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cant conect to workgroup

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by shortstuff 1 view

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Hi guys I have an intermitant problem here. I have 4 pc's networked, 1 running XP pro, 1x XP home, 1 x 2000 server and 1 x laptop win2000. Theyre conected via a 3Com cable router/access point using DHCP to allocate IP adresses. Everthing has been working fine but recently I'm having problems viewing the workgroup. ( no domain ae yet) I can ping all of the PC's and use/ping the internet as well on all. However if I try to view the workgroup to connect to a pc I cant access it. All I get is 'the workgroup is not acessible, you might not have permision etc, the network path was not found.
I can also send folders/files via 'send to' so I know the network is connected and present. Another strange thing is that if I use 'net view' it gives me a System error 53, network path not found. Ive tried rebooting the router and using the network wizard and also checking settings/firewall etc, but nothing helps, any idea's please?
glenn

9 replies

by debbiegourley

Hi Glenn

I notice you are not as yet on a domain and are operating in a peer to peer environment. If it was a domain, the first thing you would check is your WINS (remember this for future). Since you are operating in a peer-to-peer workgroup, enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP. This should do the trick. If it doesn't let me know. Also make sure that Microsoft Client for Networks is enabled on the local computers.

Hope this is helpful

Regards

Debbie

by shortstuff

Hi debbie, many thanks for the response, that did enable me to view the systems which to be honest i thought it would, what concerns me is that this network has been stable for the last 2-3 years without any problems. And with all due respect I never had to enable netbios before, considering this a 'backward step' in a way. I'm more concerned as to why this should hapen now, so while I'm happy I have a few nagging doubts in nmy mind lol and would love to know the cause for future reference. But once again many thanks for your input, all gratefuy recieved!!

by debbiegourley

Hi Glenn

Just thought of something else. Perhaps the firewall on client. Disable it an try again. In my case Internet
Security Zone was setup as High which can prevent any file sharing.

Cheers again

Debbie

by bfilmfan

It looks like the router is acting as your DNS server.

I would recommend that you use the 2000 server as a DNS server. You could also use WINS, if you find that you need NetBios.

Windows XP home cannot participate in a domain; thus, you will be forced to remain in peer workgroup mode.

I would also recommend that you make your Windows 2000 server the preferred master browser for the workgroup. On the 2000 server, configure HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Browser\Parameters\IsDomainMaster to True. On all other systems, set it to false.

by cwunder3

Try removing all of your mapped drives and network printers. Go to the command prompt and run an ipconfig /flushdns, then ipconfig /registerdns. Then reconnect the drives and printers. After the drives are connected, go to the command prompt and type net config server /autodisconnect:-1 This will set the network timeout period to -1 and essentially keep the connection to the server on all of the time.

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