[thadd677]

I recently setup printer sharing for someone in their office. It took me all of about 2 mins to do so since I have done it many times. Two days later, he calls me up to let me know it stopped working. I thought it was just something simple but when I got there, I couldn't figure out what had happened. Here is the situation:

Computer A - Windows XP Pro SP2 with printer attached
Computer B - Windows XP Pro SP2 wants to use shared printer

Computer B can no longer access the workgroup. Computer A can see Computer B on the workgroup but cannot access it. When I double click on the computer name it wants a username and password??? Something like Guest\(computer name).

What confuses me is that Computer B can't access the Workgroup yet Computer A can see it on there. Also, how did this randomly happen after it was working fine? I checked all firewall settings and its all correct. Any help would be appreciated - Thanks.

Matt

 

[TerryNet]

Make sure that the workgroup name is still the same on both computers.

If using advanced file sharing, both PCs should have one user account/password in common; did this change?

If using Simple File Sharing, maybe one or both "caught" some registry corruption.

The following tests may help determine whether firewalls are really still OK, and if they are what exact error message(s) are obtained with test 3? Failure on test 1 almost always means firewall.

To open a Command Window: Start - Run – cmd (command in 98SE) - OK

To determine a computer's IP address: open a Command Window and type
ipconfig /all

Now for some troubleshooting:

1. On each PC open a Command window and type
ping IPofOther (where IPofOther is the IP address of the other PC)

Do you get Replies, or do you get packets lost?

If you got Replies,

2. Do the same ping except use the Computer Name of the other computer:
ping NameOfOtherPC

Replies or lost packets?

If you got Replies to either or both,

3. Then
Start - Run - \\IPofOther - OK

With luck after about a minute you should get an explorer window showing the other PC's shares. If not, what is the error message?

 

[thadd677]

Thanks I'll give this a try tomorrow evening.

 

[momofthree]

I believe I have a similar problem. I have 4 computers on a home network using windows xp. All computers are running xp home. All computers can see each other. I have one computer that can access everyone's files, but that computer can not be accessed. I can ping it with out a problem, both by ip address and name. If I try to access any files I am told access denied. The message is that I might not have permission to access this network resource. This is making me nuts! I have disabled the firewall, enabled NETbios over tcp/ip. I just don't get it!! I even started the computer I can't access in safe mode as administrator and still nothing helps.

 

[TerryNet]

Welcome, momofthree.

Similar or not, the (excellent) rule on this forum is that each person with a problem deserves their own thread and undivided attention of responders. So, please initiate a new thread. (When you are looking at the list of topics in this forum there will be an orange "New Thread" button at the upper left. )
Thanks, Terry

 

[thadd677]

Thanks Terry...

So when I returned to fix the problem it was working again. I didn't do anything nor did the person I was helping. I wasn't able to try anything because I couldn't get it to stop working again.

Now again, a few days later it stopped. Grrr... not sure if this info helps but just wanted to let you know. I'll keep you updated.