Networking difficulties

[AlanWild]

I have been dealing with this difficulty for a while and I can't seem to find any solution.

I have a multiple Windows computer home network running 7 computers - 4 wired, 3 wireless. The router is a NETGEAR Wireless N, Model WNR8348.

One computer is running Vista, others XP Home, and others XP Pro. All computers access the Internet fine. The problem is with file and printer sharing. Some will access each networked computer (Workgroup MSHOME) and others won't. The router software shows all computers as "Attached devices" - with proper IP and MAC addresses.

If one runs the "view workgroup computers" - sometimes all of the 7 show, sometimes 2-3, sometimes only the computer on which one is working.

Tried a lot of trouble shooting, utilities, etc. but nada. The question is - is the router broken? How does one do a diagnostic on a router? Is this a Vista -XP Pro - XP Home issue?

Thanks for any assistance.
-AW

[thesmokingun]

i think it's just a home networking issue with xp. vista is a bit better. you are better off typing the name of the computer into the address bar in an explorer window. and using something like this, with 2 \\ in front of the name:
\\computer1
will access computer1
or use the ip of that computer:
\\192.168.1.100

i've found that even with 2 computers, they don't always show up. but if you type the names, or even better, the ip's in you will find them.

[AlanWild]

This is a point I don't understand. I can see the computers as attached devices through the router software but if I type the IP address, nothing happens. My question remains - is there something wrong with the router - the switch function of the router?

Thanks for your earlier reply.

AW

[thesmokingun]

just make sure file and printer sharing are turned on for all computers, and make sure you reboot. Do you have any firewalls that could be blocking this? make sure it is set to allow for file and print sharing.

[AlanWild]

Are there any free/share ware utilities that will assist in troubleshooting networking difficulties? I have the Network Magic trial version. That program identifies all the connections and suggests everything is working. Is Zone ALerts firewall a problem for home networks?