Can't see other computers.

I have a small peer to peer LAN with a router to the internet with built in hub. All three computers can access the internet but only 2 of the computers can be seen in the workgroup. I have installed Netbeui on the computer that can't be seen and there is another aspect to this. This computer can't even see itself on itself. This is very strange and I have never seen it before. The computer in question is running XP Home, has a 3com Fast Ethernet NIC, and I have installed Client for Microsoft networks, File Sharing, TCP/IP, and Netbeui on the network connection. I now have exhausted all the things that I know to do and since it can access the internet I know that the NIC and cable are OK. Your help is requested and required.

 

In order for NetBeui to help, all three PCs need to have it. NetBeui only sees other systems running NetBeui.

If you want to try to figure out the original problem, start by pinging a little. If PC-A and PC-B see each other and PC-C has the problem, then from PC-C try pinging one of the others by IP address. Also try pinging PC-C from one of the others by IP address.

 

Newt, thanks for the reply.
All three have Netbeui protocol added
PC-A is a Win98, IP 192.168.1.103
PC-B is XP Home, IP 192.168.1.102
These 2 can see each other in the workgroup and they also see themselves.
PC-C is XP Home, IP 192.168.1.100
Router IP 192.168.1.1

All pc's can ping each other including PC-C.
PC -C can not see either of the others nor itself in the workgroup, and A & B can not see C.

 

PC-C's address should be 192.168.1.101? Did you assign addresses or was that done automatically?

 

I ran ipconfig release and renew and it changed it to 101 but still the same problem. Why would it matter what the IP address was?

 

With NetBeui, all you should need is the same workgroup name and different PC names for them to all see each other. The router isn't a factor since it can't see NetBeui traffic nor does NetBeui traffic see it. IP addresses not a factor then either.

Double check PC names and workgroup name. Make them all 15 characters or less, alpha-numeric characters only (except for - and _ which will also work fine) and no spaces in the names. Also make sure Client for Microsoft Networking is loaded.

noahdfear - I agree that the .101 address would be expected with auto-assigned IP addresses but with this setup, any unused address from 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.254 will work so the 192.168.1.100, while not what you'd expect, is fine.

 

Thanks Newt!

 

From the numbers that I read I see a Linksys Router being used.

All machines should be OFF when the Router is hooked up. ( it works better that way. )

If DHCP server is enabled it assigns NIC addresses to each machine in the order that they are powered up.

By default the addresses start at 192.169.1.100 and go to 192.168.1.149. Both the old and the new do this.

At one time I also had to shut all machines down. Go to the Router and DELETE all Addresses shown there ( under Client table ). Reset the Router. and then restart the machines one at a time. allowing it to get FULLY booted before turning on another.

That was with the old unit. I have not had to mess with the new one yet.

My D-Link started at 192.168.0.100

OLDSALTY

Where is 192.168.1.101 ?

Do you have either an onboard LAN enabled or more than one NIC in the one machine ? ( for former ICS use maybe )

Newt

Naming has messed me up more than once. I had two words with a space and it did not work.

BillyBob

 

I want to thank all for their input.

Newt
Yes all computer names are proper. They are as follows:
Bill, BillsDesktop, John

BillyBob asked Where is 192.168.1.101 ?
and Do you have either an onboard LAN enabled or more than one NIC in the one machine ?

I ran ipconfig release and renew on C and it was assigned to C.
Computer A has a Netgear NIC
B has a built in 3Com NIC
C has a built in 3Com NIC

 

PC-A is a Win98, IP 192.168.1.103
PC-B is XP Home, IP 192.168.1.102
********
PC-C is XP Home, IP 192.168.1.100

?????????

I ran ipconfig release and renew on C and it was assigned to C. ( X.X.X.101 )

Double ??????

Unless the C above was changed to 192.168.1.101 you can not have two IPs for the same machine. ( at least I do not think for the for the same card )

If it was changed, where do X.X.X.100 go ?

You might try shutting all machines down. Unplug them from the router. Reset the Router.

Plug the machines back into the Router but turn them back on ONE AT A TIME and let it get fully booted before turning on the next one.

I myself would plug the C ( trouble maker ) in first. Unless something is different with your router than mine they shound go X.X.X.100 thru X.X.X.102. And if the second machine comes up with X.X.X.102 then something is deffinetly wrong on machine C.

And last but not least. You do have your work cut out for you. I know I have been there. And it takes trial & error and LOTS of PATIENCE.

And DOUBLE check that the Workgroup name on C is the same as the others.

BillyBob

 

My Router does not have one BUT ?

By any stretch of the imagination do you happen to have the one machine plugged into an UPLOAD port.

I ask because I made that error on my D-Link.

BillyBob

 

BillyBob

This is not a TCP/IP network. TCP/IP is working fine as all computers can access the internet. The problem is that the Local Area Network, Workgroup AZTECH can only see Bill, and BillsDesktop and not John. TCP/IP has nothing to do with this problem. I have switched ports on the Hub, Switched cables but as everyone can access the internet I would think this was redundant, for they are already working. I have changed the name of the workgroup on C and still I it can't see itself. If you are on a network with a workgroup when you look at the workgroup you will see the computer you are on and all the others in the workgroup, well C can not see itself so something is very wrong and I don't have a clue what it is.

 

I am just tossing in ideas about various problems that I ran into before I got the LAN on this XP Pro machine to work properly.

PC-C is XP Home, IP 192.168.1.100

I ran ipconfig release and renew on C and it was assigned to C. ( X.X.X.101[/i]

My main question where does even possibility of two addresses for the same machine come from ?

Again, I would unplug the other two and work with just the problem one till I go it fixed.

I also believe that on this XP machine I had install ( per suggestion of a Friend )

QoS Packet Schedular before it would work poroperly[/b]

BillyBob

 

Read the 5th post in this thread. QoS Packet Schedular is already in there by default when I ran the network setup.

 

BillyBob,

From Old Salty's 3rd post

Only 1 address.

Old Salty,
Do you have a firewall running?

 

No firewall. Thanks for asking. This is really a tuff one.

 

The fact that the PCs can ping each other indicates that TCP/IP is alive and well. As does the fact that all can get to the internet.

NetBeui should have bypassed all the usual router/IP problems that could cause this.

One more bit of testing before we have to get into drastic fix-it ideas.

Make sure you are logging into each PC with a username and non-blank password. Create new user accounts if you need to. Also make sure the Guest account is enabled on both XP-Home systems. It should be enabled by default on that OS.

On each PC, put a folder named test and share it as test. Put in a text document named the same as the PC so on PC-C, make it PC-C.txt, etc.

From PC-B, do start~run~\\PC-C\test and see if an explorer window opens on PC-B showing the contents of the test folder on PC-C.

Do the same from PC-C to PC-B.

If this works OK (and it should) then we are dealing with a Network Neighborhood display issue that can be ignored if you want to connect via start~run~... or can be dealt with.

 

From OLDSALTYS' earlier post

I see line directly above and the I ran Ipconfig line as saying there are two addresses.

I do not believe that Ipconfig should be changing the address anyway. The address comes from DHCP on the Router I believe.

BillyBob

 

Once again I say you have not read the first 5 posts in this thread. If you had this would not be an issue!

 

If you are speaking to me.

1- The info in my previous post did come from the first five posts.

2-Unless your router is different than any I have used then the first machine on should be 192.168.1.100. And the others following in numerical syquence. ( 101,102,103 etc.)

3- Two different things SEEM to be reporting two different numbers.

4- I am trying to figure out WHY the one machine APPEARS to be using 100 & 101 and the next two are 102 & 103.To the best of my knowledge this is not correct.

If it is ( or can be ) correct then will someone please let me know how and why.

5-The POSSIBILITY does exist that you have gone into Router Administration and made changes. I won't tell why I can say that.

6- When dealing with these Computers and their problems you can not leave any stone unturned. Sometimes the least expected and what we do not think is even related is the REAL CAUSE. I myself have had too many surprises to say or do any different.

Who would ever think that a game of SORRY between two machines would mess up the Video on this XP machine. I had to go though it twice or three times before I could prove it.

7-Over the years I have learned at least one thing if nothing else. And that being that there appears to be no " One fix fits all " fix.

8-It is a fact that your problem may have a different cause/fix than mine did. But that does not leave it entirely out of the question.

9-Hope you get things fixed up soon.

BillyBob