Troubleshooting shares on a home network

[StuartR]

Please follow the steps below in the order shown, make sure you capture the exact messages from any output and post them in this forum so we have the best possible chance of helping you.

• Physical Connectivity:
  • Please describe your physical network configuration (what routers, switches, broadband connectivity etc.)
  • Do all PCs have ethernet cables connecting them to a common switch or router?
  • Can you see green and orange lights on the network cards and switch, where the ethernet cables plug in? What state are these lights in?
• Firewalls:
  • If you have a hardware firewall then check that it allows the PCs to talk to each other
  • If you have software firewalls on the PCs then check that they allow the PCs to talk to each other
  • Make sure you don't have more than one one software firewall on any of the PCs. If you use a third party software firewall then the built-in Windows firewall should be turned off
  • If you have ever had any other software firewalls installed then check that they have been completely removed
  • Temporarily turn off all firewalls (disconnect from the internet first if you can)
• IP addresses:
  • Type IPCONFIG from a command prompt on each PC, what is the IP Address? What is the default gateway address?
  • Can each PC access the internet?
  • Type PING a.b.c.d from a command prompt on each PC, where a.b.c.d is the gateway address from above. What output do you get?
  • Type PING e.f.g.h from a command prompt on each PC, where e.f.g.h is the IP Address of the other PC. What output do you get?
  • Type PING computername from a command prompt on each PC, where computername is the Name of the other PC. What output do you get?
• User accounts:
  • Make sure that you are using the same username and password on all PCs
  • Make sure the guest account is enabled by typing
    net user guest /active:yes
    to a command prompt on each PC
  • Create a new (temporary) username on each PC, for example Testnet, with the same password, and log in to this account on each PC
• Other Diagnostics:
  • Start > Run > NETSH DIAG GUI, Wait for the window, Click Scan your system. Which tests pass? Which tests fail?
  • At a command prompt on each PC:
    • NET USE * /DELETE
    • NET USE computernameIPC$ /user:username (where computername is the name of the other computer and username is the temporary username). What exact error do you get?
    • NET VIEW computername (where computername is the name of the other computer). What exact error do you get?
    • NET VIEW computername (where computername is the name of the computer you are typing on). What exact error do you get?
  • Right click My Computer > Manage > Open Shared Folders
    • Look in Sessions, Does it show a connection from the other computer?
    • Look in Shares. Does it show the shared folders that you expect it to?
• Review the following references to see if they can help you:
  • Windows 7 & homegroup sharing with ... other operating systems
  • File and Printer Sharing in Windows Vista
  • Networking home computers running different versions of Windows
  • Home and Small Office Networking with Windows XP
  • How to troubleshoot home networking in Windows XP
  • How to configure file sharing in Windows XP
  • You receive an "Access is denied" error message when you try to access shares on a Windows XP Home Edition-based computer that is connected to a network
  • Steve Winograd's Networking FAQ
  • Networking between WindowsXP and Windows95/98/ME
  • Error message when you try to access a Windows XP-based network computer: "You might not have permission to use this network resource"
• MAKE SURE YOU TURN THE FIREWALL ON EACH PC ON AGAIN WHEN YOU FINISH

[DaveA]

User accounts:
Make sure that you are using the same username and password on all PCs

One does NOT have to be using this common passworded account. I have set up several mixed OS workgroup networks, with passworded account that is not in use. Just make sure that the account and password does work, by logging into it on each machine and getting all of the folders set up. I even change the Wallpaper to something, that will remind that it is NOT a regular account. I use an account name that starts with a "Z", which will put it at the bottom of the list. Turn OFF all items that do not need to be started, including the Windows update. This will speed things up when logging into this account when needed.

Since it it a Admin account, it can be used as a back door for those who have issues with the regular account.