Networking problem

jpkent · #1 03-13-2005, 12:18 PM

I have a laptop with XP Pro and a desktop with XP home, both connected to the same router. I can't access files and printers on the desktop from the laptop. I can, however, access the laptop from the desktop. I have run the network wizard on both. I can access the internet, or the router page, from both. So the only problem is the laptop (XP Pro) not seeing the desktop (XP Home). I have SP2 on both.

How can I solve this problem?

scurbro69105 · #2 03-13-2005, 02:51 PM

first of all, make sure that they are both on the same workgroup. Rt-click My Computer, select Properties, then select "computer name" tab. You can see the Workgroup name there. There is a button there called "Change.." you can use to change the workgroup. Also make sure to note the computer name assigned there where it says "Full computer name" Now, check this on both computers to make sure they both have the same exact Workgroup name. (but different computer names

)

Next explicitly define what folders/printers on the desktop you want to share.

for printers, open control panel then printers and faxes. You should see any locally attached printers (those connected directly to the desktop) listed there. Rt-click on the one you want to share and enable sharing on it. I don't have one here to look at but the steps should be pretty self explanatory. I think you select "Sharing.." then share without using the wizard. You'll have to designate a share name. Make up a name for your printer and remember it.

For folders it's about the same. In Windows explorer find a folder you want to share, rt-click it and enable sharing. Give it a share name and remember it.

Now on the laptop, open windows explorer. Make sure you have the tree-view of the folders in the left hand pane. If you don't, select the View menu, Explorer bar, Folders. Now over in the left hand pane you should see an icon called "my network places" or something similar. Open it, then beneath it open "Entire Network", then "microsoft windows network" There you should see your Workgroup, the name you assigned earlier the same on both computers. If you select that you'll see the names of both your laptop and desktop. Click on the desktop name and you'll see all the printer and folder shares you set up before. (when you click on the computer name be patient, it may take several seconds for it to open)

You can drag the folder names to your desktop and create a shortcut there, or you can map a network drive in Windows explorer by selecting Tools and map network drive. Select a drive letter, usually something like W:, X:, Y: or Z;, then selct browse, browse the network as before until you find the share on the other computer you want and click 'ok'.

To set up the printer the best thing to do is go to control panel, select "printers and faxes" then click on File or rt-click in the whitespace area of the rt hand pane and select "add printer." It'll take you through a wizard where you select "network printer", hit Next, browse for printer, Next, find the printer you shared off the desktop and select it and hit Next. This will install it on your laptop. Make sure it's set as the default printer and you can print on it just as easily as if it were attached directly to your laptop!

Hope this helps.

samhoods · #3 03-13-2005, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpkent

I have a laptop with XP Pro and a desktop with XP home, both connected to the same router. I can't access files and printers on the desktop from the laptop. I can, however, access the laptop from the desktop. I have run the network wizard on both. I can access the internet, or the router page, from both. So the only problem is the laptop (XP Pro) not seeing the desktop (XP Home). I have SP2 on both.

How can I solve this problem?

I had the same problem. I found the solution to be that the LanMan IRPStackSize Value was too small. After I increased it, problem was solved. It's the value on the laptop which you need to increase. For information on how to do this go to microsoft.com and look up Article 177078 in their knowledgebase.

jpkent · #4 03-14-2005, 03:50 PM

I am sorry, this does not help. I have done all this. The problem is that the laptop can't even find the other computer. It's not a name problem, because if I use the search function, with the option "a computer on the network", it finds only itself, whereas the desktop finds them both. So why is the laptop unable to see any other computer on the network than itself?

deskford · #5 03-15-2005, 08:43 PM

First make sure the windows firewall is turned off for the desktop. Look under
>network connections>local area connection>(right click) properties>advanced tab>settings.
If this doesn't work check that their IP addresses place them on the same network. Take a look at their subnet masks make sure they are the same and that the network component of the IP address (the numbers matching the 255's of the subnet mask) are the same for both computers. When you set up your network this should have been automatically configured to match but at some stage may have been altered. You can find the IP address and subnet mask configuration under >network connections>local area connection>(right click)status>support tab.