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Cannot network 2 Win XP machines...getting frustrated

Discussion in 'Networking (Hardware & Software)' started by Oldhippiechic, 2007/04/15.

  1. 2007/04/15
    Oldhippiechic

    Oldhippiechic Inactive Thread Starter

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    I had to do a "recovery" on my C drive on my laptop- it put everything on that drive back to the way it was when I bought the Sony machine. I did all the necessary updates and the computer is working OK. Before that, I was able to network my 2 machines (both XP). Now, I'm trying to setup a Home network and it won't let me in. I ran the Wizard, gave the right answers ( "other "- I'm going thru a hub- ea machine is plugged into the router which goes to my cable modem)...named my machines, picked a Network name- just like before. In explorer I see the "microsoft windows network" then I see the name of my home network. When I click on it says it's not accessible. Before it would show me both the laptop and office desktop but still not let me in...same message. Now I don't see each of the machines when I click the network name but it still tells me that I can't get in- it says maybe I don't have administrative access or another issue. I'm the only one that uses these machines so there're no other users listed.
    I have tried turning off my Norton to see if that would help but it doesn't. This is suppossed to be simple and I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong.
    Any simple, easy, detailed directions would be very very appreciated.
    Thanks and excuse the rambling- I'm getting frustrated with this process.
     
    Oldhippiechic,
    #1
  2. 2007/04/15
    visionof

    visionof Inactive

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    Firewall ?
    Is sharing turned on for the shared folders /files
    Windows XP home was made to be not easy to network to sell upgrades to Pro.
    Still with a router it should be easy
    You can always use network magic or Hamachi if you are stymied
     
    visionof,
    #2


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  4. 2007/04/16
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    TonyT,
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  5. 2007/04/17
    visionof

    visionof Inactive

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    Interesting that was not my information about the ease of networking with win xp home.
    Without a router linking the 2 xp home computers is it easier to hook up 2 xp home computers rather than xp pro ?
    Is that your experience ? Why do you say that ?
     
    visionof,
    #4
  6. 2007/04/17
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    Because XPHome default install has File & Print Shared installed and Simple File Sharing enabled as well. There was no effort by MS to make XPHome networking difficult so as to force upgrades to XPPro. XPPro is far more complex to setup networking unless one uses Simple File Sharing. Disable SFS in XPPro and you then need to setup user accounts w/ permissions on XPPro in order to give access to users. XPHome can do this as well, but Home was not designed w/ Pro security features out of the box. XPHome has built-in support for peer-to-peer networking, but only for up to five computers.

    The poster here states he is using a hub, but he is really using a switch that is built into his router. It is usually a no-brainer to get File & Print Sharing setup this way, esp with XPHome, provided the firewall (if any) is configured to allow it. If he's using Norton Internet Security then it will disable the windows firewall & use its own firewall & must be manually configured for F&P Sharing.

    I've setup many many small home networks and w/ XPHome it's simple as 1-2-3. XPPro introduces added security that makes networking a bit more complex.
     
    TonyT,
    #5
  7. 2007/04/17
    Oldhippiechic

    Oldhippiechic Inactive Thread Starter

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    Networking 2 Win XP machines...

    Now I'm really confused. First...thanks visionof for mentioning Network Magic.
    I've tried what everybody's suggested and still couldn't get the home network working so I decided to check out Network Magic. I installed it on my machines and voila...even tho' if I click the "my network" places I can't see my other machine...using Net Magic I can finally share files and printer from my desktop to laptop. The Net Map on Network Magic shows both machines working thru my router. Why does it work that way and not thru the regular Windows Networking...I really don't understand.
    I'd really like to get it to work the "regular" way since I don't understand what Net Magic does differently. Can anyone explain?
    Thanks again for all the suggestions.
     
    Oldhippiechic,
    #6
  8. 2007/04/17
    visionof

    visionof Inactive

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    Welcome to life.
    Networking is "Vodoo Science"
    Often networking people will not tell you anything
     
    visionof,
    #7

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