Network Help Please.

magpieant

magpieant

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Hi there.

I am in the process of attempting to setup a network. So far my layout looks like this ....

2 computers - upstairs desktop hard wired to router. Downstairs laptop wirelessly connected.

I have ran Network setup wizard, named workgroup the same, and given permissions on hard drives. (By moving them to the shared folder).

The computers can see each other in the workgroup, but when I try and access one from the other, I get the 'You don't have permission' message.

Any advice please?

Cheers.

Anth.
 
Anth.

What happens if you go to the laptop and click on start>run and trype \\pcname\ - replace pcname with the actual name of the pc.

Also - what operating system is installed on both the pc and laptop please?
 
Right XP makes it easy.

Theres two settings for sharing a folder - the folder itself has to be shared and the security permissions need to be set up.

Ensure that the folder is shared, and click security and make sure you add "everyone" to the users list and grant them full control. You're behind a hardware firewall in your router so its safe enough to do this.

Once the security/share is in place you should have no problems. What I generally do is to have a single shared folder called "media" on my pc upstairs. Within this I have music, video, etc, etc. The sharing and security permissions on "media" filter down to the subdirectories and files so they only need setting once.
 
Ok - nearly there.

From using the command prompt (as described above), I can access the drives. However, when I try and access the desktop drive from the laptop drive, the laptop reads it's own local C:\ drive. Do i therefore have to rename the path so it reads the drive in the desktop?

i.e. - instead of reading c: it reads //desktop/c ???

Cheers
 
nah you don't want to be doing it from a command prompt.

just in the run box.

\\pcname

will open an explorer window and will show you all of the shared resources on that pc.

As far as your pc is concerned, the desktop upstairs is \\pcname If you want to use a resource on said pc your pc needs to be told where it is by using this naming convention - \\pcname\resource.

If you want to map (assign) a drive letter on the laptop to a folder on the desktop pc you right click on my network places, left click on map network drive and give it a drive letter - generally any from f:-z: and tick the box that says reconnect on login.

As long as the desktop is turned on when the laptop is logged in, it will assign that drive letter to the shared folder upstairs.
 
Matt,

Still slightly confused !!!!

At the moment my two computers are originally named

desktop & laptop.

When I try and use laptop to read c:\ from desktop, laptop reverts to reading it's own c: drive. How do i avoid this? I am presuming it is something in the target paths ????

Anth
 
you won't be able to see the c: on the desktop if you havent shared it.

try

start > run

\\desktop\c$

If that doesnt work, your C: isn't shared. It may ask you for a username and password.

when you shared out the folder that you shared on the desktop it will have asked you for a name. This name should be visible in the \\desktop\ window in explorer.

You can't from the laptop go to the C: of the desktop, it doesn't work like that and will always go to its own C:

If you right click on the c: of the desktop and click properties and then go to the sharing tab, you can share the entire C:.
 
Ok. Still not 100% on what you mean above.

I can see the c: of the laptop from the desktop, but not the other way around.

When I try and give a name to c: of the desktop to share it, I get the blue screen of death with a BAD POOL HEADER message when I click apply!!!!

It's all fun!!!

\\desktop\c$ did not work .

Where do I go from here? I am still trying to give the desktop c a name. will report back in a few mins - after a few crashes by the look of it!!!

Anth
 
Why do you want to share the entire drives? You'd be better off just sharing folders from the machines, easier that way and you don't accidently delete something from the other machine.

I've not seen the Bad Pool Header before.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304040

Give the above a read - I've got to go to bed now, up in less than 7 hours and I've got some big problems to iron out at work. I'll check the thread sometime tomorrow if I get chance and see how you've gotten on.
 
ARRRRGGGHHH!!!!!

I am now giving up.

The latest is it is now not seeing ANYTHING !!!!

I have tried starting from scratch again, setting up a new workgroup name, etc. However, when I try and connect using the \\laptop\ or \\desktop\ command, I get a NETWORK PATH NOT FOUND message. This is worse than it was originally when at least the 2 computers were talking!!!

Can anyone help me at this late hour, or am I on my own ???
 
Right then,

lets go from the start.

Ignore the network setup wizard - its horrible.

The only reason you would get the above error message is if the computers were not called "desktop" and "laptop". The wizard has probably renamed them to something else.

As long as the two machines are on the same IP subnet, that is for example 192.168.0.2 and 192.168.0.3 (the third number - ie 0 is the same) they can see each other. The last number can be anything from 1-254 although your router is probably .1

Right clicking on my computer and left clicking on properties will bring you up the system properties, left click on computer name and click the change button. Make sure you give the computers names, ie "desktop" and "laptop" and make sure you have something in workgroup - this has to be the same. I believe the MS default is "MSHOME".

Now create a folder on your C: called share.

Right click on this folder and left click on sharing and security.


Left click on the share this folder radio button, click permissions and add everyone to have full control.

Click okay.

Repeat this process on both machines and you should be able to go to \\desktop\share from the laptop and \\laptop\share on the desktop.
 
The way Matt is showing you with calling up computer names is all new to me.

The simple sharing described in his last post above is all I have ever done. Right click a folder in windows explorer and select sharing and security - enable simple file sharing. let the router hand out the IP addresses. All computers have the same workgroup name.

I always view the network from windows explorer. On my network I see
network.jpg


2 are wireless 2 wired.
 
Its more of a troubleshooting tool at this stage robert - easiest way to see if the shares are shared correctly with rights and permissions set up - my network places can lie sometimes. Something to do with netbios and how it does and doesnt work sometimes.

Once he has his shares set up correctly, the easiest way then is to map a drive/put a shortcut to the share on the desktops of both machines.
 
Hi guys and thanks for the ideas.

I will try them when I get in and let you know - about lunch time!!!

Fingers Crossed and cheers!!!!

Anth
 
Right.

This is my current status ...

Still got 2 computers named laptop and desktop.
Both on same workgroup named Anth.
Both have shared folders on C:\
Neither can be accessed from the other machine.
All permissions set.

Any more support VERY VERY Much appreciated, thanks!!!

Anth.
 
I'm not too sure if this is related, but is secondary logon enabled on both?
Maybe it would be a good idea to create the same users on both PCs and set their permissions to Full control in the Security tab.
You can also try accessing the shared folders directly and see if that helps.
Restarting those PCs might be a good idea after setting it all up.
 
Also, dunno if this will help you with your diagnosis ...

I have now checked the IP addresses of each machine using ipconfig..

The desktop is 192.168.2.3
Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0

The laptop 192.168.2.2
Subnet mask as above

When i try to PING the laptop from the desktop, it is sending and receiving 4 packets.
When I try to PING the desktop from the laptop, I get 100% LOSS.

Doesn't sound good!!!

Anth.
 
before we start
this information is worth what you pay for it
it's free btw! :)

what I would do is:

A)
on each computer click start:run and type cmd (enter)
that will open a DOS window on each

B)
in both DOS windows type
ipconfig /all (enter)

you are interested in the IP address of each machine
they should be (probably) 192.168.0.xxx
with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0

C)
on the laptop type
ping desktop (enter)

on the desktop type
ping laptop (enter)

report back for next steps!!!
 
rats
posts crossed!!

what do they both have for DNS server(s)?
 
Can you explain secondary logon to me please?

The irony of all this is last night, they were practically working - or could at least see each other. Now I have nothing!!!

FYI - both computers are logged on as administrators.

Anth.
 
are you saying DNS servers is empty?

or "where do I find out?" ?
 
try ping 192.168.2.3
 
PEOPLE, I HAVE FIXED IT!!! Or rather you have!!!!

It was quite simply a matter of the firewall on my desktop was blocking the IP from the laptop.

I have now specified this IP to be a trusted source and BINGO - the network is complete.

A big thank you to everyone who offered help and support throughout my troubled time!!!

The bad news is, you now have to get back to work ;)

Anth.
 
Still unsure why the firewall did not do this last night. Any offers?

Then again, who cares? It's working!!!!

Anth.
 
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