I Can't See My Computers On The Network

I have two Dell pc's running Windows XP. One on Home, one on Pro. I have them both hooked into a hub, and the hub into a cable modem. They both are working fine on the internet. I have been trying to network them together so that I can file/print share, and I'm not able to see either computer on the other one. I can ping the ip addresses of both of them from both of them, but cannot ping the computer names from each. I have run the Network Setup wizard a zillion times, and it still isn't working. I've disabled firewalls, and spyware, and still no luck. Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated!

 

Are both of them underneath the same workgroup???

To check.

1. Start
2. Control Panel
3. System
4. Click the tab computer name
5. Compare the workgroup names.

 

Hi,

What are the ip addresses of the two computers?

Can you please give the exact make and model of that "hub?"

Thanks

 

The ip addresses are:
24.195.120.217 and
24.29.40.31

As I said, I can ping to both from both.

They are both under the same workgroup name. I've even changed the names a few times, but to no avail. The computer names are 'UPSTAIRS' and 'DOWNSTAIRS'.

I'll get the hub brand shortly (it's under the desk), but I'm sure it's working correctly, because I'm able to connect to the internet on both computers with no problem. We even changed the ports that each plugged into and unplugged and replugged the hub. No luck!

 

You have a mess. Both of your computers are on completely different subnets. If you would like to get this solved, please don't assume that anything is working correctly. Something is really screwed up.

Please give the make and model of that "hub." We need to know what it is so we can see what it's capabilities are to figure why this is messed up.

Your IPs are similar to what you would get from the modem itself.

1. Do you have a router?

2. Can you please give a vivid description of what you have for equipment and how it is hooked up, from the house wall out?

3. Please also give the following info for both machines:

IP address
subnet mask
default gateway
dns server

We'll figure it out.

 

UPSTAIRS COMPUTER
I.P. Address 24.195.112.1
Subnet Mask 255.255.240.0
Default Gateway 24.195.112.1
DNS Server 24.92.226.9

DOWNSTAIRS COMPUTER
IP Address 24.29.40.31
Subnet Mask 255.255.248.0
Default Gateway 24.29.40.1
DNS Server 24.92.226.9

The hub is a 'FriendlyNet 5 port Ethernet Hub, Model #F8105T (Although I have just purchase a Leviton HiSpeed Computer Internet Gateway Router, Model #47611-GT4, but haven't installed it yet).

Cable hookup to a Touchstone Telephony Modem. From there to the Asante FriendlyNet Hub. From the Hub to each of the computers.

Both computers are Dell Dimensions. One running XP Pro (Upstairs) and on running XP Home (downstairs).

 

May be this can Help, Sharing Disk Drives Between Computers on Windows Network.

 

Thanks! OK, those IP addresses won't work on your lan and neither will the hub unless it is in line after (downstream) from a router.

The reason I pushed on the make and model of the "hub" is because when I get that info, it often is not a simple hub but rather a router or managed switch or something and is in fact a problem.

You need to install the router. The router will assign new IPs, subnet masks, dns and default gateways to the lan.

Connect: wall to modem > to (marked) external port on router > 2 internal ports on router to computers.

Boot only in this order (unplug and plug back in and then reboot computers in any order:

Modem > router > computers.

Be sure all ready lights are up on each appliance before rebooting the next, as they depend on each other in that order.

The router will plug and play if it has the factory default settings. Plug the router in, wait for it to come up, and then push and hold the reset button on the back for 10 seconds. That will reset it to defaults in case someone messed with it.

Your lan should run perfectly. If not, it's in the computers so post back and we'll set those.

Thanks again for the info.

 

You're amazing! It works (almost) perfectly. It seems to be a little slow, but that might be my imagination. Connecting to the workgroup seems slower on one computer than the other. Any ideas on that?
Also, I'm sure this is a dumb question, but I shared my C Drive on both computers, but I cannot access the "program files" on either one. I'm getting an error message that says that "Program Files is not accessible. You may not have permission to use this network resource. Contact your administrator." I thought I was the administrator! I'm also getting the same error message on other folders. Any ideas?

 

Well, I'll have to pass that info along to my wife. Kidding, she's a Sweetie..

Try swapping patch cables. Be gentle, they are delicate. See if one is damaged? Try a different port on the router in case one is acting up.

Does it take longer to connect, or run slower after connected or?

We don't share our C: drives. That's the whole computer. We choose selective shared folders, and leave the rest secure.

Two terms: local machine and remote machine. You are the admin when sitting at a local machine (the one you are using.) You are not the admin when accessing a remote machine across the network. The person logged onto and using that machine is the admin. (assuming in all cases the logins are admins here)

Windows will not allow you to access program files, system files, etc. from a remote machine. You can't share them. They are restricted.

At the bottom of the left pane in windows explorer (right-click Start and choose explore) is there a Shared Documents folder? Right click on it, choose Sharing and Security. I don't use the wizard - bust right through and share out that folder, then open it and share out all other folders. Now use that for your shared files and be careful what you put in it.

techsalong,
Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer
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Again, thank you very much. There is a major difference in connection time. When I'm on the downstairs computer, and I go to my network, the connection is instant. When I'm on the upstairs and try to connect to the downstairs, it takes forever! I use, 'view workgroup computers' and go from there. The cables look fine, but I don't understand why there is such a difference in connection.

 

Is the router upstairs or downstairs?

Can we verify that this is wired and not wireless?

If the router is downstairs, you probably have a problem with the cable. Ethernet cables are extremely fragile and must never be stretched, kinked, stapled, etc. If they must be stapled and you don't have the proper stapler (there is only one brand and model and one type of staple that is safe) you need to use big staples and leave them very loose. They must never be stepped on or in any other way disrupted.

Once they have been slightly stretched, kinked or smashed, they can't be fixed. This has everything to do with maintaining the consistent and exact twist rate per foot where the pairs of wires are twisted together. There are 4 pairs, and each has a different twist rate per foot to eliminate cross-talk between the wires from emi caused by emf.

The wires can't run parallel and close to electrical wires or close to flourescent fixtures.

Post back?

 

Also, it is possible that the ends are damaged or not properly connected and so not making good contact inside the terminal.

You can also switch to a different port on the router in case the one you are using is bad...

 

Router is upstairs. (I know, it would have made more sense if the router was downstairs.) The cables are relatively new.

 

New isn't the issue. How it was handled including when it was installed is the issue. It also could have be defective from the start. You always want to test them before you route them to where they are going so you will know if something changed.

 

I just happen to have a brand new cable here. I'm gonna install it and see if it makes a difference. Which one would be the bad cable?

 

Please test it first by using it on the downstairs computer first. Then if possible, loosely take it to the upstairs one. It's possible that you have a bad nic in the upstairs computer, or lots of things, so this is process of elimination.

You may need to take the upstairs computer downstairs and swap it out with the downstairs one just long enough to see if it's the problem. Point is, don't overlook anything right now, and be sure the new cable is good by using it on the downstairs computer first.

 

If it's the upstairs box that's slow, then the cable to it could be bad.

 

All is well! All is fixed! Thank you so much for your time. How do I close this post?