Question

XP Wireless Network Issues – Cannot connect to other workgroup member computers

Asked by: sjeffs

Configuration

USR Router (802.11g wireless turbo) – IP = 192.168.123.xxx

Main Computer connected to the internet (ISDN for now) is connected to router through cat5 cable using Lan PCI Card

Two other computers using USR Wireless Cards (802.11g wireless turbo PCI)

Router is in DHCP mode and all the member computers seem to pick up the proper IP Addresses ie: 192.168.123.xxx

Workgroup = Workgroup and all have been set up to join this work group

All running XP Pro

I have not set up Internet Sharing on (for the moment anyway) the Main Computer and I do not have XP Firewall enabled on any of the connections.

The two wireless commuters pick up the router no problem and join that without a problem. I do not have Web enabled on  but do have SID and this is advertised.

My problem is that I cannot connect any of the computers. MS File and Print service enabled on all and I have shared various folders on each computer. From the Main Computer I can “sometimes” see one or the other of the wireless ones but when I try to view them I get an error saying I do not have permission to access it. Also when I try to view workgroups in the Network area from the other two wireless computers, it tell me I do not have permission to browse the network.

All I want to do is share documents between the computers, but is just not happening.

I saw somewhere that someone mentioned that XP may have “simple file sharing” enabled and this may be the problem. Where do I turn this off?

Is there a way of setting up File Sharing Permissions in XP where I can specify who or what computer can access them?

I haven’t tried add hoc as I don’t want to do it this way.

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Asked On
2004-06-23 at 01:57:07ID21035040
Tags

connect

,

cannot

,

workgroup

,

wireless

,

xp

Topic

Windows Networking

Participating Experts
2
Points
110
Comments
8

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Answers

 

by: DenisBSPosted on 2004-06-23 at 02:14:49ID: 11377429

Hi,

In a peer to peer network such as you describe you need to set up user accounts on each workstation for users who wish to access the resources on that workstation.  Then you connect using the local user account.  One of the shortcomings of peer to peer networking is the lack of centralised administration.

Also XP is fussy about routing.  If you intend to set up ICS then make sure that routing is properly set up on the PC you will be using for ICS and then set this machine as the default gateway for other workstations.

Regards

DenisBS

 

by: sjeffsPosted on 2004-06-23 at 04:26:21ID: 11378055

OK, thanks for quick response.

I will try this out tonight, but had already done something like it but not too sure if I did it right. So just to confirm I would like to set out what I am going to do and could you let me know if I am doing it correctly

Current Config

Computer1
Main User      =      Bill
Password      =      Password1

Computer2
Main User      =      Sam
Password      =      Passowrd2

Computer3
Main User      =      Joe
Password      =      Password3

New Config for tonight

Computer1
Main User      =      Bill
Password      =      Password1
User            =      Sam
Password      =      Password2
User            =      Joe
Password      =      Password 3

And so on for the other two computers

So this means when I log on to Computer 2 as the main user “Sam” I should be able to browse computer1 & 2 as I am already logged on?
Or do I have to log to computer2 as Bill to be able to browse computer1?

Is it necessary to have passwords at all?

Using the router as DHCP at the moment, would I be better using static IP's for the machines or would that make no difference?

Thanx for tip on ICS, I am sure I would have tripped up on that and made the router the default gateway which it is at the moment.

 

by: DenisBSPosted on 2004-06-23 at 04:51:56ID: 11378245

Hi,

In a peer to peer network you will need to login to each computer to use resources on it.  This can be done when you connect to the shared drive, you should be asked for a user name a and password.  If you are not you may have simple file sharing enabled.  To disable simple file sharing do the following.

Open Folder Options in Control Panel.
Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
Double-click Folder Options.
On the View tab, under Advanced settings, clear Use simple file sharing.

You could set up the same user on each machine, this may allow you to authenticate as the current user if you are logged on as the common user, other wise you will have to authenticate to each machine with an account on that machine.

The router may well work as the default gateway but you will need to check that it has entries for your local network so it can route to it, otherwise it will route all traffic to the internet.

Regards

DenisBS



 

by: sjeffsPosted on 2004-06-23 at 04:54:42ID: 11378265

Thanx for that.

I will try it out tonight and let you know.

Seamus

 

by: DenisBSPosted on 2004-06-23 at 08:21:32ID: 11380171

Just to clarify about ICS.

If you have a router you would not normally use ICS as they would duplicate functions.  ICS sets up your computer as a gateway to the internet and provides routing, DHCP, etc.  Beteen your ICS computer and the your ISP you would normally just have a modem or broadband modem.  If you have a router this will normally provide the functionality of ICS to the network,  You connect the modem to the router and the routerto the network.  With ICS therefore you need to specify the ICS computer as the default gateway,  with the router you specify the router as the default gateway.

Hope this clarifies things

Regards

DenisBS

 

by: eddkhamouPosted on 2004-06-23 at 16:48:02ID: 11384535

Make sure that the authentication is turned off on the comptuers.

1.  Click on the Wireless Connection Icon in the bottom left corner of the computer screen
2.  Click on Properties when the Card Status Dialog box opens
3.  Click on Advanced
4.  Under Internet Connection Firewall make sure the box is UN-checked
5.  Next, click on Wireless Connections
6.  Under Preferred Networks click on the network name that you are using
7.  Click on Properties
8.  Click on Authentication
9.  Make sure that the Enable 802.11x authentication checkbox is UN-checked

 

by: sjeffsPosted on 2004-06-30 at 00:17:28ID: 11433089

I haven't had a chance to work on this because of other projects. I will be able to get round to it next week and would like to leave open for now.
Thanx
Seamus

 

by: sjeffsPosted on 2004-07-08 at 23:33:40ID: 11509314

OK guys, Sorry I took so long getting back to you buit had other things on. Anyway. Both suugestions helped. Unchecking the  Enable 802.11x authentication checkbox let me browse the network & taking off Use simple file sharing enabled me to map drives & folders between the computers.

Saying that, it was all still very flakey and I kept losing connections. Browsing the network was very slow and in turn it made some of the computers very slow. I have the USR 8054 router which seemed to be causing the problem. I did a firmware upgrade and --"BANG"-- it all starting working like a dream.

Have split the points accordingly.
Many thanks
Seamus

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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