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

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.

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

hurrie said:

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

Just went into Contrl Panel> Network & Sharing Center> Change Advance Sharing Settings> Clicked down pointing arrow (for the currently connected network type, e.g. Home or Work)> Turned Off Password Protected Sharing.


I know that this shouldn't have happened (isn't correct way). Because, Password protection is very important for networks. But there might be something and, for the time being, I'm able to browse my Local area network, not only just able to ping them or use internet.

What happens is that on the network is a master browser when you look for a PC it doesn't search it asks master browser what's out there if the browser isn't up to date PC's won't show up but can be reached by IP once the master is updated it all works master browser may change as PC's can have an election to get a new one

samuria said:

What happens is that on the network is a master browser when you look for a PC it doesn't search it asks master browser what's out there if the browser isn't up to date PC's won't show up but can be reached by IP once the master is updated it all works master browser may change as PC's can have an election to get a new one

I lost your point!!

Are you addressing to my concern or something else?