network problems in WinXP

We have a Linksys wireless router with one computer wired into it and another computer with a wireless network card. Both run Windows XP.

The network worked last week but we had to get Windows reinstalled on the one computer (we had a professional do it). Now the network doesn't work.

Can access the internet off of both computers

Internet firewall is disabled in both computers.

Files shared on both computers.

I noticed the IP addresses switched now. I don't know if that has caused any problems.

It works to ping computers but I cannot see them in My Network Places.

Have you tried running the network setup wizard from Start, All Programs, Accessories, Communication, Network Setup Wizard. See if this gets the network running again.

Otherwise, check that the IP addresses are good for both computers, ie they're part of the same subnet (like 192.168.0.1, 192.168.0.2) and the subnet mask is set to 255.255.255.0.

Check that the computers are on the same workgroup - you can use the default of MSHOME

I've found in the past that My Network Places is often incorrect. What happens if you just type "\\computername" (without the quotes) into the address bar in Windows Explorer.

HTH,

Edwin

For some reason it is working now again. One thing I changed is I added a password to the computer that has windows reinstalled. Would that be what made the difference. If it is it may help my problem at home.

At home I can read my desktop from my laptop but not the other way around.

Glad it's working now - computers are just strange

The password thing could have made a difference. When you access the remote computer, you need to authenticated. Usually you will be authenticated as a guest, but for some reason you may not be. If you do set a password, it's best to make sure you're using a similar account on the other computer. ie on both computers, use an account with exactly the same username and password.

My network at work seems to be working fine now but I'm having problems with my home network. I thought maybe that password thing would fix it but it doesn't. Do you have any other ideas?

I cannot access my Laptop from my desktop. I get an error as follows:
\\Laptop is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Access is denied.

My laptop does show in My Network Places (which wasn't the case in my work environment), but when I click on it I get that error.

I tried typing \\Laptop in the address bar with the same results.

Do you have any firewall software running on the laptop. This includes things like ZoneAlarm and the built-in Internet Connection Firewall (as long as you are running XP). Open up Network Connections from the Control Panel and right-click the Local Area Connection. Select Properties and click the Advanced tab. Check that ICF is not enabled. Also be aware that some anti-virus software includes a firewall. All firewalls need to be disabled or configured to allow home networking.

Firewalls are disabled

On the two computers can you click Start, Run and type "ipconfig /all > C:\ipconfig.txt" (without the quotes). Then, after a black screen has flashed up, copy the contents of the two ipconfig.txt files into your next post.

You will notice that on my laptop I have two network cards. One is a wireless for when I move my computer. My problem existed before I had the second network card.

I noticed that my IP routing and WINS proxy settings are different. Is this a problem?

Desktop
Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : RAY
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : D-Link DFE-538TX 10/100 Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-40-05-82-4C-3B
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.100
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, April 06, 2004 7:22:14 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, April 13, 2004 7:22:14 AM

Laptop
Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Laptop
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : National Semiconductor Corp. DP83815/816 10/100 MacPhyter PCI Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0B-CD-A6-80-91
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.101
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Monday, April 05, 2004 9:04:54 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Monday, April 12, 2004 9:04:54 PM

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : D-Link AirPlus DWL-650+ Wireless Cardbus Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-40-05-B8-F6-2A
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.102
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Monday, April 05, 2004 9:05:31 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Monday, April 12, 2004 9:05:31 PM

Firstly, although this should make much of a difference, I'd try disabling the wireless interface temporarily. Check that the computers are on the same workgroup, the cable are connected OK, you can ping between them, the firewalls are disabled and you're using accounts with exactly the same username and password.

Otherwise, try looking at these links:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=318030

http://www.thetechguide.com/forum/i...?showtopic=9932

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Net...Q_20917409.html

I tried disabling wireless interface with no effect. Same workgroup - Laptop computer shows in the workgroup, I just can't access it. Cable are connected - I can access my desktop from my laptop with no problems and access the internet with no problems. I can ping between them with no problems. Firewalls are disabled and accounts have same username and password. The only problem is I can't access files on my laptop from my desktop.

I will try these links you suggest.

I think the links may help, especially the ms one as it describes your problem exactly I think.

from winxp to winxp, just use the connection wizard. once the domain is specified they will talk to each other

The XP network setup wizard sometimes works, but I think this problem may not be solved by running that. btw... I think you mean workgroup rather than domain as this isn't a business network