Workgroup Help

Hi, I have a desktop with xp pro and laptop with xp media center. The desktop is wired to a dlink wireless router and the laptop is connected wirelessly. Both have good internet connections, but I cannot get them to see each other when creating a workgroup. My goal is to share printers and files. Please, please help. Thank you! Jay

 

In Control Panel>Network Connections, right click the connection you use, left click Properties, make sure there's a check mark next to "File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks. "

If that was checked, have you marked some folders or drives shared on both computers?

 

Unfortunately that wasn't it. When I view workgroup computers, the one I'm using will show up, but the other one won't. I don't get any error messages or anything. Any other suggestions?? Thanks.

 

Have you tried accessing the other PC directly (as opposed to browsing for it)? To do this type:

\\computername

(replacing computername for the actual computer's name), in Windows Explorer's address bar? Try it. How do you get on?

 

Yes, I did try that. It says the name is not recognizable. I tried it on both computers and get the same results. Thanks.

 

OK. It looks like either a name problem or a more fundimental problem. Time to drop down to a lower level.

Open a command shell (Start > Run, and then enter command in the "open" box and click on OK)
Then try the following:

PING 127.0.0.1
PING own_ip_address
PING remote_ip_address
PING computer_name

Where own_ip_address is the IP address of the PC you are currently working on (type IPCONFIG to get the IP address if you don't already have it); remote_ip_address is the IP address of the PC you are trying to connect to; and computer_name is the name of a PC you are trying to connect to.

You should get a reply to each of these PINGs. What do you get?

 

When I ping the computer I'm on, it's successfull, but get request timed out when I ping the other computer's IP. And when I type the name, it says could not find host. I appreciate your help, keep trying---pleassssseeee.

 

Could be some firewall issue on the computers. Disconnect your router from internet (pull the internet wire - its the easiest & safest thing to do), disable any firewalls on both your systems & then try to browse/ping them.

 

I could ping the desktop from the desktop, but could not ping the laptop from either machine with the internet disconnected and firewalls off.

 

Most obvious problem is IP addresses. Have a look at this tool. Enter the IP addresses and subnet masks of the laptop and one of the computers you are using to connect to the laptop, in the form. Then click on Check Addresses.

The tool should check the addresses and make sure that the IP addresses are compatible.

 

Oh. And another thing to check.

I couldn't connect to the computers in my study from my laptop, while working in the garden. All PCs had internet connection. A little head scratching and I worked out what it was. My study is at the front of the house, and my next door neighbour had an unsecured wireless router in a back bedroom. I was getting better signal from my neighbours wireless bridge than my own, and my laptop seemlessly switched over to the other network. While I was connected to my neighbours wireless network, I could not connect to my local wired network.

Are you sure you are wirelessly connecting to the network that you think you are connecting to?

 

Awesome!!!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank You!! All this time I had been accessing my neighbors network! I can't believe it was that simple and I never caught it. I'm thrilled! Thanks again everyone for your help and especially ReggieB for the solution!

 

Engaging smug mode

Glad we got it sorted!

 

My problem is similar

Except I am using 2 desktops.... when I use that Ip tool above I get:

The computers belong to different subnets. They will only commuicate via a router

What is my next move? My problem is posted here! http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=54914