[gtrmadman]

I'm trying to connect two computers: one using XP Pro, and the other using XP home. I have enabled Client for Microsoft Networks, File and Printer Sharing, TCP\IP, on both machines. I have manually assigned each an IP address: one is 192.168.0.3 the other is 192.168.0.2. I have given both the same workgroup name: "Workgroup" However, there seems to be no connectivity between the two computers. I cannot ping either computer from the other one. They are connected through just a basic hub. The hub is uplinked to a dsl modem. The first machine, 192.168.0.2, can reach the internet. I dont need to reach the internet on the second machine, just want to share files between the two. I cant see any network shares from the view network connections, or view network computers tabs? Any advice? Frustrating! Thanks

[josetgv]

Remember All Windows versions have the native capability to share files and printers. It's just a matter of settings changes at each PC. Contrary to popular belief, your computers do not have to have the same workgroup name. This is especially important for those that bring laptops home from work. But u mention it is the same.

Now, have u made it sure that there is nothing wrong with Network card or its driver? Do a self ping and make it sure it works! make a ping of 127.0.0.1 to confirm the NIC is fine.

Tnks & Regds
Jose
http://www.itechnoworld.com

[axis77]

do you have the ICF "Internet connecton firewall "enabled, if so then either turn off or allow local network traffic, and if you have a software built firewall then make sure that its not blocking any traffic also...

[gtrmadman]

Thanks, took above advice. However, I disabled the ICF and third party firewall software on both machines, and both machines passed the local loopback test with 0% loss. Still, I cannot ping one machine to the other or vice versa, and there appears to be no shared folders from another computer in the "my network places" window except those folders that are on the local machine and are designated as shared. This is particularly troublesome because I am an A+ hopeful, self studying. LOL, quickly realizing the increasing complexity of computers, as well as how books differ greatly on what they include, or don't include.

[TerryNet]

Is your "basic hub" a hub, switch or router? Maybe you could give us the brand and model.

And, also, is your "dsl modem" a modem or modem/router combo. Again, brand and model would help.

I see no way that you could be getting internet on either computer unless at least one of those devices is (or includes) a router.

[gtrmadman]

yeah, the hub is a "Linksys nh1005 5 port 10/100 fast ethernet hub". The dsl modem is a "Siemens Speedstream 4100 Ethernet ADSL Modem". I can actually connect to the internet with both computers, however only one at a time. I was told that maybe this is because the isp is only giving me one ip address, and that I would need a router instead of a hub to share an internet connection unless I were to have the isp give two ip addresses. However, I'm trying to accomplish basic file sharing between two computers connected through a hub before I tackle internet connection sharing. Its interesting because the modem login address is 192.168.0.1. I can access the internet with either computer by setting a manual address of 192.168.0.something besides one, with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0, and a dns and gateway setting of 192.168.0.1, and it works just fine. Only one computer can do this at a time, as I said though. If i try to do it with both, even though I assign each computer with a unique Ip address, and the same 192.168.0 network, I get messages saying "limited or no connectivity" etc, "there is an ip address conflict" something to that effect. You would think even when I unplug the modem from the hub, so that there is just two computers connected to a hub, that would be a basic network. I thought one of the first rules of simple networking was to assign each computer a unique ip address, and make sure the network portion of the address is the same, and use the proper subnet to reflect that. Someone also told me that in Windows you can just connect two computers and configure them to obtain all that automatically, although this doesnt work either.

[TerryNet]

That Siemens Speedstream 4100 Ethernet ADSL Modem is really a modem/router combo. Click on http://www.whatismyip.com/ and you will see your public IP address--the one that your ISP assigns to you. It will not be 192.168.anything.

Using the hub as you do you should be able to successfully connect both computers to the internet at the same time either by setting both to 'obtain IP auto' and 'obtain DNS auto' or else using static IP addresses (192.168.0.2 and 192.168.0.3 with mask 255.255.255.0 and Gateway and DNS 192.168.0.1.

If these do not work, and if I read your post correctly you've already tried, there is probably something wrong with the Speedstream. Can you login it to it by entering 192.168.0.1 in your browser address window? If so, what can you learn about the settings, and can you change them? Did the unit come preconfigured?

Please post an ipconfig /all for each computer when they are both connected (or trying to connect). If we can't spot anything wrong in them, you'll probably need to contact your ISP to find out what's going on.

[gtrmadman]

Yes, I can log into the modem with 192.168.0.1. Here is the info under the connection information tab:


DSL UP
Connection UP
User ID (my email address shows here)
Connected at 3008 Kbps (downstream)
512 Kbps (upstream)
IP Address 76.210.16.2
IP Gateway 76.210.17.254
DNS Servers 68.94.156.1 dnsr1.sbcglobal.net
151.164.8.201 dns1.ksc2mo.sbcglobal.net
Mode PPP on the modem (Public IP for LAN device)
Timeout Never
Modem Information
Modem Name SpeedStream
Model 4100
Serial Number serial number shows here
Software Version 1.0.0.53
MAC Address address shows here
First Use Date 2007/03/02 05:29:54 GMT
Local Network
Modem IP Address 192.168.0.1
Ethernet Status Connected

There is a configuration tab that I can access, here is what shows:

Connection Configuration

WARNING
Changing these settings may interfere with your ability to connect to the Internet.

Internet Connection Configuration

User ID (my user id is here)
Password (my password is here)
Retype Password

VPI 0
VCI 35
Protocol ppoe
Maximum allowable MTU 1492
ATM Encapsulation llc
VC-Mux LLC

Connection Type smart keep alive
Connection Timeout minutes (only applies to 'Connect on Demand')

Home Network Configuration 0:0:10 minutes
To change the IP address lease time used by your LAN device, modify the information below.
Override default (10 minutes) with value below
DHCP Lease : :
Days : Hours : Minutes

A very limited number of applications require that the public IP address assigned to the modem be used by the local LAN device.
Let LAN device share Internet address? No, use private IP address.

Yes, use public IP address.
*the option yes use public ip address is selected

Here is an ipconfig/all from the machine that seems to be the only one that can connect to the internet. The settings are set to obtain everything automatically:

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Pat>ipconfig/all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : newmachine
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/1000 PM Network Connect
ion
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : a mac address is here
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 76.210.16.2
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 76.210.16.3
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
192.168.0.1
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Monday, April 23, 2007 5:24:42 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Monday, April 23, 2007 5:34:42 PM

C:\Documents and Settings\Pat>

Here is an ipconfig/all from the other machine where it doesn't connect to the internet, or cant connect to other machine, and vice versa:

Hostname: Oldmachine
primary dns suffix:
node type: unknown
ip routing enabled: no
wins enabled: yes

ethernet local area connection 3
connection specific dns suffix:
description: wan network driver
physical address: a mac address is here
dhcp enabled: yes
autoconfiguration enabled: yes
autoconfiguration ip address: 169.254.101.152
subnet mask: 255.255.0.0
default gateway:

[TerryNet]

"*the option yes use public ip address is selected"

Change it to "No, use private IP." Unless you have one of those "very limited number of applications" that require the public IP, this should allow both (all) your computers to get a private IP address from the router portion of that unit.

[gtrmadman]

aha! I'll give that a try thanks.

[gtrmadman]

ok the first computer worked, it obtained a private ip from the router automatically. it was 192.168. something, while whatismyip.com showed another wan side number. however there is still no connectivity on the second machine. I tried both setting tcpip to obtain automatically, and setting it to the same network (192.168. something) as the first machine. i dont think the problem is the nic on this second machine because it passes the loopback test 127.0.0.1. any ideas?

[TerryNet]

With 'obtain IP auto' on the second machine please post an ipconfig /all. If you can't get the results to the first machine (e.g., by removable media) at least tell us the Node Type and the IP address.

If the IP address is 192.168.whatever try pinging the router (192.168.0.1) and pinging the other computer by its IP address.

[gtrmadman]

the second ip/config all at the bottom of the post above is from that machine

[TerryNet]

If you turn both computers off and then boot just the old machine, if it connects but then the other machine will not there must be some reason why that modem/router is not allowing more than one computer to connect; a call to your ISP's tech support is probably called for.

If the old machine still doesn't get a good IP configuration there's likely some problem with the cable or with the port on the hub; with a third possibility being the ethernet adapter or its driver.

[gtrmadman]

ok thank you very much.