spirax
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Can share internet connection but not files
Hi all
I have 2 computers (A and B) wired to my netgear router and can successfuly share my internet connection between them - no issues there.
Computer A is a laptop running xp home, Norton Internet Security 2006 and ZoneAlwarm Firewall (windows firewall turned off)
Computer B is a desktop running xp media centre edition, Norton Internet Security 2006 and ZoneAlwarm Firewall (windows firewall turned off)
Once setting up my wired cabling and successfuly getting both computers connected to the internet, I tried to set up a home network with the microsoft netwrok wizard. I first ran the wizard on computer A and followed all the steps: made sure each computer had a unique name on the network etc. I then used my USB flash memory stick to transfer the network settings to computer B.
Now here is where I have no idea what is going on and get really confused.
I have restarted each computer numerous times in hope that they swill now 'see each other'. (I'm not even sure how to test whether or not they can see each other and secondly I'm not sure how or where to access/open any 'shared' files).
One way I assume, is to click on 'view workgroup computers'. When I do so on computer B, I can 'see' both computers in the window. However, when I double click computer A I get the message:
"\\'computer name' 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 permissions. The network path was not found"
I then tried right clicking computer A (from computer B) and then selecting 'properties' but get a second message stating:
"The serer 'computer name' could not be found on the network".
I then tried the same thing but on computer A (trying to view workgroup computers i.e. computer B)
This time, nothing comes up in computer A's window and I get the message:
"MSHOME is not acessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions. The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available".
Thinking my NIS/ZA software may have prevented a successful network setup, I tried setting it up again with the software told not to load st start up and after each computer had been restarted (rather than just diasble the programs and still have them possibly run in the background). Still, no luck with being able to successfuly share files/get A and B to see each other.
I also tried going to my router's homepage and seeing if there were any 'network' tabs that I might be able to change - but there weren't.
Both computers have only 1 user (so I assume they both have admin access with no guest accounts).
Can someone please help me get A and B to see each other and successfuly be able to share files? Everything I have read so far simply says: "run the microsoft netwrok wizard and voila, your network is up and running"
Thanks
I have 2 computers (A and B) wired to my netgear router and can successfuly share my internet connection between them - no issues there.
Computer A is a laptop running xp home, Norton Internet Security 2006 and ZoneAlwarm Firewall (windows firewall turned off)
Computer B is a desktop running xp media centre edition, Norton Internet Security 2006 and ZoneAlwarm Firewall (windows firewall turned off)
Once setting up my wired cabling and successfuly getting both computers connected to the internet, I tried to set up a home network with the microsoft netwrok wizard. I first ran the wizard on computer A and followed all the steps: made sure each computer had a unique name on the network etc. I then used my USB flash memory stick to transfer the network settings to computer B.
Now here is where I have no idea what is going on and get really confused.
I have restarted each computer numerous times in hope that they swill now 'see each other'. (I'm not even sure how to test whether or not they can see each other and secondly I'm not sure how or where to access/open any 'shared' files).
One way I assume, is to click on 'view workgroup computers'. When I do so on computer B, I can 'see' both computers in the window. However, when I double click computer A I get the message:
"\\'computer name' 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 permissions. The network path was not found"
I then tried right clicking computer A (from computer B) and then selecting 'properties' but get a second message stating:
"The serer 'computer name' could not be found on the network".
I then tried the same thing but on computer A (trying to view workgroup computers i.e. computer B)
This time, nothing comes up in computer A's window and I get the message:
"MSHOME is not acessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions. The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available".
Thinking my NIS/ZA software may have prevented a successful network setup, I tried setting it up again with the software told not to load st start up and after each computer had been restarted (rather than just diasble the programs and still have them possibly run in the background). Still, no luck with being able to successfuly share files/get A and B to see each other.
I also tried going to my router's homepage and seeing if there were any 'network' tabs that I might be able to change - but there weren't.
Both computers have only 1 user (so I assume they both have admin access with no guest accounts).
Can someone please help me get A and B to see each other and successfuly be able to share files? Everything I have read so far simply says: "run the microsoft netwrok wizard and voila, your network is up and running"
Thanks
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I turned off ZoneAlarm and NIS (on both computers) and tried viewing the workgroup computers again
On computer A I could see both computers in my network places --> view workgroup computers and I could open each computer icon and browse the shared files.
On computer B I can see both computers in my network places --> view workgroup computers but I can't open the icon for computer A, it still gives me the message "\\'computer name' 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 permissions. The network path was not found"
On computer A I could see both computers in my network places --> view workgroup computers and I could open each computer icon and browse the shared files.
On computer B I can see both computers in my network places --> view workgroup computers but I can't open the icon for computer A, it still gives me the message "\\'computer name' 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 permissions. The network path was not found"
ASKER
Now it seems the only problem I have is computer B (XP, media centre) seeing computer A
Computer A can see and share files with B fine.
I have uninstalled ZoneAlarm and most of the problems I am was having seem to have gone. I still get this message when trying to open computer A in the 'view workgroup computers' window in computer B:
""'Computer A' 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 permissions. The network path was not found"
If I can just solve this one last problem then all will be fixed.
Does it matter what order the PCs are booted up or if one it running then a while later the second is started?
Computer A can see and share files with B fine.
I have uninstalled ZoneAlarm and most of the problems I am was having seem to have gone. I still get this message when trying to open computer A in the 'view workgroup computers' window in computer B:
""'Computer A' 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 permissions. The network path was not found"
If I can just solve this one last problem then all will be fixed.
Does it matter what order the PCs are booted up or if one it running then a while later the second is started?
OK, the ZONE alarm could have stay, it was just a question of setting permissions on it. Sorry I missed much of the conversation here; I was just driving home of all things...
I'll catchup now...
I'll catchup now...
somehow, it still doesn't sound like they are in the same workgroup, so just in case you want to do the following for each of the PCs
To specify your computer and workgroup names
1. Open System in Control Panel.
2. On the Computer Name tab, click Change.
3. In Computer name, type your computer name. (you can leave this as is unless the names of both PCs are the same)
The computer name must be unique. You cannot use a name already in use on the network.
4. In Workgroup, type the workgroup name. The default "WORKGROUP" will suffice
check and reboot each PC when you are done.
The below is the url for my excerpt and modification
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/windows_network_changename.mspx?mfr=true
more to come.
To specify your computer and workgroup names
1. Open System in Control Panel.
2. On the Computer Name tab, click Change.
3. In Computer name, type your computer name. (you can leave this as is unless the names of both PCs are the same)
The computer name must be unique. You cannot use a name already in use on the network.
4. In Workgroup, type the workgroup name. The default "WORKGROUP" will suffice
check and reboot each PC when you are done.
The below is the url for my excerpt and modification
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/windows_network_changename.mspx?mfr=true
more to come.
share folder - this is the important except, below it is the url with more info
Sharing a Folder
1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Windows Explorer.
2. Right-click the appropriate folder (for example, Accounts Receivable), and then click Sharing.
3. In the folder's properties, click Share this folder. Use the default name for the share. Click Permissions.
4. In the Permissions for dialog box, click Add.
5. In the Select Users, Computers, or Groups dialog box, double-click the Authenticated Users group, and then click OK.
6. In the Permissions for dialog box, click the Authenticated Users group.
7. In the Permissions list, for the Full Control permission, click Allow. After you have set the appropriate permissions, click the Everyone group, and then click Remove.
Back to the top
Connecting to a Shared Folder
When you share a folder, users from other computers can connect to the folder over the network. When users connect to a shared folder, they can open files; save files; delete files; create, modify, and delete folders; and perform other tasks, depending on the level of permission you grant them. There are several ways of opening shares on another computer: • My Network Places
• Universal Naming Convention (UNC)
• Mapped network drive
To Connect to a Shared Folder by Using My Network Places
1. On the desktop, double-click My Network Places.
2. Double-click Computers Near Me.
3. Double-click the appropriate computer in your workgroup. If you are prompted to do so, type the user name and password that is required to gain access to the computer to which you are connecting. After you type the appropriate credentials, a window opens that displays all of the shared folders and printers on the computer to which you are connecting.
4. Double-click the shared folder to which you want to gain access. You then see all of the subfolders and files in that shared folder. What you can do with those subfolders and files depends on the level of permission you have been granted.
To Connect to a Shared Folder by Using Universal Naming Convention (UNC) Format
1. Click Start, click Run, and then type the name using UNC format, where computername is the name of the computer to which you are attempting to connect and sharename is the name of the shared folder on that computer:
\\computername\sharename
For example, if you want to connect to a share that is named Data on a computer that is named Fileserver, type \\Fileserver\Data.
2. If you are to do so, type the user name and password that is required to gain access to the computer. After you type the appropriate credentials, a window opens that displays the contents of the share.
To Connect to a Shared Folder by Using a Mapped Drive
1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Windows Explorer.
2. On the Tools menu, click Map Network Drive.
3. In the Drive box, click the drive letter that you want to use for this mapped drive. You cannot use any of the drive letters that are currently used by your computer.
4. In the Folder box, type the name of the share to which you want to connect by using Universal Naming Convention (UNC) format:
\\computername\sharename
You can also map drives to subfolders of the shared folder. Therefore, you can map the drive to a subfolder by including that information. For example:
\\computername\sharename\s
Or, you can click Browse and then locate the computer to which you want to connect, the share on that computer, and optionally the subfolder in that share.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;301281&sd=tech
Sharing a Folder
1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Windows Explorer.
2. Right-click the appropriate folder (for example, Accounts Receivable), and then click Sharing.
3. In the folder's properties, click Share this folder. Use the default name for the share. Click Permissions.
4. In the Permissions for dialog box, click Add.
5. In the Select Users, Computers, or Groups dialog box, double-click the Authenticated Users group, and then click OK.
6. In the Permissions for dialog box, click the Authenticated Users group.
7. In the Permissions list, for the Full Control permission, click Allow. After you have set the appropriate permissions, click the Everyone group, and then click Remove.
Back to the top
Connecting to a Shared Folder
When you share a folder, users from other computers can connect to the folder over the network. When users connect to a shared folder, they can open files; save files; delete files; create, modify, and delete folders; and perform other tasks, depending on the level of permission you grant them. There are several ways of opening shares on another computer: • My Network Places
• Universal Naming Convention (UNC)
• Mapped network drive
To Connect to a Shared Folder by Using My Network Places
1. On the desktop, double-click My Network Places.
2. Double-click Computers Near Me.
3. Double-click the appropriate computer in your workgroup. If you are prompted to do so, type the user name and password that is required to gain access to the computer to which you are connecting. After you type the appropriate credentials, a window opens that displays all of the shared folders and printers on the computer to which you are connecting.
4. Double-click the shared folder to which you want to gain access. You then see all of the subfolders and files in that shared folder. What you can do with those subfolders and files depends on the level of permission you have been granted.
To Connect to a Shared Folder by Using Universal Naming Convention (UNC) Format
1. Click Start, click Run, and then type the name using UNC format, where computername is the name of the computer to which you are attempting to connect and sharename is the name of the shared folder on that computer:
\\computername\sharename
For example, if you want to connect to a share that is named Data on a computer that is named Fileserver, type \\Fileserver\Data.
2. If you are to do so, type the user name and password that is required to gain access to the computer. After you type the appropriate credentials, a window opens that displays the contents of the share.
To Connect to a Shared Folder by Using a Mapped Drive
1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Windows Explorer.
2. On the Tools menu, click Map Network Drive.
3. In the Drive box, click the drive letter that you want to use for this mapped drive. You cannot use any of the drive letters that are currently used by your computer.
4. In the Folder box, type the name of the share to which you want to connect by using Universal Naming Convention (UNC) format:
\\computername\sharename
You can also map drives to subfolders of the shared folder. Therefore, you can map the drive to a subfolder by including that information. For example:
\\computername\sharename\s
Or, you can click Browse and then locate the computer to which you want to connect, the share on that computer, and optionally the subfolder in that share.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;301281&sd=tech
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ASKER
ECNSSMT,
Thanks for your help...again :)
I've renamed the workgroup, as suggested, to WORKGROUP on both PCs then rebooted.
Computer B can now see both computers in my network places (view workgroup computers) but when I click on computer A I still get the error message: ""'Computer A' 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 permissions. The network path was not found"
When I try to view workgroup computers on computer A, I don't get as far, with an error message: ("Workgroup is not acessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions. The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available".) occuring before I can see either computers icons.
The funny thing is, when only in 'my network places' in computer A, I CAN see both computer A and B's shared folders. Why can I see these folders (both A and B) on computer A, but when I try to view workgroup computers on computer A, I get that error message?
Thanks for your help again - this is sooo frustrating!
PS - As you suggested, I used windows explorer but when it came to the permissions dialog box, I couldn't find it - is it only in xp pro?
Thanks for your help...again :)
I've renamed the workgroup, as suggested, to WORKGROUP on both PCs then rebooted.
Computer B can now see both computers in my network places (view workgroup computers) but when I click on computer A I still get the error message: ""'Computer A' 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 permissions. The network path was not found"
When I try to view workgroup computers on computer A, I don't get as far, with an error message: ("Workgroup is not acessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions. The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available".) occuring before I can see either computers icons.
The funny thing is, when only in 'my network places' in computer A, I CAN see both computer A and B's shared folders. Why can I see these folders (both A and B) on computer A, but when I try to view workgroup computers on computer A, I get that error message?
Thanks for your help again - this is sooo frustrating!
PS - As you suggested, I used windows explorer but when it came to the permissions dialog box, I couldn't find it - is it only in xp pro?
ASKER
ECNSSMT,
The article you refrenced: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;301281&sd=tech is for Windows 2000
I found one for XP: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/filesharing.mspx
I guess it's only relevant to XP pro because the tabs 'security' and 'web sharing' are not present when I right click on a folder and select properties in explorer.
The article you refrenced: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;301281&sd=tech is for Windows 2000
I found one for XP: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/filesharing.mspx
I guess it's only relevant to XP pro because the tabs 'security' and 'web sharing' are not present when I right click on a folder and select properties in explorer.
ASKER
I don't understand - I haven't changed much (except the workgroup name and removing ZoneAlarm) and things seem to have gone backwards.
One computer improves and the other gets worse
Is the router to blame perhaps?
One computer improves and the other gets worse
Is the router to blame perhaps?
sorry I was rushing at the time and was looking for the relevent info. Anything that is Win2k and XP are mostly interchangeable. The instructions looked right so I used in in lieu of attempting to compose; at 1:00AM in the morning certain things do lapse for me so that was the safest way of conveying non-flawed information.
The nice things about computers is that what ever anyone does a process is duplicatable. Right now we are attempting to strip the process down to the rudimentary components, get them to work and then build the working processes and security up to the point which you favor. Right now we are just attempting to get the file share running....
Its not the router, the router is good as it stands.
Regards,
The nice things about computers is that what ever anyone does a process is duplicatable. Right now we are attempting to strip the process down to the rudimentary components, get them to work and then build the working processes and security up to the point which you favor. Right now we are just attempting to get the file share running....
Its not the router, the router is good as it stands.
Regards,
ASKER
Thanks ECNSSMT
I understand what you mean about things lapseing at 1am!!!
So instead of clicking on the permissions dialog, how do I go about completeing the file sharing set up?
I understand what you mean about things lapseing at 1am!!!
So instead of clicking on the permissions dialog, how do I go about completeing the file sharing set up?
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It appears that my suggestion worked for you.
Remember that the user logged into Computer(A) needs to have that same account information created and stored in the user account configuration of Computer(B). It helps if the accounts are administrator accounts.
Remember that the user logged into Computer(A) needs to have that same account information created and stored in the user account configuration of Computer(B). It helps if the accounts are administrator accounts.
ASKER
Hi all,
THANK YOU so much for your wonderful help. This website is amazing and your willingness to assist me is remarkable!
In particular, thank you to ECNSSMT who was the most regular helper and avoided getting irate at my lack of knowledge!
Thanks ieden for your initial suggestion, although I think the workgroups did have the same name to begin with. Whether changing them both to WORKGROUP helped in any way I'm not sure; and thanks to FriarTuk because 'enable netBIOS' wasn't checked on either computer, and as I am aware that's not a good thing for file sharing :)
In the end I consulted my NIS manual and found the one last thing I needed to do was to add both computers to each others trusted zones in the firewall configuration utility. It was a simple matter of letting Norton detect the network settings (IP address/subnet mask) and add it to the trusted zone.
After that, both computers saw each other and I successfuly shared my first file!
A BIG, SINCERE THANK YOU to you all.
I hope you all have a wonderful day and I'll try my best to split my awarded points accordingly
Regards,
Spirax
THANK YOU so much for your wonderful help. This website is amazing and your willingness to assist me is remarkable!
In particular, thank you to ECNSSMT who was the most regular helper and avoided getting irate at my lack of knowledge!
Thanks ieden for your initial suggestion, although I think the workgroups did have the same name to begin with. Whether changing them both to WORKGROUP helped in any way I'm not sure; and thanks to FriarTuk because 'enable netBIOS' wasn't checked on either computer, and as I am aware that's not a good thing for file sharing :)
In the end I consulted my NIS manual and found the one last thing I needed to do was to add both computers to each others trusted zones in the firewall configuration utility. It was a simple matter of letting Norton detect the network settings (IP address/subnet mask) and add it to the trusted zone.
After that, both computers saw each other and I successfuly shared my first file!
A BIG, SINCERE THANK YOU to you all.
I hope you all have a wonderful day and I'll try my best to split my awarded points accordingly
Regards,
Spirax
thanks for the points; funny I went out to do an errand and come back and find this solved! Excellent!
Regards,
Regards,
ASKER
No problem ECNSSMT
Thanks for your assistance!
Thanks for your assistance!
ASKER
ieden, how do I 'put both computers into the WORKGROUP WORKGROUP , making sure they have the same user info?' How do I check/set up a local account on both PCs? How do I double check whether I have administrative rights?
ECNSSMT, I checked my ZoneAlarm software and the 'trusted zone security' is set to medium, which is also called 'sharing mode' and says "computers can see my computer and share resources". My 'internet zone security' is set to medium as well and it says: "visible but protected, computers can see your computer but not share its resources. Incoming netBIOS is blocked" <-- is this a good thing for my network?
I'm not sure how to prevent ZoneAlarm and NIS from blocking port 445, but I'll try, as you suggested, turning them off and unpluging the RJ45 from my router.
Thanks both for your help thus far