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stevoXkinevo

19 Posts

49958

January 16th, 2007 00:00

File/Printer Sharing problems

Okay, well here it goes...

I just recently set up a wireless router (Linksys WRT45G)with current firmware. I have my desktop pc (windows xp home sp2 avg antivirus) hardwired to it and my laptop (winxp sp2 symantic antivirus) wirelessly connected to it. I used the network connection wizard on both computers to enable file and printer sharing as well as making them part of the same workgroup. The only firewall i have installed is the windows firewall. Both computers have File/Printer sharing on the exceptions list. Both have the file/printer sharing and network tools installed.

Now the problem is, I can see and access the shared folders on my pc with my wireless laptop, however the opposite won't work. The laptop's shared folder won't even show up in my pc's network places, however by exploring and going through some folders i managed to find the laptop, but when i double click on it i get a message saying that it could not be accessed. This really puzzles me because the connection works in one direction yet not the other. I would prefer a solution that doesnt involve disabling ALL firewalls, since I have a dsl connection that is always on.

Any insight?

MRF4700

2 Intern

 • 

1.8K Posts

January 16th, 2007 01:00

Do you have Symantec Anti-virus or Norton internet security installed on your system?

stevoXkinevo

19 Posts

January 16th, 2007 01:00

yeah, symantic antivirus on the laptop

jmwills

2 Intern

 • 

12K Posts

January 16th, 2007 11:00

Are the two in the same Workgroup?  Did you actually share the folder?
 
Can you ping the other name ny name?
 

On any computer running Windows XP with SP1, disable the Windows XP firewall. It will not allow File and Printer Sharing. On computers running Windows XP with SP2, make sure that the Windows XP firewall has File and Printer Sharing checked off on the Exceptions tab. If you are running any third party firewalls, like those provided by such programs as Zone Alarm, Norton Internet Security, or McAfee Security Suite, make sure they are configured to allow local network traffic

stevoXkinevo

19 Posts

January 16th, 2007 13:00

Yes, same workgroup and the folders are being shared.  Not sure how to ping though.  Both comps are running sp2 so the sp1 solutions won't work.  There arent any 3rd party firewalls installed unless symantec automatically enables one (which i couldnt find in any of its configuration options).  The windows firewall has file and printer sharing listed and checked under exceptions.  This all leads me to believe that there must be some sort or permissions setting that isnt correct on my laptop, since the laptop can access the pc's files but not the other way around.

stevoXkinevo

19 Posts

January 16th, 2007 13:00

also, i am unable to do simple file sharing.  that option just doesnt show up under the folder properties tab in the tools menu.  all online tutorials show it there, but it doesnt appear on mine. no idea why

jmwills

2 Intern

 • 

12K Posts

January 16th, 2007 14:00

The Symantec product...is it Norton Security Suite?

stevoXkinevo

19 Posts

January 16th, 2007 14:00

No, it is just called Symantec AntiVirus; got it through my college's IT dept

stevoXkinevo

19 Posts

January 17th, 2007 00:00

anyone have an idea?

jmwills

2 Intern

 • 

12K Posts

January 17th, 2007 04:00

Find the IP address of each machine by running the ipconfig tool
 
Start>Run>type cmd and hit enter
type ipconfig /all and hit enter
 
since you are on a Linksys router the address wil be 192.168.1.x
 
Get that address for both machines
 
Now again from the C:\
 
type "ping 192.168.1.x"
 
 where x is the Ip Address of the other machine.  Any failure means you have a firewall blocking access.  You do not want simple File sharing Running.

stevoXkinevo

19 Posts

January 17th, 2007 14:00

ok, i will check that when i get home from work.  you sure the firewall problem is on the desktops side?  it seems counterintuitive that the desktops files can be accessed but the laptops cant due to a firewall on the desktop.  i'm not overly knowledgeable about firewalls so bear with me here haha

jmwills

2 Intern

 • 

12K Posts

January 17th, 2007 14:00

It means the Avast product you have installed on the desktop has a built in firewall and is blocking the connection.  Go thru the configuration carefully.
 
This would be my best guess as of right now.

stevoXkinevo

19 Posts

January 17th, 2007 14:00

ok, my laptop was able to ping my pc, but when my pc tried to ping my laptop it got a connection timeout all 4 attempts.  does this mean the firewall is on my pc side or my laptop side?  the only thing i can think of is the symantec antivirus causing a problem, but as far as i know it doesn't include a firewall

jmwills

2 Intern

 • 

12K Posts

January 17th, 2007 15:00

Sorry, I read it backwards. The problem IS the laptop.  That Norton product has to have a firewall installed with the AV product.

stevoXkinevo

19 Posts

January 17th, 2007 22:00

ok, well i uninstalled the symantec antivirus, then ran the network setup wizard once again with no antivirus running at all, and only the windows firewall (which is correctly configured from waht i've read so far). same problem, file access only goes one way and the desktop is unable to ping the laptop. however now under workgroup computers, my laptop shows up; access is still denied. what now? is there part of the symantec product still on my laptop (because the live update is still in my control panel and is functional if i double click it)

jmwills

2 Intern

 • 

12K Posts

January 18th, 2007 00:00

Can you now ping the laptop from the desktop?

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