very tedious network problem.

You know when you have all the settings right for the network (workgroup name, subnet masks, ip addresses) and it still doesn't work? its annoying isn't it.

Ok so here is where I stand:

============
= PC ONE = (Desktop)
============

Workgroup name: WORKGROUP
IP Address: 192.168.1.1
Network class: C (255.255.255.0)

============
= PC TWO = (laptop)
============

Workgroup name: WORKGROUP
IP Address: 192.168.1.2
Network class: C (255.255.255.0)

There are very basic minimum settings for a simple LAN connection. I do not know what else to do, the machines will not even ping each other. The NIC's are running fine on both machines, and they are connected through a cross over cable. I am going to make a new cross over cable just in case the old one is buggered. Please tell me if I missed anything out, I usually do. . Thanks.

(edit): Btw they are both running Windows XP Professional.

Kev

 

Do you have a firewall enabled on either/both machines?

 

solved. Im doing it for somebody else i didnt know he had norton internet security enabled on both machines. It is now fixed and configured. thanks tj

 

Glad it helped, thanks for posting back results.

 

Similar problems with a twist

I have a similar setup to purp1ehaze-AoD, (Just 1 XP home laptop and 1 XP Pro Desktop), and I have a firewall protection in place (Trend total internet security set to high (only exception list stuff allowed), plus on Desktop XP Firewall enabled with ICMP disabled).

The laptop connects to the desktop directly via no. 1 NIC, and the desktop connects to internet via no. 2 NIC and an ADSL router/switch.

Thing is, it was all working fine, including being able to ping both machines and ADSL router, access internet, send/receive e-mails, as well as being able to access files/folders/disks and printers across network.

Now for some reason, I can only do internet connect, emails and ping. No access to files/folders/printers, etc., from either node.

Error: Start/My network places/D on Guest/ results in;

\\guest\d is not accessible. You may not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administator of this server to find out if you have access permissions.

The network path was not found.

I have checked and 'repaired' network connections, and everything appears to be fine. Also, by the way, File and printer sharing is activated as is QoS. Both PC's require passwords at logon and NETBIOS over TCP/IP is disabled.

 

- Can both machines ping the other one?

- Do you have the Guest account enabled on both? It will have been installed enabled on the Home system but disabled on the Pro machine.

 

yes they can both ping each other and also the router can be pinged from both.

Setup:

ADSL Router 10.0.0.2/255.0.0.0 dynamically allocates IP to 2nd NIC in Guest server on mshome workgroup (10.0.0.11)

Notebook 192.168.0.2/255.0.0.0 connected to 1st NIC in Guest server 192.168.0.1/255.0.0.0 (both fixed TCP/IP and in mshome workgroup)

Notebook accesses internet via Guest server on which firewalls (XP and Trend) are activated. Both PC's access own email account (no local server)

This all works great.

Originally - both were older PC's running ME and 98SE respectively. They were connected to internet via router (which is also a 4 port switch)

I upgraded to XP home and Pro (came with PC's) and as I say everything worked until a week or so ago. I have been methodically patching both systems up to date, which may have a bearing.

Recent installs include Spybot and Adaware 6.0 (freebies)

Hope that helps

PS when I Ipconfig from Notebook it indicates that 192.168.0.1 (Guest server) is gateway.

 

Thanks for the info. More questions at this point I'm afraid but hopefully we can get you fixed up pretty soon.

If I read things correctly, you have
- 1 DSL router/switch /w 4 network ports (which specific device?)
- 1 desktop PC named Guest that has 2 network cards.
- 1 laptop with 1 network card.
- The laptop connected to the desktop and gaining internet access via the desktop.

I guess my first question is why? It adds several layers of complexity for no real benefit I can think of. Granted, you get some protection for the notebook via the firewall in the desktop but since there are some great free firewalls out there, doesn't seem worth it. Also, in theory you would get some AV protection for the notebook but again, good free AV apps available and I'd question the AV protection the notebook is getting this way.

Note that with the setup you describe, the Guest PC is acting as the gateway device for the notebook. That means routing tables and a few other goodies were needed. If you did this via ICS or Sygate or some similar product then the sources for possible errors is multiplied quite a bit. Also note that with lots of these software 'modem sharing' apps, they are quirky about the subnet mask they will allow and the somewhat unusual use of 255.0.0.0 with a 192.x.x.x address may have things a little confused.

My best suggestion is that you run both notebook and desktop connected directly to the router/switch.

Otherwise, the next thing for you to do is to check the bindings on the two desktop NICs. I suspect you may find file & printer sharing bound to the 10.x.x.x NIC and not to the 192.x.x.x one so the notebook is talking to a device that doesn't have sharing features enabled.

 

Hi Newt - spot on system analysis - and it's an Origo ADSL switch/router. Firstly can I say - I have found the problems - and you were partially right with your comment about the bindings!.

On the LAN side, the LMhosts file wasn't enabled, which I did and imported the oginal hosts file from the ME/W98 setup, and additionally (as mentioned in a previous message, Netbios over TCP/IP was disabled). I enabled that and bingo - it is all back working!

I do not know how the settings got changed, other than I had been playing around with Tuneup Utilities 2004 and Internet / Network security settings, so whether that had amended the relevant settings or not, I don't know.

With regard to the 'long way round' set-up, I did have all direct connections, (and indeed for a period had my old Laptop running ME 'in the loop'). It worked perfectly and the only reason I changed was the continual bleating from XP Pro that this was not the correct way to invoke a network when running XP. So, I changed it, and up to a week or so ago, as I say, it worked fine.

I have additional Firewall and AV software running on both machines, as well as the XP firewall invoked on the 2nd NIC ADSL connection. All I can say is it does get a quite good "Shields up" rating at the Gibson research site on:

http://grc.com/x/ne.dll?rh1dkyd2

Anyway - thanks for all your help - I really appreciate the time and effort!

Dave

 

Dave - glad you got things working. Thanks for posting back with the info and details.