Windows 7: Cant browse network computers but i can ping them!!!

Hi all,
I am in the IT industry and am having problems with 3 different clients, I hope someone can shed some light on the problems. They both seem similar but slightly different maybe it has been something Microsoft have released in a update that have stuffed things up.

Client 1.

They have a small workgroup network setup with DNS allocated from the router. They have 4 pc connected to the network.

PC1. Windows XP Pro
PC2. Windows XP Pro
PC3. Windows Vista Business (Laptop)
PC4. Windows 7 Home Premium (Also laptop the one with the problem)

This network has been working fine for the last 3 years. PC1,2 and 3 can all see each other fine and share files no problem. PC4 is a problem if I try browse the network and even click on this pc’s name in the network it comes up with a error message saying I do not have permission to access it. I also doesn’t pick up all the pc’s on the network. Now this is where it gets weird. If I browse from one of the other pc’s on the network I can see all the files I have shared on the PC4 and access them and do what they need to do. I can even ping all the other pc’s on the network from pc4 without a problem.

All the advanced sharing setting are right or Home/Work and public everything seems 100% right. I have also changed all the pc’s to a static IP addresses which I didn’t think would work but I tried it anyways.

I have also tried uninstalled File and printer sharing from the Network connection properties and restarting and reinstalling it. and still Nada

Client 2.

Same setup but they all have static IP Addresses all the pc’s can see each other, but the one XP Pro pc cannot browse any pc’s on the workgroup. If I go to My Network Places, then View all Work Group Computers nothing comes up. I have sat for hours trying to get this pc to see others but nothing. If I type \\computername in the run windows it picks it up without a problem and I can see that pc I connect to. If I ping the other pc’s it gets a reply no problem. I have also enabled NetBIOS over TCP/IP and still nothing. Any suggestions.

Client 3.

Only 3 pc’s connected to each other all using XP pro.

PC1 working fine
PC2 also working fine
PC3 can’t browse the other pc’s on the network but I can ping all of them from here.

I check and problem solved for about 2 hours.



Change the IP addresses
Changing the cable
Changed the network hub

So I decided to test the hardware I brought it back to my place and plugged it in here and changed all the setting to my network and it work perfectly hence me changing the cable and network hub. One strange thing I noticed was when I had tried everything I know of I thought maybe a virus. So I started a virus scan and it came up with a Blue screen of Death

I am so lost so if anyone has anything that might help it would be greatly appreciated. Oh BTW I have tried turning firewalls and AV’s off so please don’t ask me to try that

i have spent days and days trying to figure out what could be the problems. SO PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks

Hi and Welcome to SF,

Verify that Netbios is enabled on all computers.
For XP machines: Windows XP Network Troubleshooting
For Vista and 7 machines: http://ecross.mvps.org/howto/netbt.htm

Also, try accessing the shared files by using an IP Address. Click on Start and type \\IPAddress\SharedFolder

What type of Security Software do you have installed in PC4?

You might want to check out this Thread, it's similar to yours, it might help you guide to some troubleshooting process.

Hey 2 xg thanks for the welcome, Netnios is enabled on all the pc's.

I will try accessing them via ip address.

The only thing they have installed is AVG pro and i have tried disabling it completely. I have tried alot of stuff. the thing that gets me is this seems to be happening alot these days almost like a windows up has caused it.

I'd say the purpose of trying to access and see all the computers in the network is to access the shared network resources. Why not map network drive and create a shortcut on the computer's desktop if desired.

Just my thoughts.

hi there,

ok here is what i did. They were running on the ip range 10.0.0. i tried that pc here at my office again over the weekend and it worked fine no problems at all. i the only difference between here and there is the ip range. I run mine on 192.168.10 so i change it at their office and it worked stright away but then i had to change the DSL router printers took me 3.5 hours to change everything with all the interuptions. but ITS WORKING WOOT WOOT. I would like to know if someone can give me a answer how the hek this is possible. Oh and it was mapped before but wouldnt work at all.

Thanks for trying to help.

Client 3 sorted but still having problems with the other 2 networks any suggestions? I have tried a lot of stuff.

Thanks Hurrie

Have you tried the suggestion on Post# 4?

List all the Firewall/Security software installed on all other computers that are affected in your network.