Internet), its just so nice you have to experience it yourself.

 

Its really shocking how simple network is with OS X and Rendezvous.

 

You can read more about Rendezvous here:

http://www.apple.com/macosx/jaguar/rendezvous.html

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Are the machines part of the same WORKGROUP or Domain?

 

Are there 2 routers in your configuration? If yes, are both configured as routers or is one a switch?

 

My guess is that its one of these two. Don't forget on any non-XP Home machines connected that XP Home doesn't support domains - you'll need to either stick to using an Workgroup, or switch OS.

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Are the machines part of the same WORKGROUP or Domain?

 

Yes.

 

Are there 2 routers in your configuration? If yes, are both configured as routers or is one a switch?

 

At the moment there is just one router, the one attached to the BB modem.

 

Have you tried mapping the drives manually without using Network Neighborhood (192.168.1.100share name)?

 

I'll give this a shot tonight.

 

Do you have user accounts setup on all the machines?

 

Yep. A full level account is on each machine, as well as a guest account.

 

I don't have a XP Home machine in front of me to check if this is in there....

 

CMD Prompt---> secpol.msc---> Local Policies---> User Rights Assignment---> The first policy listed is "Access this computer from the network". Make sure the users you want to have rights are in here.

 

Interesting; I'll try this out as well tonight (if it's there).

 

-j

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Well, I got it all squared away.

 

I installed the NetBEUI protocol on both XP machines. An MS book on XP networking book suggested this (I flipped through it in Barnes and Nobles).

 

I can bridge the wireless and wired networks by putting a wireless adapter on one wired machine, but I can skip that step by making some changes to the physical network.

 

Thanks for nothing, bastages! :wink:

 

-j

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  • 2 weeks later...

You do not need to use the NetBEUI protocol. All you need to have installed is TCP/IP.

 

Check here:

 

Local Area Network Properties -> TCP/IP Properties -> Advanced -> WINS Tab - Under NetBIOS settings, make sure both machines are set to default.

 

Also, make sure both computers are in the same workgroup.

And, have DHCP enabled on both machines (unless of course you need to control the IP address' yourself)

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Heh, I know you said that you got it working. Glad to hear it.

 

I just wanted you to know that you don't need to have NetBEUI installed for your setup to work.

 

But, since you have it working now, I'm guessing that you don't really want to go and start messing around with it again. :)

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  • 2 weeks later...

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