Network Setup Problem

I have a problem trying to setup a home network. Being a newbie I just cannot figure it out. HELP!

1/ I have a simple config with 2 PCs. A brand new Compaq desktop acting as a host wired to a wireless DSL router (Network Anywhere 2.4GHz 802.11b) and a Compaq portable (also brand new) with a wireless card. Both PCs are running on WinXP Home.

2/ I successfully installed the router and I can connect to the Internet from the desktop. I then tried to setup the network using the the Network Setup Wizard. But at the end it displays an Error Message something like "impossible to complete the configuration, use manual configuration, blah blah blah, ...".

In the network connections window, the Broadband DSL connection is disconnected behind a firewall, the local network connection (fast ethernet) is active and the 1394 connection is also active.

The Wizard has chosen the local network connection by default, then it asks to a give a Workgroup name (even though I already did before ???) so I retype the same name, I click Next twice and then the error message appears.

3/ I have tried also by disconnecting the network connection and disabling the firewall. I got the same error message.

Any suggestions? Please help!!!!

Steve

Hi,

Why don't you try setting up the network manually, by following these steps:

1 - On the desktop open System in the Control Panel. Under computer name tab, check the computer name and workgroup. Set the workgroup to something like WORKGROUP (click the Change button to change this).

2 - Still on the desktop, open Network Connections, and right click the Broadband DSL connection and select properties. Under Advanced, allow the connection to be shared.

3 - Still on the desktop, open Network Connections, and right click the LAN connection and select properties. Double click Internet Protcol TCP/IP. Set the IP address to 192.168.0.1, the subnet to 255.255.255.0 and leave the default gateway blank.

4 - On the laptop, check the computer name and workgroup, and make sure that the workgroup is the same as on the desktop.

5 - Still on the laptop, open Network connections and right click the LAN connection and select properties. Double click Internet Protocol TCP/IP and enter the IP address 192.168.0.2, subnet 255.255.255.0 and default gateway 192.168.0.1.

This should allow the network to function ok.

If it still doesn't work, check the cables / wireless connection working is OK. Is there any firewall software running on either computer?

HTH,

Edwin

Hi Edwin,

For a while, the DevShed forum server being down, I thought I lost my "lifeline".

OK I followed your recommendations. It partially worked. Here is why: I have a SharedDocs folder in my Favorite Network. So far so good. However, now I have 2 problems.

1/ My laptop does not see the network through its wireless connection. (The card definetly works because it can see my neighbour network!!! I should tell him about that so that he adds some kind of security... That will be dealt later.) .

However, my laptop sees the network only if I wired it to the router. (So the router is working fine.)

So I tried fixing the problem by giving a third IP address (192.168.0.3) to the wireless connection. It did not work. I tried giving the same IP address as the LAN connection (192.168.0.2). It did not work.

Any suggestion?


Now for the second problem.
2/ I cannot connect to the Internet any longer ( I had to unselect the shared connection in my broadband DSL connection to reach my "lifeline" again").

BTW I made sure there was not any ICF on all network connections on both computers. And there are no firewall software on both computers.

Any suggestion for that one too?

Thanks in advance. Steve.

Would I be correct in thinking that the laptop has 2 network interfaces, one wired and one wireless. If this is the case and you only want to use the wireless connection (the one that doesn't work at the moment) go into Network Connections, right click the wired connection and select disable. This should leave you with the one wireless connection.

Next, make sure that the wireless connection is working OK and set its IP address to 192.168.0.2, its subnet to 255.255.255.0 and its default gateway to 192.168.0.1. You could use the Network Setup Wizard to do this for you if you want. Then click Start, Run and type cmd. In the Command Prompt, type "ipconfig /all" (without the quotes) and check that the wireless connection has the correct IP address of 192.168.0.1. Also in the command prompt, type "ping 192.168.0.1" (without quotes) and you should get a reply.

Another thing to check: is the SharedDocs folder being shared on the network. On the desktop, right-click the folder and select Sharing and Security. Make sure that it is shared. I'm not sure about this, but do you have access to the files. Try creating an account with an idential username and password on the desktop as you use on the laptop and try accessing the shared folder again.

With the second point, you must enable ICS on the Broadband DSL connection. On the laptop, make sure that the default gateway is set to 192.168.0.1 (this should be left blank on the desktop). Try accessing www.google.com or http://66.102.11.99 from both computers. Also try pinging both of these addresses.

HTH,

Edwin