Can't access another PC in the same workgroup

I have 3 PCs and a notebook computer on the same Workgroup (say, MSHOME). All running XP Professional SP2. Those computer names are XP1, XP2, XP3 and S5. XP1 and XP2 connect to D-Link DSL-G604T ADSL modem router by Fast Ethernet ports. XP3 connect to the same modem router by 802.11g by Netgear WG311 Wireless PCI Adapter. S5 (the notebook) connects to the modem router by an old Lucent Orinoco 801.11b. Wireless encryption uses WEP. XP1, XP3 and S5 have upgraded to IE7 recently. XP2 remains in IE6. All computers are Windows Firewalled as seen from the Windows Security Centre, Norton AntiVirus protected and Windows Defender (Beta 2) activated. They use the same TCP/IP segment 192.168.0.x Under the General tab of the Local Area Connection Property, the boxes for Client for Microsoft Networks, File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Network and Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) are checked. They are not using NetBui/ipx or NetBios, they've never been.

All 4 computers can access Internet from the modem router without problem. All 4 computers can click into My Network Places and View workgroup computers and are able to see all four computers. All 4 computers share folders and printers as in a family environment. XP1, XP2 and S5's shared folders, as well as C drive and D drive can all be accessed by all 4 computers.

The problem is: XP3 cannot be accessed by all other 3 computers. (XP3 and it's shared folders can be access from XP3's own My Network Places. When XP3's icon in the View workgroup computers is clicked, a windows pops up with "MSHOME" displayed, and the message is "\\Xp3 is not accessible. YOu might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions. Access is denied. "

I have logged on with the same User Name (Ivan) (as Administrator) with the same password on all four computers.

Even worst, I attempted to fix them from XP2. Now XP2 has the same trouble accessing XP1.

Question: How can I access XP3 from all other 3 computers? (or more general, how can I set up the network environment so that each computer can access all other computers in the same workgroup?)

 

Try installing the NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol. This helped me in the very same situation.

 

NetBIOS doesn't work either!

Hi Xfarmer,

I tried your method but it didn't work either.

What I did wat to install NetBIOS through the properties of TCP/IP protocol of all four machines. After it failed, I also tried enabled the NetBIOS over TCP/IP in the WINS tab from the Advanced TCP/IP setting of the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties. It didn't work too.

Can any one help?

 

ok this seems to work everytime i set up a new network ,

*first disable your internet , ie: unplug dsl line only
*then turn all firewalls OFF , your off the internet so its safe
*next hit refresh and repair all net connections.
*reconnect internet, also try to access your shares now if you like
*then run the network setup wiz on each pc, enabling filesharing (firewall renables itself when doing so)
*next enter mynetwork places and try to access a share you should be ok now.

lil piece of software i install on all my builds and etc is realVNC so i can access all pc's remotely , i install this while firewall is down and leave it running when i redo network setup so it sees the ports in use and configures for it.

try that should do the trick

 

Still not working, TonyT and Mikey976

Hi TonyT and Mikey976,

Thanks for your advice.

I tried TonyT's method and created a setup diskette from XP2 and installed it on XP3. Same result, not permitted.

For Mikey976's advice, I need to say that XP3 is running on wireless LAN. And the Wired LAN is ignored. But since it's very far away from other PCs, I can't put up a LAN cable to connect them. But will it be the problem?

Again, everybody, please help on this issue. There must be someone of you hit this problem before and fixed it.

 

u dont need the disk, just select the bottom selection which is in so many words "just finish setup ",

all u have to do is bring the laptop in range so u at least have a 50% signal .
and you should be set

 

Wireless signal of XP3 to the Wireless router is 100%, no problem in browsing Internet.
From XP3 to itself's shared folders and the shared folders of XP1 and XP2 has no problem.

Also, the network setup has done properly.

But in the end of the day, XP3's shared folers are still unaccessible from the Network Places by XP1, XP2 and S4.

 

Hi TonyT,

I logged on with the same username and password on four computers was to ensure access permission.

After logged on, I can access shared folders of XP1, XP2 and S4 from any one of them. Why can't I access XP3 shared folders from XP1, XP2 and S4?

 

ok i think i see where this might be a problem,
try diabling each individual share on the mobile unit.
then move to one of your stationary units and bring up network places.
u should still see the folders that u shared.
now right lclick and delete them, one by on (i generally have the settins sort by group, and arrange by computer name enabled.

also u might wanna look into passwording the main hidden admin acct on all pc's
so when u login it would look like this \\administrator / password ****
obviously use a passowrd u will remember and also use a hint as well.
cause if you forget this password your lookin for a reintstall .

maybe this will help

 

The "Access Denied" error message is not a share level permissions issue. Things to check:

. Under Control Panel, Folder Options, View, that the checked status of "Use simple file sharing (recommended)" is the same on XP3 as on all other working machines.

. Then do a Start, Network Connections. Right click the Local Area Network shown, and choose Properties. Scroll down to the entry for "Internet Protocal (TCP/IP) and click the Properties button. Click the Advanced button. Click the WINS tab.

Set the "Netbios over TCP/IP" to the middle, not default, radio button. Save the changes. See: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/318030/

. If you are using the Simple File Sharing security model, do the following on XP3:

Start, Run, net user Guest /Active:yes

Be sure as well that the User Guest is enabled, and no password set on the Guest account. This is not strictly necessary, but do it anyway.

. On XP3, do a Start, Run, regedit. Navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
\SYSTEM
\CurrentControlSet
\Control
\Lsa
Value name: RestrictAnonymous
Value type: DWORD

If the value is 1 or even 2, change it to 0, reboot and retest. If the problem is solved, leave the value at zero. If not, you can change it back if you like.

Check immediately afterwards and again after a reboot, whether the value changes back to non-zero on its own. If that happens, then you have to find the culprit, which can be spyware, a worm, or a badly designed security program. In this case this procedure most likely solved your problem, but then the bad software stepped back in and recreated the problem. (Based on notes by MS-MVP Hans-georg Michna).

. Next, follow the steps discussed at the end of this long KB article: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/278259

Now do a cold start of the problem machine. Wait at least fifteen minutes to test whether it is now accessible on the LAN.

Please be sure there are no firewall issues, as TonyT recommended above. Watch for "hidden" firewalls. PC-Cillan is notorious for this, but other antivirus software install a hidden firewall as well. Watch for hidden firewalls in any installed VPN client software; the CISCO VPN Client is famous for this.

 

Finally, I got the Answer! Many thanks to Bill Castner.

Hi Bill,

Thanks a million to you that the problem has eventually solved.

I followed your procedure and checked everything fine until the RestrictAnonymous was "1 ". Then I set it to "0 ". Nothing improved! Then it worked after a reboot. (no cold boot is required in my case.)

Thanks also give to others who had tried to help.

 

Well that is good news.

Best wishes.

 

Thank you too Bill from me - I have had this exact same problem for ages now and it was really beginning to bug me. I had asked my computer savvy friends and no one could come up with anything that I hadn't tried.

However, I still have one small problem!! The computer that I had an issue with could see my main computer but as soon as I clicked on it I got the access denied message. That is cleared now and I can get right down to Documents and Settings Folder. But when I click on one of the folders in it (eg Jacqui - which contains all my files) I get the access denied message again! The folders are all set for sharing and have the hand icon - what is going wrong!

Bear in mind I am no techie, I reckon I do okay with computers but don't understand all the jargon. I followed your instructions to Ivanfine so if you have a solution could you please word it as you did for Ivan - thank you.

Hope you can help me, you would make me a happy woman and impress my hubbie no end!!!

Regards

Jacqui

 

XP places special restrictions, even to the Administrator, of certain folders. One of which is the Documents and Settings folder section for any user.

By default, even Administrators cannot browse through your user profile and stored files.

Under the "Simple File Sharing" security model, the restrictions on the Documents and Settings folder and sub-folders is described by Microsoft as being Level Two:

This means that the Group "Guest" needs to be added to the share permissions.

See: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304040

I would also on the Sharing computer, do a Start, Run, and type:
net localgroup users guest /add
net localgroup everyone guest /add

 

Thank You

Thank you very much Bill, unfortunately the latest solution makes no difference but I am getting DH to put XP Pro on the laptop (as this is what we have on the PC) and hope that that sorts out the problem once and for all!

thank you again for your help

Regards

Jacqui

 

Thank you Bill Castner

I've been working with computers for well over 20 years and searching through these posts rarely finding a gem. You can read the books but problems aren't solved in books they're solved by a combination of book knowledge and experience in the trenches. Many posters post the obvious answers all of which hopefully we've tried to learn on our own before seeking help from our equally busy peers. I want to thank Bill Castner for providing truely useful information here in this post! Thanks to Bill I am now a contributing memeber!