Trouble Sharing Files on Network

Question

I have a Dell desktop and recently purchased a Dell B120 laptop.  Both use XP and have Norton Internet Security 2006 installed on them.  I am attempting to set up a wireless network and am having a few issues.  The connection seems to be working.  I have turned on file sharing on both computers but it seems that I can only see the laptop files on the desktop - not the other way around.    I have checked the firewall and both indicate the IP address as a trusted network.  I have searched the Microsoft website and am at a loss.  I have tried everything I have seen.  Does anyone have any ideas?  Someone mentioned permissions but I can't seem to locate where to grant permissions.   Also, is there a way that I can share my Outlook on both computers or can I only have the email address on 1 computer?  Any help would be appreciated!  Thanks!

emery94 · Answer

Sorry - It is a B130, not B120 Jodi

esquire · Answer

You might have to configure your NIS further. I tweaked Inbound NetBIOS Name and Inbound NetBIOS in General Rules under Advanced Firewall to permit traffic seemed to work for my network.

Here is an alternative tutorial: http://www.leeindy.com/firewall_nis-1.shtml (click on "Click here to continue to part 2 of this tutorial" and so on at the bottom of each page to go to the next)

esquire · Answer

I missed the side question on Outlook.

It depends on how much you want to share, but it is possible to share either Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express over a local network; it is however not without the hassle.

For POP3 email account, an even more basic setup is to have a separate email storage on each computer with the identical email address and email settings with one exception - all but one computer leaves email on server after checking email (the computer without this enabled should be the last computer to check email). Both Outlook and Outlook Express support this feature - look for it under other functions of your email account settings.

If your ISP provides an IMAP email account (as opposed to POP3), you can access your email directly from the server on any of your computers under Outlook or Outlook Express as if the messages are directly on your computer, thus negating the need to enable the setting to leave email on server.

All done with a single email address and account :smileywink:

Message Edited by esquire on 02-14-2006 10:31 AM

Suzbandit · Answer

As far as outlook goes, you have to have outlook downloaded to both computers, and a separate email address for both. Contact your ISP regarding email addresses - most will give you more than two. They have to set up the addresses for you. :smileyhappy:

emery94 · Answer

I tried the tutorial and had to change each of these.  There are still others that are blocked but to be honest, I am not sure what they mean and if I should change them or not.  The ones that are indicating as blocked are:   Default Inbound NetBIOS Default Block Microsoft Windows 2000 SMB Default Block EPMAP   You mentioned that you tweaked the Inbound NetBIOS Name.  What did you mean by that?  Sorry, this is a little out of my comfort zone :)   Jodi

esquire · Answer

I have an extra entry called (Default) Inbound NetBIOS Name as well as (Default)  Inbound NetBIOS - most of them have the label 'Default' because they are referring to the default ports for the particular network service.  If the tutorial works, you can leave the rest of the firewall rules as is.

emery94 · Answer

I actually have already done that.  However, will that mean that the sent box won't be synchronized?  If I send an email from my laptop, it won't appear on the desktop and vice versa?   Jodi

esquire · Answer

@emery94 wrote:

I actually have already done that. However, will that mean that the sent box won't be synchronized? If I send an email from my laptop, it won't appear on the desktop and vice versa?

Jodi

Unfortunately, Sent Items folders will not be synchronized this way, nor will address books. It is possible to "synchronize" but probably at the expense of sharing everything and it is quite messy (bordering on nightmare) to setup - at a minimum you need your network sharing working. Not recommended unless you know what you are getting yourself into :smileytongue:

emery94 · Answer

I apologize - I should have been more specific.  The tutorial did not seem to work.

emery94 · Answer

I know that you indicated it might be a nightmare, but this is something I am really interested in doing.  I am really the only user of the email so I am not worried about sharing everything.  Would you be willing to point me in the right direction?    Currently I also use a Dell Axim (not for email though).  I like the ability to synch my calendar, contacts, tasks, etc.  It would be so much easier if everything was the same on each device.  Thank you for your assistance!!   Jodi

emery94 · Answer

Unfortunately, the answer is still no. I have deduced it to be with the actual network rather than the firewall. Let me tell you what I have tried...

The workgroup name is right on both computers. When I view the workgroup on each computer, I can see both of them on each unit. I have gotten each of them to "ping" (whatever that means) with the IP addresses and the computer name. I have run the network wizard on each computer again with the same information. All the files are indicating as sharing and I have verified that there is a guest account setup for network access. However, when I test the connection from the start, run, \\desktop, it states "The network path not found". The \\laptop worked just fine. Any ideas?

One other thing that occured to me, our desktop actually has 2 ethernet cards (the one active and the other is disabled). Would that cause any problem?

I want you to know that your information is not a loss! Even once I get this straightened out, I still would have had the firewall issues. I really appreciate your patience with me! I am a rookie when it comes to networking. I know that I will absolutely love it once I get it figured out.

Regarding Outlook, I am using 2003. Are you saying that once my network issues are fixed, they will pull from the same file meaning everything I do at either location will show at each?

Once again, thank you so much! I am a mom of triplets and I would like this networking thing to make my life easier :) Unfortunately, I am not feeling it yet!

esquire · Answer

Is your network sharing working yet?  I presume you have done the same to NIS on both computers, correct?  Try to permit Inbound NetBIOS in the General Rules as well.     Which Microsoft Outlook version are you running?  Note if you use the same data in Outlook on both computers, you 'share' everything - it is not synchronizing but to use the same Outlook.PST storage.  If you just want to synchronize Contacts, Tasks, Calendar/Appointments (and to a certain extent, email) with your PPC, you can do so very easily - PPC allows synchronizing up to 2 computers, so that's an alternative of getting the more or less the same data on both computers.

esquire · Answer

@emery94 wrote:

Unfortunately, the answer is still no. I have deduced it to be with the actual network rather than the firewall. Let me tell you what I have tried...

The workgroup name is right on both computers. When I view the workgroup on each computer, I can see both of them on each unit. I have gotten each of them to "ping" (whatever that means) with the IP addresses and the computer name. I have run the network wizard on each computer again with the same information. All the files are indicating as sharing and I have verified that there is a guest account setup for network access. However, when I test the connection from the start, run, \\desktop, it states "The network path not found". The \\laptop worked just fine. Any ideas?

One other thing that occured to me, our desktop actually has 2 ethernet cards (the one active and the other is disabled). Would that cause any problem?

I want you to know that your information is not a loss! Even once I get this straightened out, I still would have had the firewall issues. I really appreciate your patience with me! I am a rookie when it comes to networking. I know that I will absolutely love it once I get it figured out.

Regarding Outlook, I am using 2003. Are you saying that once my network issues are fixed, they will pull from the same file meaning everything I do at either location will show at each?

Once again, thank you so much! I am a mom of triplets and I would like this networking thing to make my life easier :) Unfortunately, I am not feeling it yet!

Sorry for not replying to your post; I have been busy.

a) Re the part I've marked in red. Were you doing this from just your notebook?

b) Are you using a router to share your network?

c) What 2 ethernet cards do you have on your desktop?

d) Do you use any password on your Windows logon accounts?

If you are still without file sharing, here's a checklist for you to troubleshoot your network:

1. Disable all firewalls on your computers, except the firewall on your router. (I presume you are using a router)

2. Make sure you have shared at least one folder to the network on one computer. (I usually enable this manually without using the wizard: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/honeycutt_august13.mspx)

3. Have both computers assigned to the same network Workgroup. (This isn't actually necessary, but it does help)

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Trouble Sharing Files on Network

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