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Computer not accessible over network

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18 replies

by stargazerr 1 view

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A simple enough problem this time. My mind has turned to mush. Maybe because I am still at the office ...

I have connected 2 computers to the hub. They are both on the same workgroup. Both are windows XP Pro .. (blech) ... Folders are shared. But when I try to access them I get a computername not accessible error.

I have tried enabling local user access from the registry. Turned XP firewall off for both computers.

Help !!!

Thanks in advance

18 replies

by deadly ernest

and then check all the settings in the Network Connestion Properties - just make sure that they are the same. Check that the computer names are different. And also check if they each have an account for the other on each - although this should not be a problem, it often is.

by stargazerr

Computer names are different. Workgrup is same. What do you mean by having an account on the other for each?

]:)

by deadly ernest

unless you are logged in - this means you have to access through a log in ID that is recognised by the machine with the resource you wish to use. For example:

Machine A named 'Sales' user logged in is 'Ralph'

Machine B named 'Stock' user logged in is 'Harry'

Ralph wants to use a shared file on 'Stock' - XP will not permit access unless there is a user account on 'Stock' for 'Ralph' that has the same password as the one he uses on 'Sales' and the resource is shared. When 'Sales' tries to access 'Stock', 'Stock' will ask 'Sales' for a valid user ID and password and check the user ID accounts on 'Stock' if not found, no access.

It is possible to set them up so that you could have the user account match the computer name - never managed that one myself but seen it done. Thus any user on that PC can access the other.

In a general work environment it access is controlled through a domain server that has all the logon IDs etc and give the approvals.

Peer to peer network is a bugger in XP as you have to change passwords on all machines when you change them. Simple file sharing is supposed to make this need for used ID not needed, but I have very rarely seen it work that way.

by mpaulino

3 things you can do....

1. Disable MS Networking and TCP/IP all together and reanable them. Test.

2. Change the workgroup name and the PC names. (Dont forget to share a folder or a printer) Test.

3. If those two don't work and taking into consideration that you have checked the obvious (Patch Cords and Hub - this is a good time to change ports in the hub) You should go into the local security policy in the computer administration and load the default security template that comes with windows.

That's all I can think of for now, given what you've stated...

Marcos PC

by multiplexed

Along with the previous mentions of

ensuring there's a user account on both machines
Shared Folder & NTFS Permissions

Try accessing \\ipaddress to log in. Then navigate to a share.

When logging in, log in as XXX\username
where XXX is the computer or domain name, and username is a user account on that machine.

Be sure you're not having problems with cached credentials.

In the local security policy, there's also a user right, "Access this computer from the network"

Also, it's a myth that all machines need to be in the same workgroup. They don't. You can have as many workgroups as you need, and any machine can access any resource in other workgroups. Workgroups are just that, "groups". They're not security boundries like a domain is.

by stargazerr

Ping works fine. But I could not see the computer on the network and when i finally managed to ... It locked me out sayin that I dont have permission to access this computer .. :(

]:)

by hans

Did you use networking setup wizard to configure workstations or just 'share' the desired resources. I have found the wizard reliable in setting peer to peer environments.

by deadly ernest

network settings but the local approval process on the other machine. You can either set up an account on the other machine that matches the one you are using or MAP the folder and when setting up the MAP use the bit that says 'Log on as another user' then enter the name and password of an account you have on that machine.

by robert-higareda

Make sure both computers since hooked to a hub have a static designated IP in the same subnet range (i.e. 192.168.1.100 and 192.168.1.101 or such) then lastly if that doesnt work, create an account with the same name on each computer, and double check your share and security settings and add this new user to the permission allowing it access to read and execute at least, or more permission if you want this user to be able to edit documents on the remote share. If you can not access the other computer by netbios name try by using the designated IP address and see if that works for you. Goodluck!

by wallowamichael

Also in the IP settings:
Set no gateway or set it to the computer IP address. Same for DNS, use either no setting or the local computer's IP address. (or 127.0.0.1 e.g.)

Then the local ARP tables will be queried for connection information, which is quicker than IP.

Be sure you can ping BY NAME before trying to connect to the share.

Good Luck!

by mvw

Make sure your Client for Microsoft Networks component is checked under Local Area Connection Properties. Had a user "accidentally" uncheck that and I killed an hour trouble shooting why he couldn't access network resources.

by allycatuk

XP doesnt like peer to peer sharing much unless you have the default shared documents folder shared on each machine. Also, something maybe to consider is whether each is running the sp2, file sharing bugs have been worked out better with sp2 than with sp1

by rob mekel

if the folders/directories are accessible for the workgroup members.

Rob

edited for typo

by deadly ernest

I have worked on over a thousand computers using Win XP (mostly Pro, some Home) and I have never seen a P2P installation that will allow access to resources or folders on it without you logging in with a valid user and ID that is part of its local user list. I have seen general access to workgroup members in a domain managed situation but not P2P.

The best P2P set up for easy access that I have seen was four computers with the same user ID and password on each and the system was set to auto boot into that basic user ID. All the shared resources were mapped to each machine. After the set up it was just turn on and use.

by thefrown

I have experienced this before in Win2K where everything appeared OK, but the hub autosensed the NIC speeds, one PC connected at 10 MB and the other at 100 and they wouldn't speak to one another. May be worth checking out in XP too ...

by rkhands

If you have Norton Internet Security installed, you might want to check the personal firewall settings and make sure that the network is in the trusted state.

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