Two Dell computers on Win XP can't see each other thru router

Question

I have a Dimension E310 and a Dimension 2350 both running Win XP Pro that were hard wired into a Vonage/Motorola router. I have a Lazerjet 4 on the 2350 and I also have 2 more printers on the 310 and was able to print to any printer from either machine I replaced the Motorola with an Airlink 101, Before the switch I also could access to and from either machine with limited success (the 310 hung up when I tried to run a program that was on the 2350)

My question is "can I USB to USB hard-wire these two machines together in addition to the router or is there something easier because neither machine will see each other thru this router?

Several years ago I installed LAN cards and software in two machines and was able to see and map each other drive as if each machine had two hard drives and that is exactly how I would like these two machines to operate.

Both of these machines are set up 5 feet from each other and only my wife and I run them.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

mrguy242 · Answer

Have you tried the home networking wizard in Network Connections?  If both devices are on the same workgroup, with shares enabled (on printers as well) you should be able to connect to all devices.

dawfuu · Answer

Yessir tried that and tried manual entry of IP addresses but didn't work either. I spent many hours getting the Vonage/Motorola working and tried the same things with this one that I tried with that one but nothing seems to work, I'm thinking it has something to do with access or passwords in the router itself but dont know how to dissable them. I also don't know enough about 'domain  or workgroups' so I'm wondering about 'hardwiring' the two computers together to by-pass all of the security issues with Windows and yet still have individual Internet capabilities with each computer.

MrGuy · Answer

Found my original account.

Hmmm, well your router shouldn't be the problem unless you were in there changing settings, I'd recommend you let it DHCP address but if your using static ones properly you should at least see the shares for both PC's in your shared folder area. Try this, let your router DHCP automatically, set your PC TCP/IP to automatically assign (turn off static), re-acquire addresses, go into cmd from the run command and type ipconfig /all. No period. The gateway is going to be your router, the subnets should be the same, and usually you get an IP of 192.168.1.100 and 192.168.1.101 for both boxes. Write down the IP for each PC, try using ping command from cmd and ping the other PC, if you're on 101 type: ping 192.168.1.100 and see if you get replies, you should. If both boxes can ping each other your router is working fine and the problem lies in XP. Try the home network wizard again, all this does is makes sure your workgroup is the same and enables shares, then logoff and log back into your desktop on both machines. Find my Network Places from your start button and in there you should see the shares.

MrGuy · Answer

...ignore the list in directory part, I get home and domain netword mixed up on ocassion :smileyindifferent:

MrGuy · Answer

Once the shares are working properly, go to the printer properties, enable sharing, list in directory, give it a share name, and on the pc not connected to the printer, add printer, follow instructions for adding shared printer, I think you should see it in listing.  It's been a while since I've messed with this stuff but I'm pretty sure I've got you in the general direction? If it doesn't work let me know?  I have a newly built PC here, I can do mine as well.  I also have a HP 6P printer using a parallel connection, I could set this up as a shared printer as well.

dawfuu · Answer

Thank you for the input.

When I put the router into the system I had to manually set IP then try connecting to the internet (which didn't work) then go back switch to automatic then it would connect to the internet.

It would not work until I went thru that procedure. Now I have auto IP on both machines, I did what you said "cmd/ipconfig/all" shows 192.168.1.100 and .102 for the other unit . Then went "ping" from each machine got back a "timed out" response. Then went to router (192.168.1.1) selected auto IP, let it reboot then tried to access internet (didn't work) tried to ping 192.168.1.100 and .102 from each machine with no success (got a timed out message from each machine) so went back to router manually put in IP etc; then was able to get on internet to send this msg.

Do you think I might have bad router or I'm just over looking some setting. I've been messin w/computers for 30 years now and I am thinking that I'm not as smart as the computers are nowdays.

MrGuy · Answer

Dang, those PC's should be able to ping each other if on the same router?  Is windows firewall turned off?  You can add exception later once you get this going.  Do you have a different router you can try?  Boy the newer ones w/switch are pretty much plug and play these days.

dawfuu · Answer

With the vonage router I could ping and was able to 'map network drive', use printer on other machine etc; but cant thru this Airlink router hard-wired together. I also tried disconnecting router and connected ethernet (cat 5) cable from one machine to the other with no success.

MrGuy · Answer

So you're using two routers?  You motorola and an Apple Airlink?  Also you'd need a ethernet cross over cable to connect between two NIC's.  This is an option, best way is to have two NIC's per machine with one static (crossover one), but this networking issue should be resolveable. without having to resort to crossover connection, that's what networking is all about.

dawfuu · Answer

I had the vonage router hooked up so that I could have the phone from Vonage but the quality of phone service was terrible, fax wouldn't work so took it out to send back to Vonage. I had this Airlink sitting here that my son gave me thinking no big deal just hook it up same way and all would be hunkey dorey but no go.

You say that I need a crossover cable?? Can that be a USB type plug-in and then can one computer go thru the other one to access the internet?? Or would both computers still have to be connected thru a router or would purchasing a "hub" accomplish the same thing?

MrGuy · Answer

How are you connecting to the internet?  Never use hubs, they broadcast to all devices, I'd pick up a router with built in switch.  Check Newegg, Linksys has a bunch in there but get the one that has the best reviews.  Also might as well get wireless on it as well.  A switch by itself would allow you to communicate between devices with static IP's but you should really get a router/switch, this gives you sooo much more options.

dawfuu · Answer

I have a wireless DSL that connects to the router with a cat 5 connector to the WAN port on the router.

I don't need anything for expansion or future office or any thing like that just so my wife and I might be able to share printers and some files (MSOFFICE cuz I couldn't afford to go buy 2 coppies) and yet both of us able to be on the internet at the same time doing different things. Didnt really think I had to spend a bunch more money to be able to LAN 2 computers together.

MrGuy · Answer

I think a router with built in 4 port switch would solve your problems.  Maybe you could borrow one from someone just to test?  Having a fully functioning router is the answer for anyone using multiple IP devices in one location.

dawfuu · Answer

I have solved the problem ! ! ! :smileyvery-happy:

I want to thank you for the help !!

I called the Airlink people and the fellow there had me try the ping thing etc; (no success) ... So he asked if I had security software which I did have Norton 360... He told me to dissable it ,, so I deleted it off of both machines and TA DA! I have complete comunication from and to each machine after turning off Windows firewall (the router has a built-in firewall), with complete file and printer sharing..

Thanks agian for your input.

Dean

MrGuy · Answer

Funny how the most obvious solution is usually the last procedure implemented?  That's always the first thing I do when networking boxes locally--disable windows firewall and any third party security.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Two Dell computers on Win XP can't see each other thru router

Was this post helpful?