Frustrating and weird problem.

Hi everyone. I hope this is a simple fix, because I don't know what else to do.
Google searching and searching here led to a lot of options, but none have worked so far.

I just rebuilt my desktop computer. Windows XP, SP2. Pro

I bought a Compaq V2000 running Windows XP Home

I setup one of the drives on the desktop as a shared drive/network
connection and put it into the appropriate workgroup.

I joined the Compaq laptop also to the same workgroup.

I cannot connect to the workgroup or see the desktop.

When I try I to "view workgroup computers" from the laptop I get the error:

"workgroup is not accessible" You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions. The list of servers for this workgroup is currently not available."

I am logged in as admin on both computers. THe desktop can at least
see the laptop, but can't connect. The laptop can't even see the "list
of servers"

I've never had this problem before. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Matt

 

Okay, that is simple enough. =)

From the laptop:

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

C:\Documents and Settings\Matt>cd\

C:\>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : V2000
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : insightbb.com

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection 2:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : insightbb.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom 802.11b/g WLAN
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-14-A5-7F-F8-FC
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.101
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 74.128.0.100
74.128.0.101
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, July 05, 2006 1:50:43 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, July 06, 2006 1:50:43 PM

From the Desktop

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

C:\Documents and Settings\Matt>cd\

C:\>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : silver
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : insightbb.com

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : insightbb.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139/810X Family PCI Fast
Ethernet NIC
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0D-61-35-49-FF
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.103
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 74.128.0.100
74.128.0.101
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, July 05, 2006 12:04:35 PM

Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, July 06, 2006 12:04:35 PM

C:\>

Note: The desktop can at least "see" the V2000 in my workgroup, but can't connect. The laptop (V200) cannot even connect to the work group.

Many thanks.

Matt

 

I have never had that issue before. I could always connect to network drives as long as the network was setup, firewalls were turned off, etc. Or am I misunderstanding your statement? Thanks.

Matt

 

Sorry, maybe I should be more specific. I have a Linksys Router. The laptop is connected to the internet/local LAN throuh wireless connection. So, I do not think, (but could be wrong) a cross-over cable is the solution since I have never had problems before now.

 

OK....from each machine can you PING the other? The gateway? The DNS?

What protocols do you have configured on the eathernet connections on each machine?

If you are using TCP/IP you may need an LMHOSTS file and turn on NETBIOS over TCPIP.

If you have no WINS, or local DNS then the only way for your machines to know about each other is a broadcast. If you allow NETBIOS over TCP/IP the machine will broadcast their names BUT broadcasts are not allowed accross subnets.

 

Thanks for all the help. I could not ping myself so I figured it was my being an idiot. I had thought I had turned off the firewall, (norton personal--not windows firewall) and sure enough I can see the network now. I've always used Windows and then the Router firewall. Live and learn.

At least the computer was turned on and I wasn't looking for the "any" key.

 

Well, since this is a new laptop and it came installed with Norton Personal Firewall I have neve had to deal with it. I *thought* I had set the settings with it correctly. I've used Windows Firewall in the past which is setup to allow local area network connections. I had even checked to use Windows Firewall instead of Norton, but to no avail.

So, it is working correctly now. And yes, the router is on, working fine, plugged in, etc. Always has been. Port-forwarding and everything.

Thanks again.

Matt