Peer to Peer network problem

Question

This should be a no brainer but it's not.  I have a small peer to peer network.  It consists of 2 machines, each running Windows XP Pro.  I have a LinkSys DSL router.  So far so good.  I follow the instructions for connecting these PC's together on a peer to peer network and they seem to connect just fine.  That is, I use the Set up a small network wizard on each machine and afterwards I go into Windows Explorer, select My Network Places, navigate to Entire Network, Microsoft Windows Network, Select MSHome (the defaul workgroup name) and each machine shows the other machine as part of the MSHome group.   The problem comes when I try to add my new Dell Latitude 810. I do exactly the same thing as above but after doing so and moving to Windows Explorer and selecting MSHome I get an error message of:   'MsHome is not accessable. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of the Server to find out if you have access permissions.  The list of servers for this work group is not available.'   I don't understand why I am getting this message.  The only difference I can see is that on the Dell, in addition to a regular network card, I also have a wireless card, which at present I don't use, because frankly I don't know how to use it.  When I use the Network Wizard on this machine I get a dialog that states that the wizard found disconnected network hardware and lists the Wireless Network connection.  I put a check in ignore disconnected network hardware and continue.  On the next screen I select 'This computer connects to the Internet through a residential gatewary or through another computer on my network', same as I do on the other machines, but after running the wizard I get the result mentioned above.   Does someone have an a idea as to what the problem might be?

BBraxton · Answer

Which (of three) computers have NTFS on the Local Drive (as opposed to FAT32)? Does any (such as the new one that does not work) have FAT32 ? Personally I would NOT use MSHOME or any other default name/value but would create one that makes sense for my situation, such as MouseTears3 or BrownHousehold, That is beside the point but NOT beside the point is that each of the three systems must have a unique PC name, so unless you have changed the computer name, there is some chance there may be a conflict: how about Home1 Home2 Home3 for the unique names?

WoodrowS · Answer

Thank you for responding.

All three of the machines have NTFS local drives.

All three of the machines have unique computer names, although at one point I stumbled into a wizard in trying to set this up and it indicated that there might be a naming conflict. So, I changed the name on my Notebook (even though it didn't apear that I needed to). This did not solve the problem.

One other thing that may or may not have significance. My notebook came with Norton Internet Security. All I really wanted was Norton Antivirus but anyway, it came with Norton Internet Security. It appears that Norton Security and Windows firewall fight with each other from time to time. I get messages occasionally stating that Windows is switching to Windows firewall, and asks if I want to switch to Norton firewall. I have consistently told the computer to use the Windows or XP firewall, though I don't know if that is best. I haven't had the time yet to discover what the issues may be with regard to Norton/Windows firewall or Norton Security in general.

At any rate, for the time being I am stuck in the water.

volcano11 · Answer

Either uninstall the firewall in Norton Internet Security or learn how to configure to allow the local network connection. Then disable the firewall you not using. You should never be running the Norton firewall and Windows XP firewall at the same time. If you decide to use the Windows XP firewall, make sure that File and Printer Sharing has a checkmark next to it on the Windows Firewall exceptions tab.

Steve

BBraxton · Answer

I would disable ALL firewall (both Windows firewall and Norton) until you get the wireless/network to work, then decide whether (what) you need to enable. Probably I would permanently disable the Windows firewall, even after it works. Maybe the Norton will expire after 90 days.

WoodrowS · Answer

Thank you for responding.   The problem has been solved and it did have to do with the firewalls.  As soon as they were turned off it started working.  Actually, I don't think I need either.  The LinkSys router acts as a firewall itself (is my understanding).  This is a small home network, I don't think I am interesting enough for others to spend a lot of time hacking into.   Thanks to you and everyone for their help

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Was this post helpful?