unable to share

Steve,

Yes I can hook to the internet on the laptop and I disabled all firewalls, anti-virus programs, anti-spyware programs yesterday and still nothing, would be more than happy just to share my printer. Going to repeat disabling again, will get back to you.

Al

Ok.  That output is showing that the wireless network card is indeed getting an IP address from the router and should have internet connectivity.  Is it able to connect to the internet?  If so, and it is still not able to share files and printers, then the only conclusion I can come to is that something is blocking file and printer sharing.  Have you disabled any firewalls on the computers that you are trying to connect to or that have printers attached that you are trying to connect to?

Steve

My daughter brought over her new Gateway and I was able to set it up to share in minutes, so after this and the fact that the Dell wireless people said they couldn't help me I packed it up and sent it back. Going to get a new Gateway.
Thanks for all your assistance and do you think I made the right move by returning it?

Alan

Here is the thing about Dell Tech Support;

1. Always buy the Gold support PKG. You get better service and they dont Offshore you. Worth every penny + you get damage and loss insurance as part of the pkg.

NO,
Unless its changed Gateway allocates $0.00 for R&D, they just slap stuff in a box and hope it works. Would have been better to run out and grab a high end Wireless NIC and put it in the dell.

I think I'll go Acer then because I was concerned about the fact that Dell's wireless people wouldn't help me and maybe it is an omen about future Dell support and again thanks for the help.

Alan

What would you suggest? Also considering Acer from a local dealer where I can get support or a Toshiba. What do you think would be the best, not an entry level but maybe mid class one.

Alan

Good advice!

Alan

20 March 2006
Prior to adding a Dell XPS to my LAN (named LANGROUP) I had no trouble sharing files or printers. There was 1 Print Server and there were 6 computers in the workgroup. Two of them were also linked in a Domain. Under My Network Places/Entire Network, all computers could see all the computers on the network and the printers attached to them. It was possible to map drive letters to all computers drives and folders within them. It was also possible to print to any of the installed printers, Laser, Ink Jet or Dot Matrix. The computers are 1) Dell PowerEdge Win2kpro Domain Server, 2) Generic Win2kpro Langroup workstation, 3) Dell 4300 Win2kpro Langroup Workstation, 4) Dell 266 Win95 Domain Workstation, 5) Toshiba Satellite Win98 Laptop Langroup Workstation, 6) Generic Linux Red Hat w/Samba Langroup Workstation. Then I installed computer number 7 as another Langroup Workstation, a Dell XPS200 running Win XP and everything went crazy, similar to what has been posted by other users.

I checked Microsoft and Dell support, MSDN, Microsoft Knowledge Base, and the Dell Community Forum. Two suggestions in particular, among others, kept popping up. One dealt with Firewalls and the other suggested looking at the Router or Hub. Since everything worked OK before the XPS200 I concentrated on the XPS200, disconnected the Microsoft Firewall I didn't uninstall it because I was not confident I could get it back if I wanted it, and I uninstalled PC-cillin that came installed on the machine. Nothing changed. The next task would be to replace the Hub to see if the problem lie there, but since I expect to install a DSL line within the next few weeks I delayed playing around with the Hub until I get the DSL line and a new Router. In the meantime I made sure that the Windows Firewall was turned off (Security Center is ambiguous showing both ON and OFF "Your PC is not protected. Turn on Windows Firewall. Firewall ON) and I reinstalled PC-cillin because of its virus protection capabilities. Windows Firewall and PC-cillin should not be active at the same time. Then I shut down the entire system and restarted it. And some of it worked as follows:

1) Langroup under Entire Network did not expand. Domain did expand. I could still Map to this computer's Drive from a langroup member. The printers all showed Ready and were accessible.

2) Langroup fully expanded (Except for Computer #3 - but that's another problem. Nothing can access #3. A virus I suspect). All printers show Ready and are accessible.

3) Langroup fully expanded. All printers show Ready. #3 can see all other Computers but none of them can see #3. This problem preceeded the installation of the XPS200

4) Neither Langroup nor the Domain expand. This is a workstation on the Domain. #1 is the Domain Server. I cannot access #7 to Map to it from here. (I need at least one access path between the Langroup and the Domain.)

5) Langroup fully expanded. All printers show ready.

6) I haven't checked the Linux machine out yet.

7) Langroup does not expand but I can Map to other Langroup members (Except #3). Printers all show Ready. So this is still a problem but at least I can use it.

Once I get the DSL and Router hooked up we'll see what complications that interjects into the situation. I hope this is useful to someone and if someone can shed some light on the situation I will be eternally grateful.

Sent the Dell back, bought a Toshiba and am now networking, sharing etc. Took 1/2 hour to get everything working fine.

That's One way to do it ...