Cannot "see" other machines on home LAN

Hi yogivictor,

There are a couple things you can try that may solve your problem.
1) Make sure that all computers are in fact in "WorkgroupName"
2) Disable any and all firewalls running on the computers in your network, if possible.
3) See if you can connect to the other computer on an individual basis.  This will help us solve your problem.  To do this, click Start->Run, then type "\\computername\c$" and press OK.  If you see the files in the root of C on "computername" then you know file sharing is working properly.  If not, open Network Connections, right-click your LAN connection and click Properties.  Once there, check to make sure "File and Print Sharing for Microsoft Networks" is listed and checked in the box titled, "This connection uses the following items:"
4) If number 3 fails, try the same thing except substitute the IP address for the computer name, for example: "\\192.168.1.100\c$" to determine the ip address of the remote computer, go to that computer, open the command prompt (Start->Run->"cmd"->OK) and type "ipconfig"
5) If you receive more access denied errors, and the Administrator account on your other computers has a different password, try giving all local Administrator accounts the same password.

Yohan

>How can I again see the other machines and sgares in my home LAN's workgroup?
                  ^^^
Does this mean that it worked at one time, and now it does not?
What changed? Did you install XP SP2?

Yohan,

1. Yes all are in the "WorkgroupName".
2. I do not have XPPro Firewall enabled
 I do have norton Anti-Virus with its "Worm Protection" turned on.
3. I can directly connect to shared resources on other computers through their computername's or local (NATed) IP addresses.

lrmoore,
Yes  ... it has worked properly in the past ... indeed it still seems to work OK for a while after I reboot the machine ... and then after a bit the netweok is no longer visible.

Also I do have SP2 installed but it it doesn't seem to interfere with my ability to "see" other machines from one of my other PCs also running XP/Pro nor right after rebooting on the machine that fails ...

   Victor

1. make sure you can ping the computer
2. make sure the workgroup name is right.
3. make sure you have an user account to access the other computer.

if still not working, try to swap the network cable to another port in the swite/hub/router AND/OR change the netwrok card.

It seems to me you are looking at a "maximum connection" problem.  There is a maximum of 10 connections to any one workstation computer.  The problem is this is inconsistent.  Sometimes it will take that full 10 connections, other times, it will not take the full 10 connections and it will return that error.

Do you have network drives mapped or any kind of mapping or shortcuts to network resources among these machines?

Sounds to me like the other machines are getting connected to eachother and maxing the amount of connections allowed, therefor this machine is unable to connect unless one of the other machines drop their connections.

Hope that made sense, but there isn't much you can do about that.

Mark

Here's another idea you might consider, from another EE post which may be helpful for you to look at ( https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/20877736/LAN-behind-router.html ):

Forum member Bob Linn writes:

"How do I know I have a browser problem

When you open My Network Places, the computer list you see is obtaining from the master browser of your network. You have a master browser issue if you have the following symptoms. 1) If you can ping a computer name, you can search it, you can map it,  but that computer doesn't show or take long time to show up on My Network Places.
2) Net view command shows no lists or shows "System error 6118 has occurred. The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available".
3) when clicking on Computers Near Me in My Network Places or workgroup name in Entire Network, the following error message may appear: "Cannot Access 'Computers Near Me' " or "Workgroup is not accessible" errors.
4) when click workgroup name under Entire Network Places, you get "Workgroup is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permission.  The list server for this workgroup is not currently available.""

If you see a lot of entries in the error log of the troublesome computer relating to the Master Browser, disable the ability of the computer to assert a Master Browser role.  Mr. Linn notes further:

"Change master browser in w2k or XP:
Go to Program files, Admin tools, services then in the right panel right click on computer browser and right click go to properties then from the startup list select Disabled. Or type regedt32, and scroll to this key change value to False
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Browser\Parameters IsDomainMaster=FALSE
"

Source:  http://www.chicagotech.net/

I tried stoping the Internet worm Protection in Norton Anti-Virus 2005 plus disabling the computer browser service and for the moment --- all seems to be working.

I quess that I'll use the machine through some part of the day tomorrow and see if the network remains visible ... If so I'll consider the problem cured even if not fu;;y understood.  

BTW I'm pretty sure that the same number of shares have been in use throughout the day from other machines on the LAN and so I doubt that it is a "maximum connection" type problem.

  --- Victor

Well I'm not familiar with the "Worm Protection" feature, but if its acting like a sort of firewall, its entirely possible that that's the problem!