Simple Networking Help Pleeeeeeease

[18rabbit]

I'm back to setting up the home network again, maybe. Left my nifty Win XP book in Japan, state-side for only a few days, needs some help on what I hope are simple issues.<br /><br />Note: Ran the WinXP network setup on both computers, used the same workgroup name, no problems.<br /><br />Note: firewalls are turned off on both machines while I try to figure out this local networking thing.<br /><br />Note: I am admin (full privileges) on both computers.<br /><br />First couple of questions:<br /><br />(1) When I click on ‘view workgroup computers’ from comp-A it can see comp-B on the network without a problem. But when I look for the workgroup comps from comp-B it cannot see comp-A on the network, instead I get an error that the <workgroup name> is not accessible or I don’t have permission…<br /><br />(2) From comp-A, when I click on the comp-B icon to establish a connection, I get a logon screen with a default acct name of “guest” and a prompt for a password. The ‘guest’ account is turned off on comp-B. How do I change the login name from “guest” to my admin acct or other acct name?

 

[eeboater]

Re: Simple Networking Help Pleeeeeeease

When you setup the newtork, did you assign static IP addresses in the same subnet for each computer?<br /><br />For example, go into the TCP IP properties for both computers... set the ip address of one computer to 192.168.10.1 and the other computer to 192.168.10.2<br /><br />Then set the subnet mask to the default 255.255.255.0<br /><br />I'd also create user accounts on each computer... this is done under Control Panel - Users Accounts.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Simple Networking Help Pleeeeeeease

Thanks, eeboater. I did not set static ip addresses, left the router to assign dynamic ip as needed. I will try assigned ip addresses to each machine, subnet masks are set to the default 255.255.255.0 for everything I own. <br /><br />Yes, have accts on each machine, multiple accts on comp-B, tho when I attempted to log onto it I was only allowed the option of logging on as “guest”. As I mentioned, the ‘guest’ acct is disabled on both/all machines.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Simple Networking Help Pleeeeeeease

Ok, changing the IP addresses, subnet mask, not a problem. But what do I use for ‘default gateway’ ip? Is that my router’s default IP address (192.168.0.1)?<br /><br />Also, the default option of obtaining the DNS ip automatically goes away. I presume I need ip addresses (preferred and alternate) for this as well?!?

 

[Xcusme]

Re: Simple Networking Help Pleeeeeeease

Rabbit,<br />Make the Gateway and the DNS set to the IP of your router(192.168.0.1)...in XP, enter only the primary DNS entry (OS won't allow the same DNS IP's set to Primary AND Secondary).If you set static IP's for both machines, Don't use IP's that fall within the DHCP IP range of your router.<br />Example: Router DHCP range of 192.168.0.100 thru 192.168.149.....don't assign your computers to an IP within this range.<br /><br />This would be OK for comp1: 192.168.0.20<br />This would NOT be ok for comp1: 192.168.0.125<br /><br /><br />On bootup, change the Guest entry for user to Administrator and enter the PW (if you set up a PW for the Administrator-otherwise just hit Enter). If you setup a user account with admin privlidges, enter that name and PW on the login screen. I'd turn off the Simple File sharing for XP and goto full file sharing like Win2k, ignore all the warning blurbs (from XP)that the universe will end if you do. Right click on a folder and pick Sharing to set permissions on WHO can share the folder on your LAN. Keeping the same name and PW with admin privlidges as users on both machines will make the login process easier....and file sharing easier too. Of course you can share printers, drives etc. too.... <br /><br />BTW: nice sig.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Simple Networking Help Pleeeeeeease

Rabbit, IP addresses are not your problem. If you can see A from B and B from A, you have connectivity. Your problem is Windows squirrely permissions/security. Is the account and password that you're using, the same on both systems? Are both XP Pro? Pro and Home handle permissions a little different.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Simple Networking Help Pleeeeeeease

BB - both computers have the same login/acct name, same password, same admin status. Both are running WinXP-Pro, both are current with MS updates.

 

[Xcusme]

Re: Simple Networking Help Pleeeeeeease

Something to play with.... Link

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Simple Networking Help Pleeeeeeease

Thanks, Xcusme. I think that is geared more for after I get the network working. Reading the article this popped out at me:<br /><br /> But there's nothing to stop you accessing your network shares directly, providing you know the share name. To do this, click Start, Run, enter '\\computer' and click OK. This will open a networked computer and shows all its shared resources. To be more specific, type '\\computer\share'. This will open a shared disk or folder on a networked computer<br /><br />...in particular, the part about shows all its shared resources. I do not have any part of either computer setup for sharing anything. Could this be what is preventing me from being able to log onto, either comp-A to B or comp-B to A, the lack of any shared resource???

 

[Xcusme]

Re: Simple Networking Help Pleeeeeeease

Open a shared folder on each machine...<br />The article also mentions the issue of speed in detecting the other computers on a LAN as it relates to checking for Scheduled Tasks before the directory is shown.