[>GSXR<mrbusa]

I am running a simple two PC workgroup. One wired and one wireless.
My router is a D-link DGL4300. Wifi card for my storage server is a D-link WDA-2320. My NIC card in my gaming rig is an Intel Pro gigabit 10/100/1000.
I would think that it was a hardware issue but it all worked up until recently. Both PC's have perfect working internet access. I have recreated my workgroup with different names a few times with no success of fixing the problem. The weird thing is I can see the workgrouped computers from both machines. I can also see, open, and transfer files from the wired PC to the wireless PC with no problems and at full speed. I can add shared folders to the wireless PC and they are immediately seen by the wired PC. The actual icon for the wired PC is visible by the wireless PC but if I try to open it I get these two errors which I have included screenies of. I do not know if it is a specif service that is causing the errors or what. Both PC's have the same service configuration that I had when my network was working on both systems. I am getting no errors while recreating the workgroup or adding shared folders or drivers on either system.

[>GSXR<mrbusa]

I normally don't bump and will not bump anymore today.
This is really bugging me and I would like to fix it today if anybody knows anything or have seen these type of errors before.

If anybody knows any really good sites that are related to network diagnostics then that would be appreciated also.

THX

[Dyre Straits]

I have to leave for work right now and won't be back for several hours.

Explain exactly how you have set up Sharing for each of the computers.

[>GSXR<mrbusa]

Hey Dyre,
Had some stuff I ended up doing yesterday.

It is just a basic workgrouop that I have a couple of shared folders on. All I really do is stream some music and use the second PC as storage backup and to play a 1on1 cod2 with my brother. Up until a couple weeks ago I had four PC's working very well together on the same workgroup, three wireless and one wired. I checked my parents laptop that is usually over hear to and it still interacts with the workgroup as it should. Both PC's are running XP sp2 and are completely updated. I use the built in home network wizard to setup the workgroup and then I create a couple various folders on any PC that I share files with and use those only. Doing it this way has always met my basic needs so I never tried something else. I cannot explain why only my storage rig is the only system that cannot access the other systems but does see the workgroup. Even weirder is that as long as I connect to and not connect from the storage system it works fine.

As you can probably tell the technical side of home networking is beyond my current knowledge. I have tried some reading but it always loses my interest because it is so complicated and boring and there are so many different protocols and things that can go wrong. Up until now I have been content with letting Windows set up my network and workgroup and firewall exceptions. The problem still exists even if I turn off my software firewall and my hardware firewall. There is no spyware, adware, or antivirus running on my systems. I do scans regularly and thoroughly, but do not leave any type of real time protection enabled. I am very safe, I haven't gone anywhere new or opened anything on any system that isn't from a trusted site or been individually scanned for viruses. There are no weird processes running and no system anomalies other than my stated problem.

Anything specific you need to know will need to be stated, that is one thing I am good at, if I don't know how something is configured on my system I will find out one way or another. I am just not sure what you need to know.

[Dyre Straits]

As for a basic setup, you and I use quite similar networking. We have a combination of wired/wireless here, too. I have two of my own rigs in my office and use a third network connection to update computers I'm working on via Internet connection.

Additionally, we also have 2 other Desktops, and 2 XBOX 360s connected. Via Wireless, we have at least on laptop constantly and my son brings one home from work occasionally and uses that one.

Since it seems that only the 'Storage' computer is having this problem, it sounds like the Sharing on the 'Main' computer isn't setup properly.

Do you have one HD in the "Main" with a single partition, several partitions, or more than one HD and if so, how is it configured?

If you have separate partitions -- or at least Drive Letter Designations, try this:

Move all the data you wish to be shared into one partition....example: E:\Shared Stuff

Now, once it's all there, right click on E:\ --- NOT E:\Shared Stuff --- just E:\ and select the Sharing and Security option.

Select the Share this folder on the network option and let it designate E as the share name.

Make sure to select Yes for the File and Printer sharing if prompted.

Now click OK and let it set up the sharing of this entire E folder and subfolders.

Once it's done, see if everything can be accessed from "Storage" computer. It 'should' work now.

[>GSXR<mrbusa]

I have secured and shared many different folders on four seperate HDD's on the Gamer system. I thought the same thing, the sharing wasn't configure correctly on that system. So I added my parents laptop to the network, wirelessly, and created a new workgroup with the server system off. The gamer system and the laptop worked flawlessly and was able to share anything I wanted to and from both systems with both being able to act as a server. Then I turned on the server rig and added it to the same workgroup that was running. The server sees the workgroup just as it should and was doing before I added the laptop, but cannot open up either workgrouped PC's to see any shared drives or folders. It can however open itself and see its shares and both other systems can open up the server system and transfer file to and from it as long as each one is acting as the server. I am stumped.

I can ping every system and the router and modem from any system on the network including the server rig.

[Dyre Straits]

How are you logging into the server? Does the "User" have administrative rights? Check in Control Panel, User Accounts to make sure that Computer administrator appears next to or below the name.

[>GSXR<mrbusa]

None of my systems are password protected or have guest accounts enabled. I just call it a server because I stream content from it and it is my storage rig. I am thinking about setting up a Linux partition on the storage system to see if I can connect to my gamer rig.
I have a delicate question.
Both systems have legitimate OEM discs of XP that I own with a COA for both. One of the copies is so old that every time I install it after I change hardware I have to call freaking India and activate over the phone and they give me the third degree. I really do not know what the differences are with the copies, they look identical and both keys work and have been mine since I opened the envelopes.
I do however, use only one key on both systems because for some reason one of my copies activates from the install GUI no matter what system or hardware I put it on.
My question is, could this problem be from having the same keycode being used on both systems and for some reason with all this new validation of M$ update they have limited one of my systems abilities?
Both systems have been fully updated and validated with WGA with everything but .Net and timezone and WMP crap.
Sorry about the long ass post. I wanted to explain so I didn't get bashed for the keycode thing.

[Dyre Straits]

Nah, I can't think of any reason the keycode situation would be at the root of this problem.

It's beginning to sound more like a firewall setting. Can you check the Instances for the firewall on your gaming rig to see if it's blocking access?


BTW, maybe you stated this earlier, but which of the routers is this server on again? Wired or wireless?

Have you tried REPAIRING the connection?

Also, check the Default Gateways between all the machines to make sure they are the same. I've had some previous problems whereby the Wireless router would want to 'take over ' the network and it uses a different Default Gateway. Everything except what was directly connected to that router would lose Internet access until the connections were repaired.

[>GSXR<mrbusa]

It is the same router.
It happens with the firewall enabled or disabled.
I have even tried disabling the firewall service and still no dice.
I have repaired all the connections and uninstalled and reinstalled the adapter drivers on both systems.
Each system would have the same gateway configuration on the same router whether each individual PC was connected wirelessly or wired, right?

[Dyre Straits]

Yes, all the computers connected to the same router should end up with the same gateway.


Still thinking......

[PangingJr]

seems like you are having problem with the NTFS and network share permissions's.
try this try using the same password for Administrator on all the system in the network, create a new folder on one of the system, then set it as a shere folder... and set its network share permissions to Administrator with read and write - full control... then access to this share folder and files in it with Administrator and its password from another Windows XP on the network.

[>GSXR<mrbusa]

Originally Posted by PangingJr

seems like you are having problem with the NTFS and network share permissions's.
try this try using the same password for Administrator on all the system in the network, create a new folder on one of the system, then set it as a shere folder... and set its network share permissions to Administrator with read and write - full control... then access to this share folder and files in it with Administrator and its password from another Windows XP on the network.

Neither one of the systems were password protected.
All of the shares on both systems had full read and write support the whole time. Even though, I did the following steps to make sure it wasn't an account setup issue.

I created a second administrator account on each system and used the same password on both. I then created a new workgroup on each system and created some test shares with full read and write access. Still I was unable to open the shares on Gamer from Server but I am still able to open Server shares from Gamer. Same exact problem.
All my shares on both systems have and had full read and write access.
My firewall and cards were and are configured to allow file sharing.

The only setting on either system that is different than the other is the NIC card on Gamer has a protocol installed called " Link Layer Topology Discovery Responder ". The Wifi card on Server doesn't have this functionality installed with the drivers. There are no configuration options within the card drivers for this protocol, only enabled and uninstall.

I'm lost on what else to try.

[PangingJr]

Originally Posted by >GSXR<mrbusa

Neither one of the systems were password protected.
All of the shares on both systems had full read and write support the whole time. Even though, I did the following steps to make sure it wasn't an account setup issue.

I created a second administrator account on each system and used the same password on both. I then created a new workgroup on each system and created some test shares with full read and write access. Still I was unable to open the shares on Gamer from Server but I am still able to open Server shares from Gamer. Same exact problem.
All my shares on both systems have and had full read and write access.
My firewall and cards were and are configured to allow file sharing.

The only setting on either system that is different than the other is the NIC card on Gamer has a protocol installed called " Link Layer Topology Discovery Responder ". The Wifi card on Server doesn't have this functionality installed with the drivers. There are no configuration options within the card drivers for this protocol, only enabled and uninstall.

I'm lost on what else to try.

well i just told you things that you may want to try.

there is only one "Administrator" account in Windows XP.

create a password for this account name, and try performing what i said above, and post back the results... wherther or not all the computers in the network are able to access this share folder include read and write files in it?
on this new folder try leaving the local permissions setting alone for now, just use the defaults permissions that Windows gives you when you create this folder. however, after you set this folder for sharing, you can set the network share permissions to only one account which is the "Administrator" with the Full Control, Change and Read are allowed, then remove all the rest of account include the 'Everyone' that exists in this folder's network share permissions.

[>GSXR<mrbusa]

Originally Posted by PangingJr

well i just told you things that you may want to try.

there is only one "Administrator" account in Windows XP.

create a password for this account name, and try performing what i said above, and post back the results... wherther or not all the computers in the network are able to access this share folder include read and write files in it?
on this new folder try leaving the local permissions setting alone for now, just use the defaults permissions that Windows gives you when you create this folder. however, after you set this folder for sharing, you can set the network share permissions to only one account which is the "Administrator" with the Full Control, Change and Read are allowed, then remove all the rest of account include the 'Everyone' that exists in this folder's network share permissions.

So when a second account is created with the account setup wizard and given administrative rights it really doesn't have administrative rights?

I did try with the existing accounts on both systems with the same password and the way you asked and still had the problem.

I then recreated workgroup the shared folders and added some test shares with both read only and then with read and write abilities and still the same problem.

What other options do I have. I am only running XP home and only have so many ways I can create a workgroup and configure sharing within that workgroup.

If it was a problem with the actual shared folders or drives within the workgroup then wouldn't I still be able to access the workgrouped PC in question, but just not see the shares?

The error is saying that I do not have the right to access the workgrouped PC as a whole but the workgroup and workgrouped PC's are visible.

When I add another system to the workgroup configured in the exact same way as the other I have total access as I should from system labeled Server and from the system labeled Gamer. I have full control of Server from Gamer with the same configuration.

EDIT: You need to take into account that I have had this same workgroup up and running for a very long time. I have never had any issues with the same exact configuration as I have now. This is not a how do I create workgroup problem.

Thx for helping and I am open to anything.

[PangingJr]

hmm i don't know, but i think the error message above is clearly mean what it says and that you are somehow having a network share permissions problem, which is reason why i like to see, you try with a new created network share and with the real Administrator to access it.

[>GSXR<mrbusa]

Originally Posted by PangingJr

hmm i don't know, but i think the error message above is clearly mean what it says and that you are somehow having a network share permissions problem, which is reason why i like to see, you try with a new created network share and with the real Administrator to access it.

I do have real administrative access to the workgroup from both systems. The other accounts have all been deleted and were only used for testing this problem. The original errors happened and continue to happen on the real administrative account that is created when XP installs.

I wanted to go full blown gigabit with my current routers gigabit switch so I went and purchased two of the same make and model adapters. I am installing them now and will post back results soon. I doubt the adapters have anything to do with it but I still wanted to try anyhow.

Gaming with wireless sucks and I started having some lans and loaning the server out for people to play but the damn wireless drops signal sometimes because of the channel I have to use to be able to have 54g and 108g running at the same time. Now that I eliminated the wireless card from the server I can swap it out with my roommates 54g card so I can run on a different channel. It still might drop signal because I have about 10 to 15 active networks around where I live and most of them are not secure. Even though I am running WPA2 for some reason my router doesn't like it and drops signal with that many visible networks. It didn't happen when the router was on the floor level of my house but when I brought it upstairs the router started seeing everything.

[Dyre Straits]

Any update on this?

[>GSXR<mrbusa]

Originally Posted by Dyre Straits

Any update on this?

I gave up.
I have tried everything I or anybody that posted on three different forums could think of and I still have the same problem. I will be vaping the server real soon for a new mobo and processor and I am sure whatever it is will be fixed then. I disable so many XP services and delete so many system files to get my install as small and efficient as possible that it could be a million different things. As long as I can still connect to the workgroup with any other system then I will wait it out. The weirdest part about it is the server sees the workgroup and I can transfer files to and from the server as long as it is initiated from the system labeled gamer. These are the only two systems that cause this problem, these two systems work flawlessly with every other system I have connected to the workgroup.

[H3X4D3C1M4L]

Off topic but I like your workgroup name

[>GSXR<mrbusa]

Originally Posted by H3X4D3C1M4L

Off topic but I like your workgroup name

Thx...

A small update...

I finally reinstalled my OS on the PC labeled server. That did not fix my problem. I then reinstalled my OS on the system labeled gamer and that did fix the problem.
What I can't figure out is why any other system I added to my workgroup would interact with both my systems flawlessly.
Anyhow, I am up and running now.
I am now double checking every lan or wlan or network configuration change I make so they are identical on both systems. So far so good. The only thing I have done differently is not apply any of the Autopatcher network tweaks on either system and instead applying them manually or with a specific app.

[H3X4D3C1M4L]

I noticed I've never been able to browse by workgroups.

Just out of curiosity any passwords on any of the machines other than the administrator password...?

[>GSXR<mrbusa]

Originally Posted by H3X4D3C1M4L

I noticed I've never been able to browse by workgroups.

Just out of curiosity any passwords on any of the machines other than the administrator password...?

During the time of trying to figure this problem out I tried every password, account name, workgroup name, share rights, firewall, router, nic, wifi configuration known to man.
I think it could not be fixed because something was either disabled or just not there anymore. I had performed so many tweaks and deleted and disabled so many things that I lost track and some things were deleted so they couldn't be enabled again.
Now that there is a fresh install on both systems the worlkgroup works fine. All the different strategies for fixing the problem was kinda in vein because I have two different account names and passwords, one system stock and one system tweaked for best network throughput, etc. I basically did everything the same as the old install on the gamer but I did not install Autopatcher this time. No matter what I have done to reproduce the problem the workgroup still works fine.

EDIT: Are you receiving the same error as I was when trying to browse your worgrouped systems?