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Cannot see shared files on wireless network

Discussion in 'Networking (Hardware & Software)' started by PeteC, 2004/09/22.

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  1. 2004/09/22
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff Thread Starter

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    Networking is my Achilles heel - only previous experience was with a CAT cable between laptop and desktop. That was fraught with difficulties - aren't these Wizards just wonderful - IF they work :D - and abandoned.

    Now trying Wireless and having worse problems ....

    Desktop has Belkin 54g PCI card, Laptop has Belkin 54g Cardbus, Network is ad-hoc. Both m/c's XP Pro + SP 2.

    Gave up on using the XP SP 2 Wireless Networking Wizard - cards would not transmit even with Wireless Zero started. Used the Belkin facility.

    Both cards power up and connect to the network - config applet says each is 'associated' which I guess means that they are both on the network. The odd packet has been received by each.

    Simple File Sharing is turned off in both m/c's and specific folders shared with permissions for any user.

    Under My Network Places each m/c sees the shared folders on itself, but none on the other m/c. Fiddled for a couple of days with this now and cannot progress.

    Read a few threads here without gleaning any solution - only clue is the IP addresses look iffy.

    I do not want to share an Internet connection, just want the facility to move files from desktop to laptop.

    Any help appreciated. For more info see attachments.
     
    PeteC,
    #1
  2. 2004/09/22
    ReggieB

    ReggieB Inactive Alumni

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    To start with, the IP addresses are unusual, but should allow the two computers to communicate together at the IP level.

    To test this from the desktop command prompt enter:

    ping 169.254.222.251

    You should get replies. If this fails come back with any error messages.

    However, there is one problem. The PC "amd-athlon" that is connected to the internet, will see any address that has the form 169.254.x.x as part of the local network. If you try to connect to a website on the internet that is using an address in this space, it will fail because the computer will not look for the website on the internet (it will look for it locally and fail to find it there). Therefore, I would recommend changing the addresses so that they are in a private address space. That sounds complicated and technical, but is very easy to do. All you have to do is change the first octet to 10 (the IP address is broken into four sets of numbers and each number set is an octet). So the desktop will become 10.254.23.149 and the laptop will become 10.254.222.251. If you want to make networking simple, just remember that if you make the first octet 10, you can chose whatever you like as the other parts of the address (within some fairly simple rules). You can use this tool to test your addresses and masks.

    The next thing is that computers don't just appear in network neighbourhood. You either have to set up the computer there or use the connection to the computer a few times. This catches a lot of people out. Rather than go through the steps of how to drill down to the level where you should be able to see the another computer (via Entire Network), I'll suggest you try a shortcut. Within the address dialog of Windows Explorer you can connect to a remote computer by entering one of the following:

    \\<IP Address>

    \\<computer name>

    So from the laptop in the address dialog, try entering first:

    \\169.254.23.149

    or

    \\10.254.23.149

    if you've made the change I've suggested above

    If that works try:

    \\amd-athlon

    From the desktop pc try:

    \\169.254.222.251 or \\10.254.222.251
    \\HPLaptop

    If these fails (but the ping test passed) I expect the problem will be with the set up of the shares. Report back with any error messages and we'll proceed from there.
     
    Last edited: 2004/09/22
    ReggieB,
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  4. 2004/09/22
    Newt

    Newt Inactive

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    PeteC / ReggieB - perfectly normal IP addresses for any Microsoft OS from ME and on if there is no device on a network to assign an address (or you opt not to use one) or if the PC is on a network with DHCP but can't connect to the network so the device gives itself an APIPA address. Here for details but in brief,
     
    Newt,
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  5. 2004/09/22
    Newt

    Newt Inactive

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    Pete - if the ping testing ReggieB suggested works then make sure you have the following set up:

    - Both PCs have a user logging on with username and NON-BLANK password. The click icon thingy will do for logon but gotta require a password.

    - Both PCs have each logon /w password set up in the local users section.

    - Both PCs should be in the same workgroup. Not required but it will make some stuff easier.

    With the above all in place and assuming PC-A with share-a and PC-B with share-b then:

    - from PC-A, do start -> run and key in \\PC-B\share-b and click OK. You should have share-b open up in windows explorer for you.
     
    Newt,
    #4
  6. 2004/09/23
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff Thread Starter

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    Posted edited 5 pm ....

    Thank you both - not off to a good start this morning, but things have improved and after several reinstalls of the cards, etc I can now see the shared folders on each m/c and ping each m/c (providing that the firewall on the desktop is disabled, see below - with m/c physically disconnected from the internet :))

    Still some problems to resolve - unfortunately I have to go out tonight to lecture (photographic), but I have a problem with the firewalls (Kerio) - they need to be turned off at the moment even though the IP address for the Wireless network card is in the trusted sites of each m/c (just the card installed on that m/c). Tried to copy some data but was denied permission, so need to look at the shares - seem to be OK, permissions set to All Users.

    FYI - logged on as Admin on laptop (no User Accounts :( ) and as User with Admin rights on the desktop. Both a/c's are passworded.

    Will have to pursue this tomorrow.

    I cannot find a dialogue box anywhere that will allow me to change the IP address as suggested by ReggieB and the test tool link is 'Page not found'.
     
    PeteC,
    #5
  7. 2004/09/23
    ReggieB

    ReggieB Inactive Alumni

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    Yes Newt you are right. I keep forgetting that automatic address space. Thank you for putting me right.

    PeteC, concentrate on getting the pinging to work first. Once that is working you can move on to share and permissions.

    I'd recommend disconnecting from the internet and then stopping the firewall while you set up the network. Then you'll know that the firewall isn't preventing the connection working. At the moment I think it is a very good chance that the problem is the firewall blocking the connection.

    Once the connection is working you can look at configuring the firewall. For your network you will need to trust the network 169.255.0.0/255.255.0.0. Once the firewall is back up and working, you can reconnect to the internet.
     
    ReggieB,
    #6
  8. 2004/09/25
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff Thread Starter

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    After literally days of frustration and head banging I stepped back from all this and took time off to catch up with some of the chores "“ and some sleep!

    It is so frustrating "“ a system that should take 10 mins to set up is no nearer to working 6 days later. Briefly I was able to see the desktop from the laptop and open/copy files in both directions, but had no access from the desktop to the laptop. Setups would work after a fashion until a reboot when nothing worked and so on and so on.

    Now that a degree of calmness has returned I have started over as detailed below "¦.

    1. Created a User A/c on the laptop (PeteC) with password and Admin rights and copied over the relevant folders from the Admin a/c. Installed the latest fix for SP 2 "Limited or no connectivity" Network Error in Windows XP Service Pack 2, KB 884020 on both m’c’s. Desktop already had similar User account with password. Both are set up for Autologon.

    2. Unchecked Simple File Sharing on both m/c’s "“ had tried that earlier "“ reboot. On the desktop the D: drive is shared for "˜Everyone’ with full permissions, but the default share persists "“ D$ and the other entry Data (D) will not hold. On the laptop a folder Desktop Data is shared for "˜Everyone’ with full permissions. Somehow along the line the Shared Documents folder on the laptop was renamed Documents, but mysteriously has been renamed on the last boot to Shared Documents or maybe when the new User a/c was created/

    3. Disabled firewall on both m/c’s "“ ADSL modem unplugged on desktop. Disabled Worm protection in NAV 2005, but Windows Security Centre reports it as still active ??

    4. Turned off radio on both cards and cleared networks by running "¦.

    Netsh int ip reset C:\iplog.txt on both m/c’s

    5. Re-enabled radio on both cards.

    6. Ping test on both m/c’s "“ OK both ways. Node Tester also OK.

    7. On desktop in WE Address Bar - \\169.254.222.251 > Go

    In LH pane WE shows "“ Amd-athlon - this is the desktop, Hplaptop and Pete’s Laptop (169.254.222.251)

    Clicking on MsHome in the LH pane shows Desktop (Amd-athlon) and Pete’s Laptop (Hplaptop)

    8. On laptop in WE Address Bar - \\169.254.23.149 > Go

    In LH pane WE shows only Desktop (169.254.23.149) and the shared drive on the desktop (Data (D) and Printers and Faxes.

    Clicking on MsHome in the LH pane causes Desktop (169.254.23.149) to hang. End task and desktop reappears "“ eventually, couple of minutes or more.

    9. My Network places on laptop shows no shared folders, on the desktop it shows Data(D) on Desktop (Amd-athlon) on "˜This Computer’, Desktop Data on Pete’s Laptop (Hplaptop) on "˜Unknown’ computer and, surprisingly Documents on Desktop (Amd-athlon) "“ the Shared Documents folder, which is not shared!

    10. Start > run > \\HPLAPTOP\Desktop Data on the desktop eventually came up with a WE window showing the contents of Desktop Data. A repeat brought it up instantly.

    11.Start > run > \\AMD-ATHLON\Data(D) on the laptop gives an error "˜No network provider accepted the given network path’. Both m/c's are exchanging packets, but no relevant info it would appear.

    Where is all this going wrong?

    And a final point - the laptop persistently asks to connect to the Internet and 'Always dial my default connection' will not hold in IE > Connections, reverts back to 'Dial whenever a network connection is not present'.
     
    PeteC,
    #7
  9. 2004/09/27
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff Thread Starter

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    Spent all day Sunday breathing life back into a geriatric Win 98SE m/c - a mere 1200 plus items of spyware, etc.

    Today more head banging and going round in circles. Managed briefly to see the desktop from the laptop and open a shared file on it, modify and save back to desktop. That was all lost on a reboot of one or other of the computers. Reset the IP's more times than I can remember, but I feel the trouble lies on the desktop, which, although it is in the same workgroup 'Workgroup' as the laptop now fails to see the workgroup in My Network Places. Boring down the levels just brings up the message that it is not accessible, or, as of now - nothing. The laptop shows the two computers - sometimes.

    I shall continue until I drop - this is NOT going to get me beat :D
     
    PeteC,
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  10. 2004/09/27
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff Thread Starter

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    The laptop sees both computers on the network fairly instantly - the desktop sees Workgroup after a long pause and trying to open that gets the message - 'Not accessible or might not have permission ...'

    Don't follow this - the desktop is in the Workgroup - and the laptop sees it.

    Very confused.
     
    PeteC,
    #9
  11. 2004/09/27
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff Thread Starter

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    Reinstalled/updated the drivers for the two wireless cards - now have the situation reversed - the desktop sees the shared folders on the laptop, but WE on the laptop hangs when I try to bore down through Entire Network -and is not showing the shared folders on itself.
     
    PeteC,
    #10
  12. 2004/09/27
    Newt

    Newt Inactive

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    Pete - sorry for deserting you but I fished all weekend.

    The more I read here, the more convinced I am that you are having wireless issues rather than OS/network ones. I freely admit that wireless is a weak spot with me but you have taken the proper steps I think.

    Any chance you could do some testing with wired systems to make sure they were doing networking properly and then when you went back to your wireless setup, you'd know where to focus your efforts.
     
    Newt,
    #11
  13. 2004/09/28
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff Thread Starter

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    Newt - trust your weekend was successful - and relaxing :D

    I had thought of going back to try the wired network, but I had real problems there too, which was the reason for trying wireless. My expertise in networking is less than minimal and anything more than the Networking Wizard is beyond me :), although I have learnt a bit these past few days!

    I'll give it a go and see how it pans out - the NIC's are built into each m/c so it is merely (? :)) a question of enabling them again and plugging in the crossover cable.

    I don't feel that it is a wireless problem - both m/c's are connected to the network at 54 Mbps, signal strength is 'excellent' - the m/c's are only 4 feet apart and packets are being exchanged when one m/c is looking for something on the other.
     
    PeteC,
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  14. 2004/09/28
    Newt

    Newt Inactive

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    Great weekend. Wife caught her biggest-ever carp. 13lb fish on very light tackle and I can still hear the whoops of joy while she was landing it.

    The problem may very well have nothing to do with the wireless part but since there are fewer variables with wired, certainly worth setting things up that way until we get you a working network then going back to the wireless part.
     
    Newt,
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  15. 2004/10/05
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff Thread Starter

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    Newt

    This is on hold at the moment - received a call last Wednesday that my Mother had collapsed with heart problems and left for the South immediately.

    All going well now a pacemaker has been fitted - no idea at present when I will be back home to pick up on this again.
     
    PeteC,
    #14
  16. 2004/10/05
    Newt

    Newt Inactive

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    Thanks for the info PeteC. Glad the pacemaker was all that was needed.

    Those aftermarket, add-on versions can do wonders when the onboard one isn't working right.
     
    Newt,
    #15
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