XOver Cable network for 2 PC's - Can ping both, but they aren't visible in Explorer ?

[Defenestration]

I am trying to set up a simple file-sharing network with my laptop and desktop. I have connected them both with a crossover cable and done the following on both:

1) Control Panel->Network Connections->Local Are Connection, clicked on Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and selected Properties. I then selected "Use the following IP address"

I set the laptop with IP address 192.168.0.1 and the desktop with IP address 192.168.0.2. The subnet mask for both was 255.255.255.0

I manually set these IP addresses because it seems to have a problem dynamically allocating IP addresses (tray icon indicates acquiring network address, but it never succeeds).

After it's been setup, I can successfully ping between both machines using their respective IP addresses, but I can't see the machine's in Explorer->My Network Places->Microsoft Windows Network->Mshome.

I have had it working on odd occasions, but when I re-install I cannot usually get it working again, and haven't understood what steps I'm missing out.

What am I doing wrong ?


FYI, I will also probably want to use Remote Desktop Connection eventually so that I can edit code on my laptop, and then compile on my much more powerful desktop.

[directhex]

got a desktop firewall installed?

[Defenestration]

I have managed to make the laptop visible on the network. I like my machine to run with minimal processes and had disabled several Services. After restoring the default services, it is visible on the laptop in Explorer but not on the desktop.

I have had no such luck with the desktop though, but will try re-installing vanilla XP to see if that helps.

I do have a firewall installed, but have disabled for testing purposes.

[Lucio]

I'd take a look at Windows Firewall as well and make sure that's totally disabled. That could be the thing that's blocking your connections.

Also, did you make sure that the computers were both within the same Workgroup under their name? That helps you find them via the "My Network Connections"

[hardflipman]

have you got file and printer sharing enabled?

[staffsMike]

Have you shared a folder/drive on the pc's and have you tried mapping them?

Explorer >> Tools >> map network drive

[Rosaline]

Unless you have a router to perform some magic or install a DHCP server on a system, you will need to allocate IP addresses manually, yes. However it has been my experience that windows does not like direct cable connections, it's much happier using a switch. A router offering you DHCP, a four port switch and ADSL modem functionality will cost you less than £20, and is worth it.

To get file sharing to happen, you will need to ensure that the Computer Browser service is running.

[Defenestration]

Thanks for the replies. I have now solved the problem which was caused by the "TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper" service not running. This service was set to start Automatically, but yet it wouldn't start. I checked Properties->Dependencies and found it is dependant on the AFD and "NetBios over Tcpip" components, so I began my search there. I did the following to check if they were running:

1) Go to Control Panel->System->Hardware->Device Manager
2) Choose View->Show hidden devices
3) Under Non-Plug and Play Drivers, double-click on AFD to bring up the Properties window , click on the Driver tab and make sure the Startup type is set to "System". Do the same for "Netbios over Tcpip"

In my case AFD was running and set to System start, but "Netbios over Tcpip" was not running and set to Disabled. After changing it to a System start and rebooting everything worked perfectly.

The "Netbios over Tcpip" component is normally set to System start by default, but I had nLite'd my installation CD and have read that this can disable this component, although I'm not sure which tweak/option causes this (that would take further investigation)

So, if the PC's on the network can be pinged, but are not visible in Explorer, perform the above checks.

I hope this helps someone else.