Win XP Network Issue

[SirFooK'nG]

Hi guys...

Need some help... I'm a little stumped on this one.

I have two PC's on my work network. Both connect to my ADSL router using DHCP. Both PC's can ping eachother no problem and both have internet connectivity. Problem is I cant access PC2 from PC1. I cant even access the workgroup from PC1?

PC1 is the one I use, both PC's are up to date with XP SP3 and both are running Microsoft Security Essentials. No other firewall apps, just the standard windows firewall. PC1 used to have ZoneAlarm ISS, but I uninstalled it to see if that was the problem (thats when I went to MSE). I have racked my brains over this one and just can't figure it out....

Any Suggestions?

 

[howardb]

Are the 2 PC's set to the same Workgroup?
Are drives/folders shared on each PC with the correct permissions?
Are you using simple file sharing?

 

[Romito]

Are your PC's connected wirelessly or over Ethernet cable? If they're wireless try setting up an adhoc network to see if you can access either of their files. Also disable Microsoft Wireless Zero Configuration Protocol then restart it again on both PC's. Uninstalling and re-installing the network adapters also solved the problem for me sometimes if ever i was stuck.

 

[SirFooK'nG]

@howardb
Yes (can see the workgroup from PC1 but cant access it)
Yes
Yes

I am the administrator on both machines... Thing is, it used to work just fine, then one morning it stopped working. And I neva changed a damn thing...

 

[SirFooK'nG]

Are your PC's connected wirelessly or over Ethernet cable? If they're wireless try setting up an adhoc network to see if you can access either of their files. Also disable Microsoft Wireless Zero Configuration Protocol then restart it again on both PC's. Uninstalling and re-installing the network adapters also solved the problem for me sometimes if ever i was stuck.

Wired... they like 4 feet from eachother...

 

[Hectic]

Are you sure file and printer sharing is enabled?

 

[SirFooK'nG]

Are you sure file and printer sharing is enabled?

LOL ... I'm dead freakin sure..

 

[Random717]

Disable MSE on both and see if you can access them through IP address in explorer?

 

[ben dover]

Run the network setup wizard in "Network Connections".

If still not working, disable simple file sharing in "Folder Options" and manually share the folders.

 

[MrGray]

Go to the command prompt and type net use

Often Windows XP pc's won't share because they already have a mapping to the remote share and explorer supresses the error message.

Delete existing shares from the command prompt with net use <sharename> /del

Alternatively try to map a shared space to a drive letter directly using the target machines administrator account from the command prompt with net use k: \\<ip or machine name>\<share name> /user:administrator

 

[SirFooK'nG]

@Random717 - Will try that...

@ben dover - done the wizard many times. will try disable the simple file sharing

@garp - will also give it a try...

 

[werner]

content removed

 

[SirFooK'nG]

guest account disabled?(either machine)
xp uses guest account for browsing shares if nothing else is available...

I dont have "Permission" to access the workgroup, let alone PC2...

EDIT:

WTF... I went to "Search" , changed to "Computer or People" entered the IP and it found PC2 and its shared folders. I can browse the folders that way... But I couldn't access the PC if I had used explorer directly with the IP address of PC2, and now if I put the IP into Explorer it works first time???

Also going to try this: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/913628

 

[Random717]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/318030

 

[SirFooK'nG]

hmm... something fishy with my XP! Time for Win7 @ work!


Edit:
Alltho... thanx @ Random717... I see the Computer Browser Service was not started, aslo my firewall was set to "public places" (no exeptions). I think we are getting somewhere!

 

[Hectic]

hmm... something fishy with my XP! Time for Win7 @ work!

Lol, tbh, I think I'm beginning to hate Win7's networking.
Not sure I would rush towards Win7 networking if I had a choice.
Love Win7 in general off course

 

[SirFooK'nG]

I have Win7 X64 at home. Yeah its a little bit of a workaround for networking, but Win7 rocks!