Network Nightmare

[Emmaxxx]

Hi,
Not sure if this thread is ok here, but rather in a pickle and you guys have been teriffic with my other posts.

I'm new to networking and at my first attempt managed to set this up....really quite pleased with myself

But, now, its a case of now you see it now you don't. I did have a network but now its lost somewhere out in the wilderness.
At the moment I've 2 pc's connected via a linksys router, with the intension of connecting a third pc shortly.
PC1 is running ME and PC2 is XP, and can both access the net, no problem, but cannot share files.
I've run the networking wizzard numerous times on both pc's, making sure the network name as the default MSHOME.
PC1 'My Network Places' does not show the other PC, although folders on PC2 have been set up to share.
PC2 can see the name of PC1 but no shared folders etc, and when tried to access it, reports that the path could not be found.

Please help me out of this wilderness

Thanxxx
Emma

 

[scarecrow]

Run first that stupid XP "home network" wizard, and make the recommended diskette. Then use the diskette to setup your ME machine.
XP networking setup is totally pants, I wonder if they could invent something more annoying than this "automatic-and-not-working" nonsense...

 

[Emmaxxx]

Thanx for getting back to me.
Tried the set-up disc, I don't know how many times....still no luck.
I read something about disabling the XP firewall which sometimes cause problems but I can't even manage that. The 'Networking and Internet Connections' in the Control isn't there?
I do have 'Network Connection' which lists 3 entries under 'Network Bridge' but I've been thro' all the options and can see no way of disabling the firewall?

 

[Emmaxxx]

Sussued out the firewall.....was disabled anyway.

If PC2 can see PC1, would this suggest that the problem lies with th setup on PC1 or maybe the router ???

 

[VIPER_1069]

SILLY QUESTION ..... you have shared files and directorys selected ?! right click and choose sharing on whatever folder/drive you wish to share

also right click network neighbourhood or whatever its called on XP and choose properties and then look for an option called file and print sharing

and there should be options to allow share files in there sumwhere

 

[Trubador]

I may of had roughly the same problem.... in fact still have.

Q. which machine accesses the internet?

Q. Which machine do you boot up first?

 

[Emmaxxx]

PC1 (Winme) is the main PC, nearest the router.
If I open 'My Network Places' all I see are:
Add Network Places, Home Networking and Entire Network.
If I doubble click Entire Network, nothing is displayed.

PC2....My Network Places is accessible by exploring My Computer.
This branches of as follows:
Entire Network, Microsoft Windows Network, Mshome....here both PC's are listed as Lounge and Study.'Lounge' is PC2 and displays the selected shared folders and drives. 'Study' is PC1 and when this clicked I get the following message....."Study PC is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. The network path was not found"
PC2 (XP)....if I view properties in My Network Places, I get Network Connections which shows:
Local Area Connection 6, 1394 Connection 5 and Network Bridge.
The 'Authentication' tab in Local Area Connection 6, network access control using IEEE 802.1X is enabled. I can't see any option reffering to file and print sharing.
Again i have run networking setup on both PC's, booting PC1 first then again PC2 first to no avail ????
Internet access on both PC's is ok.
The nightmare continues......

 

[ipdave]

Since you are using the Linksys router to connect to the internet via DSL or Cable Modem, disregard trubador's question; this only applies if you use one PC to connect to the internet with one NIC and to the other PCs via a second NIC and the ICS thingy.

Since you ensured that basic networking is working (both PCs can access the internet), you can try to make an account with the same username and password on both PC1 running ME and PC2 running XP.

Then ensure that the XP box has file and print sharing enabled in the network properties.

If this does not work, the XP CD has a folder with NetBIOS in it. Load that to enable the Me PC to see the XP shares.... I believe that was a problem in www.microsoft.com/technet -- go there and search for something like "xp shared folders" or somesuchthing.

 

[Emmaxxx]

As I said, I cannot find any option to enable file and print sharing.
I have no network icon on my desktop (XP). If I select properties from My Network Places, which I access in explorer, this then gives me 'Network connections' and there's nothing there that relates to file and print sharing? Confusing to say the least, or is it that I'm Blonde?

To make matters worse, I've no XP CD, just some recue type disc that I've never looked at.

This just gets better doesn't it

Really appreciate all your help.....not too mention your patience.

MXXX

 

[ipdave]

Emma, if you go to network connections and double-click on your Local Area Connection, then on the Properties button, you will be able to see if File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks is loaded. If not, you will have to click on Install and pick the Service - for that you will need the XP CD. It may be on your install rescue disk.. I really dislike those things....

First I would really try making a user account like "Emma" on both machines with the same password. Windows boxes with the same user and password will not ask you to login again, and this is the fix to your problem if I remember right. (It may have been Win98, it may have been WinMe, or both.)

For example, I connect between my PCs here by using the same user/pwd, and don't have to authenticate twice - this is called "pass-through authentication". If you try this, it may be all you need.

 

[shadoe_phantom]

Ok a few things going wrong I see here.
1, you should make the XP machine the head/master of the domain lol machine. WinME is the sh**s (sorry you ME lovers lol).
Now don't bother to use the stupid wizard nor the ICS that comes with windows (any). It only causes problems.
This is what you do. Have your NIC cards installed. Next, under network connections, pick all the connection settings (open one at a time) and make sure they all show File & Printer Sharing. Otherwise enable/install that. PC might need to reboot after that, if not continue on.
Next go to one of your HDDs or Folder you want to share and right click on them. Then select Sharing & Security (if you don't see that then select properties and then you should see a sharing tab. Enable sharing there and set your permissions if you want to restrict access, etc.) and set things up there.
Next you want to assign IP addies to the machine connecting to the router (as the router *not hub* already has ip addy used for your internet sharing from your ISP). This is what is probably screwing things up for you. Assign an ip addy of say 192.168.0.1 to one machine and 192.168.0.2 to the other machine. Now they will both be on the same IP range. The machines will have an easier time finding each other, than letting DHCP do the work.
Your problems should now be solved. Just make sure that on both PCs you assign login/user accounts for each other. EX: PC1 when you login normally has name:
master pass: blaster. PC2 when you login normally has name: puppet pass: master.
Now in user accounts/permissions for both PCs you have to create those same login/user accounts, otherwise you will have issues also accessing them.

Good luck

PS
if you're not using a router but a regular hub, than you will need to also set up a proxy on the machine that acts as the main gateway to the internet. Simply just install proxy by analogX (www.analogx.com). It's free and very easy/simple to configure.

 

[Emmaxxx]

Phew !.....I think I got all that, will need to go over all that slowly.
Been offline all day, tried to re-configure my router last night and totally screwed things up, my Me machine would not connect to the net, even without the router. Now swapped over machines as suggested, XP is now PC1 and connected to the net straight away, hence my reply

Will now print off your posts and I'll take it from there.
Thanx for your help guys, I don't know what I'd do without you.
Will let you know how I make out

Mxxx

 

[Emmaxxx]

Sweet Dreams



Back in business boys
I had a good play today and followed your instructions.
Assigning login/user accounts for each machine did the trick. File and printer sharing was already set up, so no problem there.
Internet access was a problem for the ME machine (now PC2) but that was resolved by running the router installation CD.

Tried to assign IP addresses as suggested but that screwed up my net connection on both PC's. Was a little baffled with that procedure, so I reverted back to automatic IP. My router address is 192.168.1.1, so what should I set the pc addies to?


As regards "pass-through authentication", each time I log on I have to type in my password, where I'm i going wrong there?

Thanx so much for your help boys, nice to know there's an helping hand just a click away.

BIG Kiss
Emma

 

[shadoe_phantom]

Tried to assign IP addresses as suggested but that screwed up my net connection on both PC's. Was a little baffled with that procedure, so I reverted back to automatic IP. My router address is 192.168.1.1, so what should I set the pc addies to?

That is strange lol. In that case if you want to assign ip addies to your PCs, then set one to 192.168.1.2 and the other to 192.168.1.3 with submasks as 255.255.255.0.
Then make their default gateway your router IP addy (being 192.168.1.1). That should do it.
Ofcourse am not familiar with your router so might be the type to automatically finds IP addies anyways but usually best you have a set IP so your PCs can keep the default PC locations of each other (instead of always having to search for their location).
You might have to set in your browsers the gateway of the router it has to communicate with and also port used by your router.
Check your router manual for info on that if needed.

@new problem with auth.pass. check in the properties for the shared folders/directory/drive if there is something you have checked there that makes you have to enter password each time. I totally don't have that anymore on my machines (had that disabled but don't recall how now lol) but am pretty sure it was in a security setting for the shared folders. Perhaps it is something that occurs also if person loging in is not an admin on that machine? A restricted user perhaps?