Network Issues

I've got a wireless network set up, both computers on it can access the internet just fine.

Both computers are XP Pro SP3. The wireless is running from a D-Link Rangebooster G Router.

One computer (the desktop) can see all the shared stuff on the other (laptop), pings it fine, etc. The desktop actually has an older wireless card that's only Wireless-b (but the router is b compatible).

The laptop cannot see the desktop, and pings from the laptop to the desktop time out. The laptop can ping the router just fine.

Both computers also have Zone Alarm running, but list each other in the Trusted Zone.

This problem actually started before I moved, not long after upgrading both to SP3.

Even if I try Start>Run> \\192.168.0.13 (the desktop's IP) from the laptop, I get a "The network path was not found." error. Going to Network places and looking at the "View Workgroup computers" link shows both computers, but trying to access the desktop from there gives the standard "not accessible ", "may not have permission" error. The two computers have played nice in the past, but no longer.

Is this something with SP3? Or has something, somewhere just stopped working correctly?

I can provide further details if anything else might help. Thanks.

 

Try removing the QoS Scheduler from the TCP/IP properties.

 

Removed from first the laptop, then both, didn't seem to do anything. Restarted both, (usually on for extended periods, though the laptop sleeps from time to time), and still no luck.

 

Hmmmm. Check your Microsoft firewall settings. SP3 may have turned the Windows firewall back on.

Also, as you are using a 192.168.0.0 address, you must be behind a NAT system. Therefore it would be reasonably safe to turn off the Zone Alarm firewall as well as the Microsoft firewall while you do some tests.

If you get a connection with the firewall are off, we've narrowed down the problem area. Switch Zone alarm back on and we'll try and find the right set of settings to fix the problem.

 

Can't believe it didn't occur to me to check Windows Firewall.

And I discover this (on the desktop): "Due to an unidentified problem, Windows cannot display Windows Firewall settings." How helpful.

Same message shows up after I turn off Zone Alarm too. Seems like there's something funky going on there.

 

OK - if SP3 has kicked out Zone Alarm, it's unlikely that you are the only person with this problem. Have a trawl through the Zone Alarm support system.

 

Quick google search for 'windows firewall settings' pointed me to a fix that seems to be working. Shared things still aren't appearing immediately in the 'My Network Places' window on the laptop (Haven't actually restarted it either though), but I can access the desktop now.

Thanks for the point in the right direction. Still can't believe I didn't think of the Windows Firewall possibility. Zone Alarm seemed to be working fine (with all the appropriate exceptions, etc), which is probably why it didn't occur to me.

Thanks again, saved me a long time of banging my head against it.

 

Glad to have been of help.

Network places is mostly auto-generated and therefore can be very hit and miss as to what appears there. You can create short-cuts there though, and they tend to be much more reliable than the auto-generated links.