The state of the home network....

[poltr1]

I can still ping both machines. But I still can't view files or share printers.

From the laptop's POV in My Network Places, I can see the desktop and the laptop, but I'm blocked whenever I click on the desktop machine's icon. From the desktop's POV in My Network Places, I see nothing, not even itself. If I try to create a shortcut and browse for it, I don't see "Microsoft Windows Network" under "Entire Network".

I tried uninstalling and reinstalling some components. I even renamed the network and ran the Network Setup Wizard on both systems. Still nothing.

I'm stumped.

Shout-outs: Happy birthday persis!

Comments

[hms42]

Is the device itself being shared?

[poltr1]

I can share folders, but I have no idea how I share a computer (other than make more accounts). How do I do this?

[hms42]

You are sharing folders, then the computer should see itself. Its its not, then something else is acting up. Is the firewall enabled? (Did it manage to reenable itself somehow?)

[poltr1]

You're right, the computer should see itself and the shared folders, but it doesn't. I checked the firewall -- it's enabled, with an exception for the home network (which is apart from my dial-up connection).

FWIW, not even my colleagues from the former DECUS LUG have an answer for me. A few of them are NT/2000/XP administrators.

[hms42]

The method I tend to get XP networking is to run the wizard, telling the computer its part of a network with NO internet connection. (2nd page of choices) and it tends to work fine after that.

Also, try dropping the firewall (TEMPORARILY) to see if this fixes the problem.

What SP are on each machine?

Are they both in the same workgroup?

Hmm... I would ask if you access each by IP address, but the machines are not even seeing themselves.

[poltr1]

Ran the wizard as suggested. Still nothing appears in My Network Places.

Dropped the firewall. Still nothing.

Both machines are running SP3 and in the same workgroup (MSHOME).

I can still ping each of the machines, regardless of origin.

I noticed that my "Microsoft Tun Miniport Adapter #2" has the yellow circle with exclamation point. i tried uninstalling it but it wouldn't uninstall.
I can disable the device, though.

[hms42]

hmm... Are you setting the IP addresses manually (static) or using a router? (Just wondering if there is a conflict or the subnet masks don't match for some reason...)

What wiring is connecting the two machines? (A switch or a crossover cable?) I don't think its a cabling issue, but a settings issue.

MS Turn miniport adaptor just might not have network connection plugged in. Could mean a conflict setting or something is not loading correctly. Have you checked for newer drivers for that card?

[poltr1]

IP addresses are set manually.

A crossover cable connects the desktop to the laptop's docking station.

I'm not sure why the Tun Miniport adapter shows up at all. My network card is a SiS 900 and I just upgraded the driver.

I'm gonna try reinstalling XP. "sfc /scannow" gives me a bunch of "file not found" errors because I upgraded to SP 3.

[hms42]

Ok... Good luck with that.

Hmm... If possible, do you happen to have a switch (or better a router) that you can use to link the machines and 2 straight cables?

Now obvious question.... Are both machines set to the same IP address? (Doesn't sound like it, but it had to get asked.) Same subnet, right?

What IP set are you using?
10.x.y.z
172.16 (thru 32).x.y
192.168.x.y

are all private networks and should work fine.

Just trying to see if this may help figureout the cause.

[poltr1]

At this point I'm convinced that the problem is based on the absence of "Microsoft Windows Network" on the desktop.

Rolling back SP3 and reinstalling from the SP2 disk didn't bring it back.

I'm using 192.168.0.x for both machines. The addresses are different. (Give me an email address and I'll send the list to you.) And they're both plugged in and turned on. :)

[hms42]

Right click on the desktop
Properties
2nd tab (Desktop)
Customize Desktop

This will allow you to show/hide the Network ICON on the desktop.

Email - harold at panix dot com

[poltr1]

When I said "Desktop", I meant "desktop computer". (Or to use its network node name: orac.)

The setting you discuss enables my "My Network Places" icon, which is already on the desktop. If I turn off common tasks (Tools|Folder Options|General), and click on "Entire Network", I see the Microsoft Terminal Services and Web Client Network icon. I don't see an icon for Microsoft Windows Network. But I can still ping orac and tardis (the laptop) and get feedback. I also enabled the icon in the "MSHOME Properties" window.

Some history: I had a hub and ethernet cabling. In June, I acquired a Linksys wireless router. Even though I still use dial-up, I wanted to use it as a wireless access point for the laptop. I couldn't use it that way, so I wrapped up everything and saved it for future use.

Thanks for all your help so far.