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Wired Networking Works, Wireless Doesn't

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8 replies

by dblues

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File/Print sharing works perfectly between my wired XP desktop and wired XP laptop. However, when I switch the laptop to wireless connectivity (via Linksys Wireless Access Point), File/Print sharing does not work (Network path not found). In fact, I cannot see the other networked computers in wireless mode. Windows Firewall is off on both machines, and I have configured Norton Firewall (desktop) and ZoneAlarm (laptop) for LAN access. The laptop wireless adapter has "File & Printer Sharing for M/S Networks" enabled. I'm stumped. Any ideas?

8 replies

by sgt_shultz

and the internet works in both wired and wireless modes? just not the LAN?
my guess is that you get put on a different ip address range with the wireless and that norton's and zonealarm (gilding the lily?) maybe really aren't configured to allow that lan ip range.
if you think this might be on the right track, use Start/Run/ipconfig from the problem box. Do it in wired mode then in wireless mode.
maybe all you'll have to do to get this to work is turn off the dhcp server in the linksys wireless ap

by dblues

Poster rated this answer.
The problem appears to be IP address related, not WAP file sharing configuration. Thanks!

by dblues

The problem is definitely the wireless IP address. When I added the (current) wireless Laptop IP address to the Desktop firewall, file/print sharing started working again! (Forgot to mention that it had worked previously).
And, yes, Internet works fine on the Laptop in both wired and wireless modes. Also, the reason each machine has a firewall is because my DSL modem/router does not (legacy RBOC equipment!). So, I need to watch out for future wireless IP address changes, right?

by cg it

well, an answer all depends upon how you get your IP address for TCP/IP properties. So the question is how does your wired comps get an address [including the laptop] and then how do you have the laptop configured to get an address using the wireless adapter?

by dblues

Poster rated this answer.
Yeah, I had "IP Passthrough" for the Laptop enabled on my DSL modem, and that was resetting the wireless IP address. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

by azteca

Do you have a WEP in the Wireless LAN?, without the WEP, XP Wireless LAN starts on Limited Conecction, try to add a WEP (this is since XP SP2, something to do with security risks)

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