Networking not flying Win: XP

WIN:XP
Is it possible to "restore" the O/S without looseing all the "hotfixes" that I have added in the past? "Am almost certain that the networking files are corrupt. Whenever I try to install a local network connecting my desktop to my laptop "both XP ". There should be the file "MSHOME" under Microsoft Windows Network" as viewed in Windows Exployer "Entire Network" and under that the drive of my laptop "C ". My laptop does SHOW this but not the desktop which does NOT show the MSHOME file. But units are showing a networking ICON in the tray. When I try to use "repair connection on desktop computer is Says repaired but still no MSHOME file on this unit. My laptop unit shows the files of the desktop but desktop shows nothing of laptop. BOTH drive "C's are also showing the "shared" hand by them, also both units are also showing "file and print sharing in networking properties window. Could sure use some help on this one as 'am at odds of what to do next and the only thing I can think of as wrong would be a corrupt O/S file..Thanks ...Den.....

 

Dennis

Hope this is XP Pro, not XP Home!

Yes, Dennis a reinstall unless you use a slipstreamed disk (with at least your current service pack level) will require you to reapply the service packs.

So lets try a few things first.

1. Make sure in network properties the "workgroup" on both computers match exactly.

2. Make sure that there is a user profile on each computer that matches exactly. Password and all. And there must be a password.

OR log them both in as administartor with identical passwords.

3. Log off one of these so you can log back on with a profile that is known to the other.

If this does not do it to this point do the following.

Command prompt

type
ipconfig /all >settings.all

Find this file, load to wordpad and copy the text. Paste back in a messge. Do this on both but be sure to identify each as laptop or desktop.

Mike

 

Dennis - as far as the problems with both machines not showing up, you must have something shared on a PC (folder, printer, something) for it to appear and the share can't be a "hidden" share.

The shared C: drives are administrative shares that were done when you installed XP. But if you check, they are shared as C$ and any share name that ends in $ is hidden. Anyone with appropriate permissions can use the share but they must know it exists since it doesn't display.

 

That does not apply in my case.

If I double ckick on the MsHome Shortcut that I have on the desktop of this XP machine both Bob & Nancy show up and Nancy has nothing shared.

If I start machine Rip it also shows up ( after about 3 minutes )here in MsHome with nothing shared on it. ( unless I am missing something )

Bob has XP Pro and Nancy and Rip have 98SE.

In fact the only thing(s) shared anywhere are the Deafult XP shares. Such as Drivers and My Documents. and WHY drivers need to be shared is way beyond me.

My Printer USED TO BE shared but is no longer as I now have a Network Printer which no longer requires my machine to be on.

Bottom line. I am working at getting rid of all the SHARED stuff I can. That way when I am not here my machine does not need to be on.

BillyBob