Entire Network (desperate)

I have a laptop running Windows Me. I also have a desktop running Windows 98SE. I use broadband with a Conexant wireless router. I have set up the two computers to network. My laptop accesses the desktop files (C drive) but not vice versa (desktop to laptop). The desktop connects to the router by cable, the laptop by a wireless PCMCIA card (RALink). The set up has worked perfectly OK for months and I could access the desktop C drive from my laptop no problem until a couple of days ago,when suddenly, no go. I click 'My Network Places', then 'Entire Network', and all I got is 'unable to access the network. windows cannot......etc'. Then stupid me I fiddled round with the Home Networking Wizard and network settings, and then the 'Entire Network' opened but there was nothing there, just a blank folder! Now it is back to 'unable to access the network.....etc'. No new software (even updates) has been installed on eitehr machine. I have read through everything I can find on the forum (and lots elsewhere) but nothing seems to fit. I seem to have everything right as people have said I need, file sharing etc., but there must be something wrong (probably me!). Help a novice! Please!

 

If you can still access the files on the desktop from the laptop, but not the reverse, then you'd want to make sure that you've got your File and Printer Sharing enabled on the laptop. Right click My Network Places, choose properties, right click your wireless adapter, choose properties. Make sure File and Printer sharing is listed and is checked. You can click "add" and then "services", then "Microsoft" to add it. (You will need your Windows CD for this).

Assuming File and Printer Sharing is still there, I'd try accessing the laptop with the UNC path. Another words, go to start>run and type "\\computername\sharename" and press enter. So you'd want to try this on the desktop, using the computer name and share name of the laptop. Often times the pc's dont appear automatically in My Network Places if you're using a Peer-to-Peer workgroup (not a domain) and there's no WINS or DNS server in use.

 

First, a BIG thankx for helping me out, I REALLY am grateful!

OK, first I have tried 'ipconfig /all' on both computers. All I got was a black box up but it was there for a split second and then gone. My son told me I should open a 'dos box', so I did that and typed 'ipconfig /all' and I got something but the problem now is that I cannot read the first part as there is no scroll bar on the 'dos box'. So I am not sure if what I can give you would be helpful? There seems to be three numbered paragraphs, but I can only see half 2 and all of 3, none of 1 and not the first part of2, if that makes sense. Or is there a way to get the scroll bar?

And is there a way to copy and paste from a 'dos box' or do I have to type it all out?

Also, I get NO results if I go to Search and type the computer name in 'search for computers' option.

Yes, I have file and printer sharing ticked for both computers. I have also got My Documents and the desktop C drive shared. I have never wanted my desktop to read the laptop. I often have to help my kids with homework and so on, but I am quite disabled so I do so from my laptop while I am in bed. I don't want them to be able to get at my files on my laptop, though. Otherwise I would be in trouble!

I don't know what a Peer-to-Peer workgroup or a WINS or DNS server are!

I have no idea what a UNC path is! Do I type the name of the desktop computer? I guess so. I also guessed that the share name is the name of the network? Typing that I get "Windows cannot find '\\desktop\familynetwork'. Check the spelling and try again, or try searching for the item by clicking the Start button and then clicking Search." (which I have already tried!)

What CAN I do?

Thanks again, I really am desperate to get this fixed. I do not undersatnd why it suddenly happened. We didn't add software, not even updates.

Hope to hear soon.

Ellinor

 

Try using the following UNC path, using the desktop computer's ip address and not the name, followed by the share name. So if the desktop's computer ip was 192.168.0.2 and the share name was "shared", you'd go to start & run, and type: \\192.168.0.2\shared . That should get you into the desktop.

 

Sorry, I have been unwell again. Disability is like that sometimes, you just have to live with it.

OK, I have tried and tried and still I can't get it.

I typed 'cmd' but every time all I got was "Windows cannot find 'cmd'. You may have typed the name incorrectly in the Run dialog......". After hours of trying over several days, I reread the post and saw the word 'prompt' and somewhere in my memory I remembered something about a 'command prompt', so instead of typing 'cmd' I typed 'command'. I got the same 'dos box' as before (or it looked like it), and the same result - half the stuff is hidden at the top part of the box and there is no scroll bar to get back to it. Any ideas, or will the little I got be any good?

Also, how do I get the 'ip address'? Is it the same for both my laptop and desktop? When I find it, do I put the network name (familynetwork in my case) instead of the word 'shared', or do I have to use the actual word 'shared'?

This is starting to drive me nuts!

Thanks everyone, my computer is my life blood and if it doesn't work properly my quality of life isn't so great. So I realkly do appreciate all the help.

Ellinor

 

From the Windows ME machine you type "CMD" in the RUN box and then ipconfig /all. On the Windows 98SE machine you go to PROGRAMS and then MS DOS. When the window open you typw ipconfig /all. When dealing with network issues you/we must understand how your network is configured so we may offer advice.

-Jim

 

OK, I have really, really struggled with this, but I have got something. Here it is:

DESKTOP:


DHCP Enabled: No
IP Address: 3.0.0.2
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.255
Default Gateway:
Primary WINS Server:
Secondary WINS Server:
Lease Obtained:
Lease Expires:

2 Ethernet Adapter:

Description: REALtekRTL8139/810x family Fast Ethernet

Physical Address: 00-40-F4-88-2D-5C
DHCP Enabled: Yes
IP Address: 10.0.0.11
Subnet Mask: 255.0.0.0
Default Gateway: 10.0.0.2
DCHP Server: 10.0.0.2
Primary WINS Server:
Secondary WINS Server:
Lease Obtained: 06 07 06 10:24:38
Lease Expires: 06 07 06 10:24:38


LAPTOP:

DHCP Enabled: Yes
IP Address: 0.0.0.0
Subnet Mask: 0.0.0.0
Default Gateway:
DHCP Server: 255.255.255.255
Primary WINS Server:
Secondary WINS Server:
Lease Obtained:
Lease Expires:

2 Ethernet Adapter:

Description: PPP Adapter
Physical Address: 44-45-53-54-00-00
DHCP Enabled: Yes
IP Address: 0.0.0.0
Subnet Mask: 0.0.0.0
Default Gateway:
DCHP Server: 255.255.255.255
Primary WINS Server:
Secondary WINS Server:
Lease Obtained:
Lease Expires:

As I said, the first part of the material is inaccessible as I do not have a scroll bar on the 'dos box', but I hope that this will help you to help me.

Thank you again for everything.

Ellinor
x

 

Does the desktop machine have two network adapters? If it does you need to turn off the static address on the desktop machine.

If your dos windows does not have a scroll bar type
ipconfig /all >>c:\config.txt
Then with notepad open c:\config.txt and post the results.

I see that static address of 3.0.0.2 and that is a concern.

It appears that the laptop looks good.

 

OK, and thanks again for all the help.

Using the code ipconfig /all >>c:\config.txt I have got this:

DESKTOP:

Windows 98 IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . : DESKTOP
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . : 10.0.0.2
Node Type . . . . . . . . . : Broadcast
NetBIOS Scope ID. . . . . . :
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . : No
NetBIOS Resolution Uses DNS : No

0 Ethernet adapter :

Description . . . . . . . . : PPP Adapter.
Physical Address. . . . . . : 44-45-53-54-00-00
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . :
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.255
Primary WINS Server . . . . :
Secondary WINS Server . . . :
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . :
Lease Expires . . . . . . . :

1 Ethernet adapter :

Description . . . . . . . . : Microsoft TV/Video Connection
Physical Address. . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . : 3.0.0.2
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.255
Default Gateway . . . . . . :
Primary WINS Server . . . . :
Secondary WINS Server . . . :
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . :
Lease Expires . . . . . . . :

2 Ethernet adapter :

Description . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast Ethernet NIC
Physical Address. . . . . . : 00-40-F4-88-2D-5C
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . : 10.0.0.11
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . : 255.0.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . : 10.0.0.2
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . : 10.0.0.2
Primary WINS Server . . . . :
Secondary WINS Server . . . :
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . : 06 10 06 15:58:17
Lease Expires . . . . . . . : 06 11 06 15:58:17


LAPTOP:

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . : LAPTOP
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . : 10.0.0.2
Node Type . . . . . . . . . : Broadcast
NetBIOS Scope ID. . . . . . :
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . : No
NetBIOS Resolution Uses DNS : No

0 Ethernet adapter :

Description . . . . . . . . : Ralink Technology Inc.
Physical Address. . . . . . : 00-50-FC-8C-94-71
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . : 10.0.0.7
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . : 255.0.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . : 10.0.0.2
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . : 10.0.0.2
Primary WINS Server . . . . :
Secondary WINS Server . . . :
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . : 06 09 06 20:15:20
Lease Expires . . . . . . . : 06 10 06 20:15:20

1 Ethernet adapter :

Description . . . . . . . . : PPP Adapter.
Physical Address. . . . . . : 44-45-53-54-00-01
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . :
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.255
Primary WINS Server . . . . :
Secondary WINS Server . . . :
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . :
Lease Expires . . . . . . . :

2 Ethernet adapter :

Description . . . . . . . . : PPP Adapter.
Physical Address. . . . . . : 44-45-53-54-00-00
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . :
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.255
Primary WINS Server . . . . :
Secondary WINS Server . . . :
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . :
Lease Expires . . . . . . . :

I do not know if the Desktop has two adapters or not, and please tell me how to switch one off (the one I don't need - I don't use TV on it so i don't know why TV is mentioned?). I am very grateful. I do have that 'external wireless router' (or so I am told) which is a Realtek thing. I use it to get broadband and as a wirelss connection for my laptop which has a PMCCIA card thing (I think that is what I was told it is).

What is a static address and how DO I switch it off?

Also I don't have a clue what a subnet mask is and would be very grateful if you could tell me how I change it. Will that make the whole thing work again?

I hope the above information helps you to help me.

Ellinor
x

 

Thank you again for all your help. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate it.

I am on a very steep learning curve here. In a way it is quite exciting.

I am afraid I don't understand how to disable the connection. What do I click to disable?

But I did the ping on both the computers. Here are the results I got:

From laptop:

Pinging 10.0.0.2 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 10.0.0.2: bytes=32 time<10ms TTL=64
Reply from 10.0.0.2: bytes=32 time<10ms TTL=64
Reply from 10.0.0.2: bytes=32 time<10ms TTL=64
Reply from 10.0.0.2: bytes=32 time<10ms TTL=64

Ping statistics for 10.0.0.2:

Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms


Pinging 10.0.0.11 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 10.0.0.11: bytes=32 time=14ms TTL=128
Reply from 10.0.0.11: bytes=32 time<10ms TTL=128
Reply from 10.0.0.11: bytes=32 time<10ms TTL=128
Reply from 10.0.0.11: bytes=32 time<10ms TTL=128

Ping statistics for 10.0.0.11:

Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 14ms, Average = 3ms


From Desktop:

Pinging 10.0.0.2 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 10.0.0.2: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=64
Reply from 10.0.0.2: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=64
Reply from 10.0.0.2: bytes=32 time<10ms TTL=64
Reply from 10.0.0.2: bytes=32 time<10ms TTL=64

Ping statistics for 10.0.0.2:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 1ms, Average = 0ms


Pinging 10.0.0.7 with 32 bytes of data:

Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 10.0.0.7:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms


I hope I did it right, it seems odd to me.

I also very much hope that it helps you again to help me out. The 'timed out' lines seem to say there is something wrong when everything else seemed to be OK. Is that any help?

Thank you.

Ellinor
x

 

Thank you, very much.

I understand I have to right click the connection, but where is the connection to right click?! What connection? I have tried to right click Entire Network and Network Neighborhood to no avail!

There is no 'network ID' tab in my computer properties. My son told me to go into Network in control panel and I got it up somehow. For the desktop I have Computer Name, Desktop; Workgroup, Familynetwork, Computer description is blank. For the laptop I have Computer Name, Laptop; Workgroup, Familynetwork, Computer description is blank.

The laptop has ‘The following components are installed’:

Client for Microsoft Networks
Bluetooth Ethernet Adapter (I don’t have one, it was uninstalled by my son months and months ago as it was stopping my PMCCIA card working, he said)
Dial up adapter
Dial up adapter #2 (VPN support)
Microsoft virtual private networking adapter
Ralink RT2500 Wireless LAN support
Ralink RT2500 Wireless LAN support (yes, again as I think the PMCCIA card was put in one slot then also the other)
NDISWAN -> Microsoft virtual private networking adapter
NetBEUI -> Bluetooth Ethernet Adapter
NetBEUI -> Dial up adapter
NetBEUI -> Dial up adapter #2 (VPN support)
NetBEUI -> Ralink RT2500 Wireless LAN support
NetBEUI -> Ralink RT2500 Wireless LAN support
TCP/IP -> Bluetooth Ethernet Adapter
TCP/IP -> Dial up adapter
TCP/IP -> Dial up adapter #2 (VPN support)
TCP/IP -> Ralink RT2500 Wireless LAN support
TCP/IP -> Ralink RT2500 Wireless LAN support

Primary Network logon is Windows logon

File and Print sharing is not ticked for either ‘I want to give others access to my files’ or ‘I want to give others to print to my printers’

I have no idea what all that means but I hope that that is what you meant?

I can’t move right now to look at the desktop as I am disabled but I will do so as soon as I can get downstairs and check, and will write and let you know. I hope that is OK? But I know that Primary Network logon is Windows logon, and File and Print sharing IS ticked for BOTH ‘I want to give others access to my files’ and ‘I want to give others to print to my printers’. I used to be able to print with the printers on the desktop as well as looking at the files there. That was useful as when I am upstairs in bed I can help with my kids’ homework and then print off on their printer. It just suddenly stopped working.

Thanks again, I am really appreciating all this.

Ellinor
x

 

OK, I have had a look and it seems I have done everything. It doesn't seem quite like my computer as it talks about Windows Xp which I think is the next step up from what i have. I have Windows me. But I have done as much as I can.

If I don't need the 'protocols', what can I delete? Can I save my files first in case I make a mistake? The website I went to didn't mention anything about 'protocols' not that i could see!

Once I delete everything I don't need, will it make my network work again?

Thanks again.

EA
x

 

Thank you yet again, I am hopeful I am getting somewhere!

For my laptop, I have looked at the website you gave me. I can’t say I really understood it all, but I think I have done what it said, though I do have some questions.

First, I have the two computer names OK; they are Desktop and Laptop. Not very original but I didn’t choose them! I also have the ‘workgroup’ which is Familynetwork. That is the same for both computers. Both computers have ‘shared access control’ ticked too. I also have the NetBEUI and TCP/IP ‘protocols’ (that is what my questions are about, see below).

In the case of my laptop, they are linked to the network adapter card, which is the Ralink RT2500 Wireless LAN support for my laptop. But here start the questions!

The website tells me what I can add, but not what I can delete! So what can I delete safely?
Can I delete the following?

Bluetooth Ethernet Adapter (as I said, I don’t have one)
Dial up adapter
Dial up adapter #2 (VPN support)
Microsoft virtual private networking adapter
Ralink RT2500 Wireless LAN support
The second Ralink RT2500 Wireless LAN support (remembering I have two slots for the card)
NDISWAN -> Microsoft virtual private networking adapter
NetBEUI -> Bluetooth Ethernet Adapter
NetBEUI -> Dial up adapter
NetBEUI -> Dial up adapter #2 (VPN support)
NetBEUI -> Ralink RT2500 Wireless LAN support
TCP/IP -> Bluetooth Ethernet Adapter
TCP/IP -> Dial up adapter
TCP/IP -> Dial up adapter #2 (VPN support)
The second TCP/IP -> Ralink RT2500 Wireless LAN support

Question number 2, again about my laptop! The website says that in the ‘Bindings’ tab for the NetBEUI and the TCP/IP protocols, I should have ‘Client for Microsoft Networks’, ‘Microsoft file and printer sharing for Microsoft networks’ and ‘Microsoft Family Logon’ all present. I only have ‘Client for Microsoft Networks’ for both NetBEUI and TCP/IP protocols. Is it important I get the other two? If so, how do I add them (the website didn’t say so)?

Question 3! I remembered you were worried about the IP addresses and subnet masks, so I have not yet altered these in the TCP/IP protocol. I want to make sure I do the right thing. I already have the IP addresses, you showed me how to get them. So my question is—what IP addresses should I use? The ones the website says or the ones I already have? If the ones I have already, what should I put in where, and what subnet masks do I use?

I have now been able to get the list of items for my desktop. Here it is:

Client for Microsoft Networks
Microsoft Family Logon
Dial up adapter
Microsoft TV/Video connection (I do not have TV on my desktop, either)
Realtek RTL8139/810k Family Fast Ethernet NIC
TCP/IP->Dial up adapter
TCP/IP->Microsoft TV/Video connection
TCP/IP->Realtek RTL8139/810k Family Fast Ethernet NIC
File and Printer sharing for Microsoft networks

I see that I do not have that last item for my laptop. Should I have it? (sorry, that is question 4!)

My desktop Primary Network Logon is Microsoft Family Logon, and I have both file and printer sharing boxes ticked.

I have not checked the Bindings thing as my desktop is Windows 98SE, and I don’t know if the website will apply in that case?

So what now can I do to make sure my network works again?

I am grateful for all your help, and sorry to take so long but I was ill again.

ellinor

 

OK, so I can delete all those.

How do I tell if I use VPN?

How do I clear the NETBUI over TCP? Do I just delete it? MY ISP never asked for it!

Do I need to delete any of the ones for my desktop?

EA

 

OK, I'd need to go downstairs to get to the desktop and I can't do that right now. But I will when I can move.

I can do it on the laptop, but where do I find the properties for my network card? I looked in the network properties in control panel but I can't see any Internet Protocol there, and if I click the properties for NETBUI -> RALink RT2500 Wireless LAN Card, there is no WINS tab; if I click properties for the TCP/IP -> RALink Wireless LAN Card, the WINS Configuration tab does not have a box to tick that says 'disable netbios over tcp/ip'. All that tab has is 'disable WINS resolution and 'enable WINS resolution' kind of bullet points, neither of which are checked, and 'Use DHCP for WINS resolution' which is.

EA