Workgroup Problems

[furiousV]

I have three PCs.
My PC(192.168.1.2), the Family PC (.1.4), both with Windows XP installed from the same disk.
A linux PC (.1.3), with Samba for remote file sharing and so on.

My PC is part of a workgroup, it can see itself(my shared docs and etc) AND the samba system and gain access to it.

The Family PC for some reason can not see the workgroup PCs. And my PC can not see the Family PC in the workgroup either.

Spelling is definetly fine, as I have re-entered it, run several wizards and rebooted hundreds of times. No luck at all.

The computers can all ping each other perfectly fine, and all have internet access. I even have Remote Desktop access to the problem computer (that saves me running up and down the stairs all th time)

Some friends have had th same problem, and searching for this problem on google has come up with the only solution:

Re-install Windows!

IMHO that is a pathetic solution to a problem that I'm sure can be fixed, and is also currently not an option. Does anybody know whats wrong, what needs to be done to make this work?

Thanks

Also note that the firewall on the Windows PCs have been disabled (router should provide protection)

 

[Lahire149]

do u have the necessay sericves enabled on your .1.4 ?

 

[furiousV]

do u have the necessay sericves enabled on your .1.4 ?

Thanks for responding.

Yeah, Client for Microsoft Windows, File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks, QoS Packet Scheduler and Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). All there

I checked them out, it is all identical on the .1.2 and .1.4 (via remote desktop)

I even uninstalled them and re-installed them to see if that would work today. Unfortunately, no such luck.

 

[Lahire149]

did you try updating network drivers and router firmware?

 

[furiousV]

Latest network drivers installed and tried running the wizard again to jion the workgroup, still no luck.

But what could updating the router firmware do? I had the workgroup working before I had to re-install Windows. I spose I shall try.

 

[WhiteZero]

This is a pretty common problem I've had as well.
Just try typing \\computername in Explorer or My Network Places and see if the shares popup.

If you can ping it fine then unless the workgroup name on one or more of the computers is off, then you should be able to see it on the list. I'd double check the Workgroup name on all the computer.

 

[furiousV]

WhiteZero, just done so.
From the .1.4 (offending) PC, it simply 'cannot find it'
From my own PC, which does work, it cannot find the offending PC either.

However, if I type in My own PC in my PC, I do see my shares.

Checked spelling names again, re-run the wizard, even got other people to double-check my spelling for me (and if it was so, I would be at the opticians already ) however, spelling is all spot-on.

Pinging works perfecty fine, all PCs can ping every single PC.

Just noticed something new:
Unable to browse network. The network is not present or not started.

Screenshot View attachment 18697
Taken via Remote Desktop (which works perfectly fine, surprisingly)

Thanks for replying, I'm sure this will get sorted if we stick at it.

 

[Asus]

Are you SURE the Windows XP firewall is disabled? The problems to me look like that would be the issue. Not sure otherwise. Just have to fiddle with it.
Otherwise check the folders you have shared have the permissions set so they can access the folders. If you don't want to limit which PCs can see the folders then just make sure that 'Everyone' is selected.

Do you have the IPs set to AUTO or are they set to specific IPs?

 

[WhiteZero]

Also, try getting the IP address of one of the computers that when you type in \\computername dosent work, and type in \\ipaddress

If Remote Desktop is working and you can ping it, then some something isnt set up right on one or more of them for filesharing or workgroup access.

I assume you already checked to make sure that all the stuff under your "local area connection"'s properties are checked and not blank? lol, silly question but have to make sure.

Also ensure that no 3rd party Firewalls are running either. Like my Sygate Personal Firewall has a setting to enable workgroup sharing, but it dosent work so I just have to turn it off at times.

Oh, and make sure that your Workgroup is setup under the radio button for "Workgroup" and not "Domain" in your computers' "Computer Name" settings.

And maybe even try disconnecting the Linux box from the network.

 

[Lahire149]

Also ensure that no 3rd party Firewalls are running either. Like my Sygate Personal Firewall has a setting to enable workgroup sharing, but it dosent work so I just have to turn it off at times.

what i was thinking