Solved Cannot view other computers on network

[Apolymoxic]

I finally got windows 7 all setup on this computer, but I cannot view my other computer through the network. I was trying to setup a homegroup, but it's not recognized. So I decided that sharing files and folders was enough for me, but I can't view either computer from the other.

To make this next part a bit easier to read, I will call the computers compA and compB.

Whats really confusing me is I can view computers on different network. I took both computers and connected to another network, where I was able to view the computer on that network (which is running vista). The vista computer was able to view and communicate with both compA and compB. compA and compB could, obviously, view and communicate with the vista computer, but could not see each other.

I started thinking that it was a router issue, but I checked everything I could think of to no avail. I have also searched this forum and completed every step in this Ultimate Troubleshooting Guide for Windows 7 HomeGroup Connection Issues. Still no joy.

I don't know if this helps, but I have an Xbox on the network as well. The Xbox can use files (videos and music) from compA, but cannot see compB. Maybe this indicates a problem with compB?

Can anyone think of something that I missing?

BTW, both compA and compB are running Win7 32bit.

 

[Parman]

I Feel like I'm taking a Microsoft cert with this question LOL .

Make sure that both computer A and Computer B have Client for Microsoft Netwroks & File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks.


Click Start orb, type in ncpa.cpl Press Enter.

Navigate to your current connection and Right click and choose properties.

Verify that Client for Microsoft Netwroks & File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks. have checkmarks.

 

[Apolymoxic]

They also have IPv6 as required for homegroup.

What's the next step?

 

[Parman]

1, 2 & 3 missing because you already completed these steps.

4. Make sure all machines on the network are in the same workgroup.
- Try changing the workgroups to something else, then changing them back.
5. Turn on NetBIOS over TCP/IP in the IPv4 settings for the network adapter.

Also can you post the IPconfig /all for each PC. Mark them as below.

After you finish to command Right Click Select All, Press enter. Open notepad and paste the information to verify that you got it. Then paste it into a

Results CompA

Results CompB

 

[Apolymoxic]

Okay, steps 4 and 5 complete. Still no joy.

Comp A Results:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

C:\Users\Apolymoxic>ipconfig

Windows IP Configuration


Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection 2:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : ApolyPlace

Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : ApolyPlace
   Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::b071:bc05:b234:a3b9%10
   IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 168.192.100.101
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 168.192.100.1

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 11:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2001:0:4137:9e76:389d:4b2:b733:e3bd
   Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::389d:4b2:b733:e3bd%18
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

Tunnel adapter isatap.ApolyPlace:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : ApolyPlace

Tunnel adapter 6TO4 Adapter:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : ApolyPlace
   IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2002:a8c0:6465::a8c0:6465
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

Comp B Results:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

C:\Users\Apolymoxic>ipconfig

Windows IP Configuration


Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : ApolyPlace
   Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::dde3:29e8:1dd4:55ff%12
   IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 168.192.100.104
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 168.192.100.1

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

Tunnel adapter isatap.ApolyPlace:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : ApolyPlace

Tunnel adapter 6TO4 Adapter:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : ApolyPlace
   IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2002:a8c0:6468::a8c0:6468
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 2002:c058:6301::c058:6301

Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2001:0:9d38:6ab8:3068:23a2:573f:9b97
   Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::3068:23a2:573f:9b97%11
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

Tunnel adapter isatap.{634CE84B-E61D-475C-8020-EC7C87FFEB19}:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

 

[Parman]

You should have DNS under Default gateway Do you have DNS configured on your router? Are you using static address or dynamic? Dynamic you're getting address from router, Static you're manually entering one in.

 

[Apolymoxic]

Heh, I do know the difference between static and dynamic. =)

The router is dynamic. The computers are dynamic but they have reserved IP addresses in the router. Comp A is 101 and Comp B is 104. The only thing on this network that I have setup static is my XBox and that's because of port forwarding.

Again, Comp A and the Xbox can communicate just fine. Comp B cannot see or be seen by Comp A or the Xbox.

From what I see, each computers has a default gateway. What am I missing?

 

[Parman]

Go into your router configuration and verify that you have a DNS setup correctly. Each PC should be pointing to the router for the DNS server, Then the router will forward the address to what ever is specified on the router configuration.

The Computer DNS server should be set in the DHCP server page.

 

[Apolymoxic]

Okay, now I am confused.
Where are you seeing that they are not pointing to the router? I am assuming you are not talking about DDNS, because that is not enabled on the router. Can you explain this further for me? If it helps, I have a Linksys E3000.

Also, I think I should point out that this router was used in a network before and had no problems (I set that network up). I reset it and set this network up the same way and still have no issues with Comp A or the Xbox. It may also be note worthy that Comp B is a fresh install of Win 7.

I know that may not help at all, and I am very aware that just because the network was setup and working previously doesn't mean that it's setup correctly now.

 

[Apolymoxic]

If you need screen shots, I am happy to provide them.

 

[Parman]

Grab the latest drivers Wireless for CompB from the manufactures website site.

update

First try accessing CompB with \\ipaddress

Then try to ping compA to CompB 1st using names, 2nd using IP address.

you might have to open firewall ports on pc. If use run this command in elevated command prompt (right click and run as admin).

netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name=”ALL ICMP V4″ protocol=icmpv4:any,any dir=in action=allow

 

[Apolymoxic]

Did that on Saturday. I don't know how to verify it, but with the new install of windows there were no drivers for LAN (wireless or wired). I had to get them. Windows was just installed Friday.

 

[Parman]

I updated post #11 let me know how that goes.

also you did verify that the clocks are synced?

 

[Apolymoxic]

All pings timeout. I can ping the router from both computers, of course, but I cannot ping the other computer. Before adding that exception to the firewall (Both replied with OK), I got "Reply from [current computer]: Destination host unreachable."
The clocks have been synced - synced with internet time, and I forced a re-sync to make sure.

I tried to ping with name, but I don't think I am doing it right. Apolyplace is the name of the router - I can ping the router using IP address, but I cannot using name.

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

C:\Users\Apolymoxic>ping 168.192.100.1

Pinging 168.192.100.1 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 168.192.100.1: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=64
Reply from 168.192.100.1: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=64
Reply from 168.192.100.1: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=64
Reply from 168.192.100.1: bytes=32 time=32ms TTL=64

Ping statistics for 168.192.100.1:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 3ms, Maximum = 32ms, Average = 10ms

C:\Users\Apolymoxic>ping apolyplace

Pinging apolyplace.ApolyPlace [72.215.225.9] with 32 bytes of data:
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 72.215.225.9:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

C:\Users\Apolymoxic>ping apolymoxic

Pinging apolymoxic.ApolyPlace [72.215.225.9] with 32 bytes of data:
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 72.215.225.9:
    Packets: Sent = 1, Received = 0, Lost = 1 (100% loss),
Control-C
^C
C:\Users\Apolymoxic>ping apolyplace.apolymoxic

Pinging apolyplace.apolymoxic [72.215.225.9] with 32 bytes of data:
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 72.215.225.9:
    Packets: Sent = 1, Received = 0, Lost = 1 (100% loss),
Control-C
^C
C:\Users\Apolymoxic>

I hope you are not getting aggravated with this... I really do appreciate all of your help.

 

[Apolymoxic]

I have this feeling that if I can get this computer (Comp B) to communicate with the Xbox, I will be able to view the other computer. I don't know if that makes things easier for you.

 

[Parman]

Your ping with name is incorrect. apolyplace.apolymoxic [72.215.225.9] is a public address thats one easy clue. I'm at work and i will get back in min. what are the hostname of each PC. type in hostname on the command prompt.

 

[Apolymoxic]

I saw that IP address and I realized that it was the public address. It's not even the IP address given to me by my ISP, so I am not sure where it even got that IP. The computer names are apoly-laptop and apoly-server (No, it's not a real server, but it's stationary so I thought the name was fitting).

 

[Parman]

What error do you recieve if you go to a windows explorer and type in \\apoly-laptop or \\apoly-server

that is also how you want to ping.

ping apoly-laptop

 

[Apolymoxic]

What error do you recieve if you go to a windows explorer and type in \\apoly-laptop or \\apoly-server

that is also how you want to ping.

ping apoly-laptop

If I type in \\apoly-server or \\apoly-laptop, it says that it's not accessible and that I do not have permission. But just before I tried that, something new happened. They computers showed up in the network.

So, I guess the problem is solved.... I don't know what changed, though I wish I did.
I can now join the homegroup. Maybe it was the firewall change (I am running ZoneAlarm, though so I am not sure if that affected it).

I honestly do appreciate all your help and your time. Do you know what might have caused the hang up?

 

[Parman]

It could have been one of the test, without knowing when it happened its hard to say. I'm glad the issue is resolved.