Solved Can't See Other Computer for File Sharing

[cliffflip]

Hi,
I have 2 computers on my home, one PC is running Windows 7 Home Premium x64 and the other one running XP Home Edition SP2 , both connected to the Internet via a TL-MR3420 router and TL-WN822N adapter from TP-LINK. I have enabled file sharing on both computers, and don't have any problem to view any shared files between each computer, until now.

Everytime I try to view other computer via 'Network' menu on 7 (or Network Places on XP), I can't see my other computer which is supposedly there. So far I have tried a few attempts to analyze and solve it :

1. ping each other by IP - success.
2. ping each other by computer name - failed.
3. try to access "\\<ip> and <computer name>" from run - failed with error 0x80070035 - network path not found.
4. disable firewall on computers & router.
5. make sure few services necessary for file sharing are active.
6. re-enable wireless connection on both computers.
7. change the workgroup name.

As far as I can remember, I didn't change any settings for this one, except when I stumbled into problem trying to connect my tablet to access shared files on Windows 7 computer (via ES File Explorer app - samba service, AFAIK). I change 'log on' and 'depedencies' on few services, and revert it back straight away. I forgot the names of the services, and whether if I still can view other computer after this. I still can access those shared files via my tablet though.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks

 

[2xg]

Hello,

Do you have any Norton or McAfee installed by any chance? Please disable it for now.

You might want to consider updating the Service Pack of your XP to SP3.
Download Windows XP Service Pack 3 Overview from Official Microsoft Download Center

 

[cliffflip]

Hi 2xg,

Yes I have NIS installed on my Windows 7 PC. I have disable its smart firewall & auto-protection but so far nothing.
And my XP PC is already on SP3. sorry I mentioned "SP2" before.

 

[znod]

See if this tutorial helps out in some way.

 

[cliffflip]

Hi znod,
I have read that, along with another articles related to network problems there (including installing this hotfix on my XP), still do not fix my problem.

I tried to run a troubleshooter when failed to connect via \\<ip> command. On my 7, it came with "The device or resource (my XP static IP) is not set up to accept connections on port 'The File and printer sharing (SMB)'." message. on XP it's just showing a "the network is unreachable" message.

And few moments ago I compare "ipconfig /all" results and both computers showing "DHCP enabled : No". On other info, "Netbios over tcp/ip" is enabled on my 7 and disabled on my XP. The DHCP changed to "Yes" when I set obtain IP automatically from both network settings. But the Netbios still showing disabled even after I change it from default to enable via WINS tab on network settings.


Here's the latest ipconfig /all report :

XP

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Tata>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

    	Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Tata-PC
    	Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . :
    	Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
    	IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
    	WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:

    	Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
    	Description . . . . . . . . . . . : TP-LINK 300Mbps Wireless N Adapter
    	Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : B0-48-7A-8B-A9-CA
    	Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
    	Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
    	IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.103
    	Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
    	Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
    	DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
    	DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
    	NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled
    	Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 10 Desember 2012 14:11:54
    	Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 10 Desember 2012 16:11:54

C:\Documents and Settings\Tata>

7

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

C:\Users\cliffflip>ipconfig/all

Windows IP Configuration

   Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : cliffflip-PC
   Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . :
   Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
   IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
   WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : TP-LINK 300Mbps Wireless N Adapter
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : F8-D1-11-0F-E0-E3
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
   Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::c4cf:1db3:de07:198c%17(Preferred)
   IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.104(Preferred)
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
   Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 10 Desember 2012 14:12:17
   Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 10 Desember 2012 16:12:16
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
   DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
   DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 514869370
   DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-14-7A-C7-FC-6C-62-6D-4A-47-6C

   DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
   NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

C:\Users\cliffflip>

Is it safe to assume the disabled NetBios over tcp/ip is the source of this problem?

 

[znod]

I don't think that is the problem. My Win7/Win8 settings show DHCP Enabled Yes and NetBIOS over Tcpip Disabled. But, then there is this. I am still searching around a bit.

More: Item 1; Item 2. I searched on "netbios over tcpip disabled windows xp." Try the same search, and, try another one leaving out disabled.

I am not recommending that you change anything. Do so at your own discretion.

 

[chev65]

I vote to uninstall NIS using their special uninstall tool, nuke it from space...it's the only way to be sure.

 

[edwar]

Hi 2xg,

Yes I have NIS installed on my Windows 7 PC. I have disable its smart firewall & auto-protection but so far nothing.
And my XP PC is already on SP3. sorry I mentioned "SP2" before.

It has been my experience that even if you Turn Off the firewall on some of these Security programs they really never turn it off.

I bet if you follow the Norton instructions to Un-Install that program your networking headaches will go away.

Other then that it may be a problem with the computer browser service or none of the computers are becoming the Master Browser.

Put I still put my money on the Norton NIS program.

 

[chev65]

Is there an echo in the room?

 

[edwar]

My Win7/Win8 settings show DHCP Enabled Yes and NetBIOS over Tcpip Disabled.

Well that is one problem. Having NetBIOS over TCP/IP disabled will stop you from sharing and seeing other PCs on the LAN. NetBIOS over TCP/IP is how Windows communicates with other Windows PC.

 

[cliffflip]

Hi guys, thanks for all your reply, I finally solved it.
I'll describe my few latest attempts because I don't really know which one is the real solution lol, or maybe they all somehow connected.

I turn on my XP, follow the instruction from znod's link, specifically enter these commands on cmd :
netsh int ip reset resetlog.txt
netsh winsock reset
then I restart the computer.Still no go.

Next attempt, I remove the wireless adapter, switch the network with a wired connection (luckily I still have a LAN cable long enough for the distance between the computer & router), set up the connection (with static IP & DNS) and voila, my shared folder on 7 showed up on Network Places and I can access them. Then I unplug the cable, plug the wireless adapter, set up the connection again (again, with static IP & DNS). it's still there! And I can access shared folders on the XP from my 7 too.

When I check the ipconfig, it's a little strange because it's showing DHCP is disabled. DHCP is the protocol which enabling computer to connects to each other and to the Internet, right?

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Tata>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

        Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Tata-PC
        Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . :
        Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
        IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
        WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection 2:

        Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
        Description . . . . . . . . . . . : TP-LINK 300Mbps Wireless N Adapter
        Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : B0-48-7A-8B-A9-CA
        Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
        IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.9
        Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
        Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
        DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 202.73.99.2
                                            61.247.0.4

C:\Documents and Settings\Tata>

I'll mark this thread as solved. Thanks guys for all your help,.

 

[edwar]

DHCP is the system that assigns IP addresses. Routers hjave a DHCP Server and computer have a DHCP Client that ask for an IP from the routers DHCP server. If you assign a static IP there is no need for the computer to have a DHCP client as it already has an IP address so that computer service is turned off on that network card.

 

[znod]

OP, I am glad you have it sorted.