windows 2000 network problem

i have windows 2000 on one pc and xp on the other.
the windows xp machine is working fine but the 2000 pc cant see the xp one.

in "network identification" the "network id" is grayed out and i cant change my "workgroup" ?

can anyone tell me how to get round this problem please

 

Hey there, try this first

Goto your Win2K box and click on the start menu-Run button and type the \\computername (eg \\WindowsXP) or \\ip-address (eg \\192.168.0.1) of your Windows XP box and see if that works.

 

Hi

Just tried that but it didn't work. Both the PC's have got an internet connection, it's just the windows 2000 machine can't see the xp one! it did work until I moved the 2nd PC.

 

Big Dave - you will need to be logged onto the 2K PC with an account that has administrator rights to the box. Otherwise the things you mention will be grayed out since your account won't have rights to mess with them.

You said "it did work until I moved the 2nd PC ". Could you explain that please. Depending on how your IP values are being assigned, it is very possible to have 2 PCs that can both get to the net but can't see each other. Also easy enough to fix but we will need details.

To help things out a little, post the IP configuration of both along with the "moved it" information. Easiest is to go to each machine, and then

start~run~cmd
Ipconfig /all > ip1.txt (and ip2.txt on the other)

and then post the text file contents here.

 

hi, thanks for the help.
here is the info you asked for.
as for me moving the pc. it was in my work shop and the network stopted working so i thought i would move the pc into the house.
i looked at the cable and played with the network cards and i think it turned out to be a network card problem, just a bad connection.

i reconnected the pc's but thats when it stared.
when i first setup the network i ran the "network wizard" on the xp machine and on the 2k i just went into "network id" selected "look for computers close to me" it found my xp pc, i just typed in the workgroup and it worked but it wont let me do that now.

looking at the attached files it says my 2k pc is called "shed ", it not now its called "kitchen ", it used to be called shed and it says the workgroup is called "mshome" (the one i cant change), its called workgroup, it was called mshome before i moved it.

(edit) i changed the names after i moved it trying to get it to work

 

pc 1 xp


Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]

(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.


Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : DOUGHTYS
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . : doughtys
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : doughtys

Ethernet adapter Network Bridge (Network Bridge) 20:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : MAC Bridge Miniport
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : B2-31-74-FD-8C-05
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

PPP adapter 0800dial network:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : WAN (PPP/SLIP) Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-53-45-00-00-00
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 62.60.51.20
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.255
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 194.176.194.129
194.176.194.137
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

pc 2 windows 2k

..Microsoft Windows 2000 [Version 5.00.2195]
(C) Copyright 1985-2000 Microsoft Corp.



Windows 2000 IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : shed
Primary DNS Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Mixed
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : mshome.net

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : mshome.net
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139(A/B/C/8130) PCI Fast
Ethernet NIC
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-C0-DF-11-B7-E3
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.33
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 13 October 2002 06:43:54 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 20 October 2002 06:43:54 PM

 

Thanks Big Dave.

I think what has happened here is a couple of things.

The network setup wizards have probably mis-identified some of your hardware and set up stuff you don't really have. Got your network a bit confused. Specifically, I doubt the MAC Bridge Miniport should be there. Probably.

My guess is that a removal of all the current networking devices/setups and a manual reinstall (no wizards) is going to be the way to go. But not yet.

First question - can you log on to the 2K PC as administrator or with an account having administrative rights? And can you change the XP settings OK? And XP-home or XP-pro?

Next - please specify exactly what networking hardware you have and how you connect to the internet. No need for specific data on the NICs except to say if they are regular PCI cards, USB, Firewire, or what.

Modem - just the type as in dial-up, DSL, Cable, whatever.

Router if you have one - exact model. Otherwise, what sort of software spoofing you are doing as in the Microsoft ICS or a 3rd party program that does the same.

If no router, switch or hub or direct PC<>PC cabling.

The wonder is not that it is sorta busted now but that it ever worked correctly. Nothing to do with you either. Just the way the PCs and their wizard applets decided to set things up.

 

From the info posted so far it seems that the 2K machine is getting an IP address, via DHCP, from the XP machine ?

This suggests weirdness to me as, AFAIK, there's no DHCP server in XP

I think there may be software at work here that we havnt yet identified

I think Newt's suggestion of rip out networking and do it again manually is looking like the way to go

 

sorted, i have got the network working now, the windows 2000 pc did not have "client for microsoft networks" instaled

or at least i think that was the problem because after i installed it i could change the "network id ", i joined the workgroup that i set for xp and it said "wellcome to the worgroup" and now it works


dont know if it should but it works lol

thanks for all the help people, most greatfull
thanks
Dave

p.s any ideas what this is that was on the bottom of the message i sent with my network info on


Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 13 October 2002 06:43:54 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 20 October 2002 06:43:54 PM

 

Standard DHCP where the value-assigned lease period is set for a week. As long as the PC stays on, it will retain the same values but if off for a bit, it may be assigned a new set by your DHCP server.

From the ipconfig information, your router is acting as a DHCP server for your network and any PC you have that is set to automatically have the IP address assigned will get values from there (192.168.0.1).

If you start having more problems, I'd look at getting rid of the MAC Bridge Miniport virtual device. But as long as all is well, leave it alone. Your network wizard decided your router was acting as a bridge and set it up for you. Needed in some cases but not in yours from what you describe.