Home Network Help Needed

[Angie74]

Hi,

This is my first post here, and I'm going to be upfront with you right now. I'm not a computer dummy, but this one's got me stumped. Apparently I don't know half of what I thought I did. Anyhow... I'm hoping that some nice soul here could help me out. I have a very descriptive list of the two PCs that I have, what I've done, and what the problem is. (see below) Basically what I want to do is have both of my computers able to talk to each other. I just got this new laptop (Sony Vaio) and I have tons of files on the desktop PC that I want to move over here (so the kids don't corrupt them). I also want to be able to use the printer from my laptop because it's connected to the desktop across the other end of the house. I've set up a 'wired' network before, and I remember there always being 'something' that just wasn't right, but in the end... I got it running. This one is a wireless network. I bought a linksys 802.11g router, and it can connect 4 PCs direct, but I chose to have both the desktop and the laptop be wireless. The router is in my bedroom which is at one end of our one story ranch. The desktop is at the other end of the house in my sons room (about 40 feet--just an estimate) The lap top goes anywhere really. No specific spot it sits... afterall; it is portable *smile*

My Internet:

Buckeye-express cable modem 54Kbs
Modem to Wireless Router (linksys)
Laptop Wireless Wi-fi
Desktop Wireless USB adapter (linksys)


My network

PC Desktop
IP 192.168.1.101 (Yes, I can ping it successfully after telling firewall it’s ok)
Gateway: 192.168.1.1 (Yes I can ping it successfully)
Computer Name: KIDS
Computer Description: KIDSPC
Windows XP Professional OS
Connected to internet via wireless USB device
Workgroup Name: MSHOME
Net Bui and TCP/IP installed (I checked) for LAN and wireless
Client for Microsoft Networks installed for LAN and wireless
File and Print sharing is enabled
Printer set to share
C drive set to share
This computer shows Laptop(Angie) & Desktop(Kids) in the “My network places”



PC Laptop
IP 192.168.1.100 (Yes, I can ping it successfully after shutting off Norton Security)
Gateway: 192.168.1.1 (Yes I can ping it successfully)
Computer Name: ANGIE
Computer Description: LAPTOP
Windows XP Home OS
Connected to internet via wireless wi-fi component
Workgroup Name: MSHOME
Net Bui and TCP/IP installed (I checked) for LAN and wireless
Client for Microsoft Networks installed for LAN and wireless
File and Print sharing is enabled
Printer set to share
C drive set to share
This computer shows Laptop(Angie) and nothing else

My problem(s)

When I’m on the desktop I can see the laptop and I can access it too (just recently figured out that the Norton Security on the laptop wouldn’t allow me) but I disabled it and now it does! I can print fine to the printer using the desktop as the printer is connected directly to this PC using USB.

When I’m on the laptop I CANNOT see the desktop, nor can I use the printer (which again… is connected to the desktop) I shut down the Norton Security program and everything, so I don’t know why it won’t connect.

I need help letting my laptop see/find/access my desktop, and I need to be able to see/find/access the printer that's on the desktop too!


Thanks in advance,

Angela

P.S. Incase someone needs it... my email address is noemail@email.org

[Roadrunner777]

On the desktop, check to see if 'File and Printer Sharing' is enabled...

Start > Settings > Network Connections and right-click on the applicable connection. Look for a checkbox next to File and Printer Sharing. It needs to be checked.

Could be other things too, but this has to be set for it to work, so a starting point.

[Angie74]

The file and print sharing is enabled on the desktop. Still not seeing the desktop. Next?? *ha ha*

Angie

[Roadrunner777]

Do you have XP firewall or other security set on the desktop? If not then...

Oh well, so much for easy! Ok, on both machines, please do:
Start > Run > cmd
This will bring up a text command window. Type ipconfig to display your network settings. You can copy and paste from the window. Please post for both machines back here...

[Angie74]

I don't think I have any other firewall... just the normal one that gets set up when you run the network set up wizard. I'm pretty familar with what is on my desktop, as I built that and knew what programs I installed. I'm not to familiar with this (laptop) computer. I've only had it 6 days. I will check the pc's tomorrow and let you know what the cmd shows...

I did do that step before finally calling it quits and asking for help, but I do not remember what it said. I will have to do some investigating on this laptop... maybe there's some dumb programming running in the backgroud. I know that I couldn't connect to the lap top at all, and as I was typing my first post, I thouht "oh... firewall" and ran in there and closed Zone alarm on that machine, and closed Norton Security on this machine, and WA-LAH it worked..... well it let me read from desktop to laptop, but not the other way around.. so maybe it is something as simple as a program running which is preventing the connection.

thanks for your help,
Angie

I hope it's something that easy!

[Roadrunner777]

XP has a built in firewall, it's in the control panel under Security Center or some such. It has to be disabled for sharing to work...

[bAdWaYz]

PC Desktop
IP 192.168.1.101

PC Laptop
IP 192.168.1.100

both have a gateway of 192.168.1.1

Based on that I'd say that ip addressing isn't the issue here so no need for a ipconfig /all on either computer. At this point command promts and net view would be of more help. Also if you can ping the desktops ip from the laptop. Since the desktop can see and access the laptop but the laptop can't see or access the desktop then thats where you would start. Also since this is a wireless network you might want to think about setting up WPA or WEP if you haven't already. Seeing as how you used the default "MSHOME" workgroup if someone were to jump on the connection it would be too hard to see and roam around on that workgroup.

[Angie74]

Laptop Config

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Angela Ross>ipconfig

Windows IP Configuration


Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : .
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.100
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

C:\Documents and Settings\Angela Ross>


Desktop Config

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Default>ipconfig

Windows IP Configuration


Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 3:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : .
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.101
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

C:\Documents and Settings\Default>


*The Media adapter shows disconnected because I am running this wirelessly.

[Angie74]

I have set up a WPA. That was one of the very first things I did. I can see the laptop and access the laptop from the desktop, but only when I shut Norton Security off on my lap top. I can ping the lap top from the desktop, no problem and vice versa.

Laptop pinging Desktop
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Angela Ross>ipconfig

Windows IP Configuration


Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : .
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.100
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

C:\Documents and Settings\Angela Ross>

C:\Documents and Settings\Angela Ross>

The Desktop Pinging the Laptop

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Default>ipconfig

Windows IP Configuration


Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 3:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : .
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.101
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

C:\Documents and Settings\Default>

[Angie74]

OH MY gosh!!! Last night... I could not see the darn desktop from the laptop, but now I can! It's a miracle! Now I wish I knew what I did! I can not only see it now, but I can access it.

My desktop is slower than all H E ** It's a 2 Ghz,but somethings else has been wrong with it. I have had AVG free virus scanner on it, and no virus alerts. I went into the desktop from the lap top, and Norton on my laptop said I had a virus on the desktop... Now I got to go and find the demon and repair or delete it. Maybe I should get Norton on the desktop instead of using AVG... GRRR More money I have to spend now I guess!

Thanks for all the help... I 'think' my problem in networking is solved??.

[Roadrunner777]

That's awesome! As to the antivirus, I'm not a big fan of Norton, it's a bit heavy in resources. And AVG has started doing poorly in virus detection tests. Last one I saw only found 60% of a virus test variety. Look into AntiVir. It's one of the best free products out there. Best pay antivirus program for my money is Nod32.

[bAdWaYz]

Angie if you in fact think you have a virus you would be well advised to make a post in the cyber Safety forum here at CTH. The experts there can have you install and run a program called hijackthis. It will generate a log the experts will then read. They can tell you what if anything should be done.