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Network issue with Windows XP...

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by shawnfinnie

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I am currently trying to network 2 XP Home edition systems and have encountered a bit of a snag. The downstairs machine can 'see' the upstairs computer, but cannot access any files, Cannot find server \\Upstairs... The upstairs machine cannot see the downstairs one at all. They can both ping each other, and for simplicity sake I have shared out both harddrives at the root. I have changed the network card in the upstairs one and run the net diagnostics on it. In net dianostics the NIC always fails but it can connect to the internet. I have setup the network from scratch using the good old workgroup "Test" but to no avail. The upstairs machine takes a very lone time to go from Client for Microsoft Networks to the workgroup Test and longer still to Open the workgroup without even seeing itself in there. Any suggestions?

3 replies

by myths

Did you remember to turn off the firewalls on the LAN connections? If you're running Zone Alarm or similar program, you need to give access to each ip address. If running the Windows firewall, just turn it off on the LAN connection.

by baz_shaw

Probably an obvious question, but have you enabled 'File & Printer Sharing' in your NICs' TCP/IP Properties page?

How about opening the command prompt and typing 'NET USE \\Upstairs (or \\downstairs) and then going back to Explorer and browsing \\upstairs\c$ (for the root share)

Are both NICs of the same breed, ie autonegotiating? If you are connecting directly with a crossover, try going via a hub/switch with patch cables instead. The hub will autonegotiate for each PC.

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