LAN shared folder issue: only 1 PC can see others

Utsanomiko · Post by **Utsanomiko** » 2006-08-01 05:19pm

Alright, here's a fun little puzzle from our resident Network Nimrod:

I've got three PCs, a Ethernet modem, and a printer/scanner on a local network. The printer and modem are currently being shared by the three computers: a Win 98 machine, an ME, and an XP Pro. Little or no problems with this current setup.

So anyway, I decided to configure them to each have a shared folder. I made sure they have the right settings for IP address (101 through 103), same workgroup and all that.

So the 98 PC now has access to everyone's shared folder and is working fine. The other two comps, despite being able to ping eachother and share other devices, cannot see anyone else or their shared folders on the network.

That's all the info off the top of my head. I'd appreciate any suggestions or inquiries that could lead me to getting the ME and XP machines to view the rest of the network like the 98 currently can.

Dominus Atheos · Post by **Dominus Atheos** » 2006-08-01 10:50pm

What firewalls are you using on the computers?

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2006-08-01 10:56pm

None on the ME or 98 as far as I know. Uts is using the standard XP Pro firewall protection.

The Linksys router also has a built-in firewall.

Dominus Atheos · Post by **Dominus Atheos** » 2006-08-02 12:00am

Did you try to add the folders to the other computer's "My Network Places?"

Utsanomiko · Post by **Utsanomiko** » 2006-08-02 12:41am

Not on the ME (it's being the most stubborn with trying to access the network), but the XP unit fails to add new network places when I enter in the other PCs' name and folder name ("\\computername\foldername"). I've checked their names and locations a couple times and they seem to be located in the right places.

The 98 machine recognized the others' folders the minute I configured its address.

Dominus Atheos · Post by **Dominus Atheos** » 2006-08-02 12:43am

Utsanomiko wrote:Not on the ME (it's being the most stubborn with trying to access the network), but the XP unit fails to add new network places when I enter in the other PCs' name and folder name ("\\computername\foldername"). I've checked their names and locations a couple times and they seem to be located in the right places.

The 98 machine recognized the others' folders the minute I configured its address.

Did you try browsing to find the computers?

Utsanomiko · Post by **Utsanomiko** » 2006-08-02 01:00am

Yeah. This machine doesn't show any other computers available.

Vain · Post by **Vain** » 2006-08-02 01:38am

It sounds like you're manually configuring all three IPs. Why aren't you using DHCP? Are you sure the subnet masks are correct for all three machines?

Utsanomiko · Post by **Utsanomiko** » 2006-08-02 01:46am

I originally had the IPs automatically set, but I specificed the supplied IP manually (specifically to the 98 and ME) during the network setup. I can't recall if that was before or after I got the 98 working, but I did it as an attempt to ensure they wereall on the same gateway.

I'm pretty sure they're all on the same subnet mask, but I'll double-check right now. Should I go ahead and switch their IPs back to automatically set?

Vain · Post by **Vain** » 2006-08-02 01:55am

I'm not saying the subnet mask is definitely it, but a typo there could be causing the behavior you're seeing. I would set it back to DHCP. There's no reason not to use it, and it prevents the aforementioned typos.

atg · Post by **atg** » 2006-08-02 01:55am

I'm pretty sure they're all on the same subnet mask, but I'll double-check right now. Should I go ahead and switch their IPs back to automatically set?

I've found that is the easiest way of doing things, and has resolved, for me, similar problems.

Dominus Atheos · Post by **Dominus Atheos** » 2006-08-02 01:59am

Try that, and if that doesn't work, try running an ethernet cord directly from the ME comp to the XP comp.

Utsanomiko · Post by **Utsanomiko** » 2006-08-02 02:14am

Yeah, I've got them all back on DHCP, I can still ping each PC fine by IP and computer name, so that's fine.

I also spent the last couple minutes making sure there weren't typos involved with system names. Going by the 98's Network Neighborhood listings, we've all got our folders set as 'shareddocs', so for simplicity's sake let's say the full names and locations I've got here are "//win98/shareddocs", "//winme/shareddocs", and "//winxp/shareddocs".

On winxp, attempting to add the first two as network places fails (says the folders are invalid), yet I can type abd add in the last location just fine. The winme unit fails on all three. So I techincally can get winxp to add a new location; it just doesn't recognize the other units like win98 is doing.

I'd consider directly connecting the XP and ME, but attempts at that configuration has dogged me for years and has been long devoid of the kind of progress I'm currently making. Perhaps thay says something, though.

Dominus Atheos · Post by **Dominus Atheos** » 2006-08-02 02:25am

Utsanomiko wrote:I'd consider directly connecting the XP and ME, but attempts at that configuration has dogged me for years and has been long devoid of the kind of progress I'm currently making. Perhaps thay says something, though.

What's the problem? Because we need to know if it's the router fucking things up, or if the computers are just being assholes.

Faram · Post by **Faram** » 2006-08-02 02:27am

Try using \ instead of /.

UNC paths uses this syntac \\computername\sharename

Utsanomiko · Post by **Utsanomiko** » 2006-08-02 02:29am

I can't see how it's be the router and yet only be one-way and only with folder-sharing.

I'd suggest the issue is chiefly the ME being an asshole; It's usually given me the hardest time with accessing network settings, but I'm not that familiar with Millenium Edition's different options and layout in the first place.

Utsanomiko · Post by **Utsanomiko** » 2006-08-02 02:32am

Faram wrote:Try using \ instead of /.

UNC paths uses this syntac \\computername\sharename

\

Yeah, I meant that. That's the only time I used '/', hence why I was getting postive results with winxp adding a new location to itself but not for others.

atg · Post by **atg** » 2006-08-02 02:32am

Have you tried mapping the folder to a windows drive?

Try this in DOS:

Code: Select all

NET USE x: \\computer\directory /YES

where "x:" is the drive you want to map the folder to and "\\computer\directory" is the path.

Faram · Post by **Faram** » 2006-08-02 02:34am

Utsanomiko wrote:I can't see how it's be the router and yet only be one-way and only with folder-sharing.

I'd suggest the issue is chiefly the ME being an asshole; It's usually given me the hardest time with accessing network settings, but I'm not that familiar with Millenium Edition's different options and layout in the first place.

Perhaps, make sure that all computers are on the same network.

On WinMe,98,95 Start->Run->winipcfg enter
Xp,2K,NT4 Start->Run->Cmd enter ipconfig

They must have the same subnet and gateway but the ip adress must be unique.

Utsanomiko · Post by **Utsanomiko** » 2006-08-02 02:34am

I checked out the option once, but skipped over it and tried other stuff first. I'll give it a whirl on the XP machine now.

Faram wrote: Perhaps, make sure that all computers are on the same network.

On WinMe,98,95 Start->Run->winipcfg enter
Xp,2K,NT4 Start->Run->Cmd enter ipconfig

They must have the same subnet and gateway but the ip adress must be unique.

I did that ealier and just now. Same subnet, same gateway address, properly differnet IPs.

Utsanomiko · Post by **Utsanomiko** » 2006-08-02 02:41am

Bupkis. Mapping network drives gets me the same result as creating network places.

atg · Post by **atg** » 2006-08-02 03:16am

I assume you tried browsing by IP address? ie typing \\ip_address\shared_folder into windows explorer.

I have seen that work sometimes when using the pc name doesn't.

Another thing is that you might want to try a knoppix live cd in the machine and seeing if you can browse it on the network, that would eliminate any hardware issue.

Utsanomiko · Post by **Utsanomiko** » 2006-08-02 03:29am

atg wrote:I assume you tried browsing by IP address? ie typing \\ip_address\shared_folder into windows explorer.

I have seen that work sometimes when using the pc name doesn't.

The win98 PC can browse the others in this manner, but not the other way around.

Another thing is that you might want to try a knoppix live cd in the machine and seeing if you can browse it on the network, that would eliminate any hardware issue.

A what CD? And which machine should run this thing? I presume the 98 should be attempting the browins, as it's the only one recognizing there's other locations on the local network.

AMX · Post by **AMX** » 2006-08-02 04:11am

I had a similar problem a few years ago; solved it by changing the plugs on the router around.

Don't ask me why that worked, though.

Prozac the Robert · Post by **Prozac the Robert** » 2006-08-02 08:45am

It's usually a firewall thing. If you have any firewalls turned on at all turn them off and try again. If that works, then you can mess around with firewall settings until it works properly.

Also, it might be worth making sure they are all set to the same workgroup name.