Windows networking woes!

nevyn · 24 Apr 2006 at 11:31

Hi

I have a really annoying problem with my windows networking

2 XP machines on the same LAN
Both configured for workgroup of WORKGROUP

when you try to browse the workgroup to see the other machines a message telling me there is not permission is displayed

I share a printer on one machine without trouble

If you type in the IP addresss in explorer e.g.
\\192.168.1.50\
then the machine is found and all the shared drives can be used

However this is annoying and I wuld like to be able to just browse, especially when I connect the laptop (same problems here) it is a pain to have to find out what IP it has been given and then to manually connect to it for file copying

Anyone know how I can get the networking to work properly

I set the network up at my dads house the same and his works fine

No firewalls enabled on either machine although AVG antivirus is installed (not sure how this would cause a problem)

If I take my laptop to my dad's house and change the workgroup to MSHOME (his settings) I can browse no problem there although the laptop has no common user names with my dad's machines

Any suggestions much appreciated as to what I have done wrong

Thanks
Nevyn

Skilldibop · 24 Apr 2006 at 11:49

If the shares arn't in the root directory then your not going to be able to browse them. Also you may need administrator privilages for that PC depending on how that's all set up. I.e If there are password protected accounts on the PC sometimes you can't browse using my network places.
Sometimes you can fluke it by having identical accounts set on both PCs with the same passwords.
Is this XP home?

nevyn · 24 Apr 2006 at 14:07

Hi

I have a password set on my account on my PC but there is no password on the account on my girlfriends
she logs in as administrator (yes I know but there is no telling her)

anyway my account has admin privs

the shares are the roots of the drives c: and J: for mine
and c: and e: on hers

although I have password on my account but it is not asked for when her computer connects with IP address

I have the security settings to allow anyone to connect

PS this is XP pro

Thanks
Nev

Skilldibop · 24 Apr 2006 at 14:37

you need admin passwords on both PCs before you start. Then if the privaleges are set then it should be fine.

ted34 · 24 Apr 2006 at 14:46

I have exactly same problem as you so got round it by transferring files on usb sticks. You can use a program called sharescan

nevyn · 24 Apr 2006 at 16:35

Hi

Thanks
Can anyone tell me why having passwords on both PC's is going to help ?
surely if it is less secure it should be easier to connect ?

I am not sure my girlfriend wants a password on her machine I am quite happy to remove the one on mine if that will work too

I have a work-around by typing the IP address into the address bar in explorer, just this is boring and I would rather it was point and click

I tell you what if it is this hard to get two XP machines to talk to each other I have got no chance of getting SAMBA to work on the LINUX box !

Cheers
Nevyn