2 Windows 7 HP computers "see" each other but...

AFX · 13 Jun 2010

Hi, I have a server running W2k3, a laptop with Windows 7 Pro, and two netbooks running Windows 7 HP (Home Premium). I actually just got one of the netbooks yesterday and immediately did a clean install of Windows 7 HP on it. Everything works fine but I have a strange issue.

When going to Network on either of the netbooks, both netbooks appear in the list of visable computers, but when trying to access either of them (again, netbook to netbook), I get an error. This is an example of when the new netbook tries to access the old netbooks' shares, but the same message appears even when accessing the new netbook from the old one:

"Windows cannot access \\deimos

Check the spelling of the name. Otherwise, there might be a problem with your network. <diagnose text here>"

The same error appears when trying to access via IP address instead of computer name.

However, when trying to access the new netbook from the server station or the laptop, it sees the new netbook AND prompts for a password. At this point, I can view the files on the new netbook and I don't think it's so much an issue with my network, but perhaps a setting I am overlooking somewhere? All computers are on the same workgroup (MSHOME).

Also, when trying to ping the new netbook from the other one I had, all pings fail. But, if I ping from the server or the laptop to the new netbook, pings pass. What is the cause of this?

AFX · 23 Jun 2010

Heh, a week has gone by and no replies.

Anyway, I looked a little more. Common items like firewall being enabled, same workgroup name, etc, I have ran through those and nothing stuck out. I don't even use a firewall.

Any ideas?

Richie · 24 Jun 2010

Do you have a Homegroup setup?

chev65 · 24 Jun 2010

You will need to set up a "Workgroup" to access those machines starting with the Windows 7 pro machine will probably work best, you will want to join that same Workgroup from all your other machines including the server by using the same name for your Workgroup on all machines. It's best to use the built in GUI for this rather than the old fashioned \\Username or IP's.

After you set up the Workgroup will need to enable permissions by right clicking on the files you need to share and then adding "Everyone" to the "share with" list. Your older server will not allow for sharing with Homegroups so it's best to set up a Workgroup for your particular network. I wouldn't worrie about joining up the server until after you set up your Workgroup with your Windows 7 machines first. The links below should help. :)

Network Location - Set as Home, Work, or Public Network
https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...ns.html?filter

AFX · 25 Jun 2010

chev65 said:

You will need to set up a "Workgroup" to access those machines starting with the Windows 7 pro machine will probably work best, you will want to join that same Workgroup from all your other machines including the server by using the same name for your Workgroup on all machines. It's best to use the built in GUI for this rather than the old fashioned \\Username or IP's.

AFX said:

However, when trying to access the new netbook from the server station or the laptop, it sees the new netbook AND prompts for a password. At this point, I can view the files on the new netbook and I don't think it's so much an issue with my network, but perhaps a setting I am overlooking somewhere? All computers are on the same workgroup (MSHOME).

While I wish this was the correct answer, I have overlooked this portion several times and both computers have the same settings.

- Previously, there was a HomeGroup running, and thats when I first noticed the problem between the two computers, so that has been since turned off.

- I made absolute sure that the computers were on the same workgroup (MSHOME), as this was the first thing I thought of (and if this was the case it would be a noob mistake on my behalf haha)

- I don't use any third-party firewall/antivirus software on my network, just the standard firewall software that is included within Windows 7

- I am stumped furthermore because since all of the computers are on the same network, with standard Windows firewall settings on, the problem is only between these two computers. They cannot ping each other either, but can ping the other computers on the network.

- If I go on another computer (lets say another laptop that I have), it CAN access both of the netbooks, pings pass to each one. It's just when the 2 netbooks ping each other or do anything that would interact with each other only, the problem lies.

Richie · 26 Jun 2010

Try setting up HomeGroup an all the PC's again.

AFX · 27 Jun 2010

I still don't know what that is going to do, but I will try it anyway. Pretty sure the problem is that the 2 netbooks can't ping each other. If they can't ping each other, nothing probably won't happen, thus the reason I have this problem.