Weird file sharing prob

Well I just got my new laptop (Asus G2) and got it hooked up to my wireless via 802.11 G to my Linksys WRT54G router. Here's the situation:

I got a custom Desktop and a laptop on the same workgroup and connected through the Linksys router (laptop is wireless, desktop is wired to it with CAT5).

They are both running XP Media Center Edition 2005.

Sometimes I can see both computers when I click on "view workgroups computers." When I cant, I have to go to "run" and type in the IP or computer name, this works fine when I cant see my laptop on my desktop under the workgroup computers. But still gives me the same error when I try to access my desktop from my laptop. I can access the shared folders fine to my laptop from my desktop, but not from my laptop to my desktop. When I try to access my desktop from my laptop I get the following error: " *computer name/ip* 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. Access is denied"

I can ping from one PC to another from both directions.

Things I have tried:

- Disabling firewalls (Symantec) on both PCs and adding their IPs in the "trusted zones."

- Setting sharing and permissions on the drives and folders for "everyone."

- Both PCs have the exact user accounts and passwords.

- Enabling and disabling "simple file sharing."

- Going through the Local Security Policy in the administrative tools settings for obvious settings that might interfere.

There's more, but that's all I can think of right now. Hope that's not too confusing, heh.

Remember, I can ping fine from both PCs to each other, so I don't think it's an issue with firewalls. Thanks for any help you all can provide!!

Oh, and I have searched on here for the same problem and didn't find any solutions or same scenario.

 

Bump

 

Double bump.

FYI, I plan to keep bumping this until I find a solution. I've been searching constantly.

 

Are you using DHCP? Are the two machines using different IP addresses? What are the stats for both machines using ipconfig/all?

 

Yes, I'm using DHCP. My Laptop is x.x.x.5 and my desktop is x.x.x.3, both with the same gateway of course. I can ping both ways with a reply, and open my laptops shared folders on my desktop, so it's not an IP/network issue. This is definitely an issue with windows somewhere.

 

Google has lots to say about similar issues to yours, especially when dealing with XP Media Edition. Most suggestions you've already covered, although a few articles found the resolution was to change routers. Perhaps yours needs a firmware update to function with MCE properly?

 

I've updated it a few times before so the version that's on it now is only a year or so old. I honestly don't see how the router is interfering when I can access my laptop fine from the other direction and it specifically says it's a permissions (software) issue when I try to get to my desktop. But I guess it's worth a try. Thanks for your input!

 

Yeah, the right answer isn't always the one that makes the most sense when dealing with the wonderful world of computers. Let us know if trying another one works...it did for others which could access one way but not the other.

 

Well, I just upgraded my Linksys router firmware from 4.20 to 4.21 and it didn't change anything. I can still ping across to and from both PCs, but I still can't access my desktop. I think I'm going to try a windows repair or something to reset windows back to its default settings. We'll see what that does. Thanks for the replies though and keep'em coming! I need all the help I can get. Much appreciated!

 

Bumpity...

 

Are guest accounts enabled? If no, then enable them.

Are both computers on the same workgroup?

Make the windows firewall is off and has enable file sharing checked in the exceptions (I have seen a few cases where the windows firewall has an effect on internet/networking wierdness, even when it is off)

Does the same thing happen in safe mode with networking (reboot and tap F8, do it to both computers at once). If safe mode with networking works, haul out norton, try it then.

Actually, haul out Norton anyway.

turn off simple file sharing, go to the security tab of an unimportant share (or a test share with a text file in it), add "everyone" with full control, see if you can access it. This is not recommended as a permenant solution, but will at least narrow the issue down to permissions.

Hope some of this helps, sorry if I am posting some obvious stuff that has already be tried.