>I usually find it challenging to solve my own computer problems, but I have a
>networking problem that has got me stumped.
>
>I have a small home Ethernet network (via a DLink router and Linksys switch)
>consisting of 4 computers (3 of which run Windows XP SP2, and the fourth
>running Windows 95).  I also have a networked printer and a Simpletech NAS
>device, all of which have been living together comfortably.  No networking
>problems whatsoever.
>
>One of the XP machines was in serious need of a clean reinstall of its
>operating system, so I did a clean reinstall of XP SP2.  That went without a
>hitch.  I had a nice fresh Windows installation, did all the upgrades, and
>got the system all set up.  I ran the Network Wizard on that machine, in the
>hopes of reconnecting to my little home network, which I’ve name HOME,
>followed all the rules and naming conventions, and I got some rather
>interesting results. 
>
>The machine in question can see all the other machines on the HOME network,
>connect to their shared drives, and to the NAS device; however, it does not
>appear when I select Show All Workgroup Computers, either on itself or on
>other machines, nor does it show in Windows Explorer when I go to view the
>Entire Network.  Oddly though, I can search for the errant computer using
>Windows Search, find the computer (in a folder called, what else, HOME), and
>I can access its shared folders.  In short, it seems to be accessible on the
>network, can share network resources, but it is quite invisible!
>
>I’ve done all the regular hardware checks, did all the pings, checked things
>out using IPCONFIG, and I haven’t encountered anything that I could spot that
>would indicate anything out of the ordinary.   
>
>One exception: When I select View Network Connections (from My Network
>Places) all the other machines indicate LOCAL AREA CONNECTION 2, while the
>machine in question shows LOCAL AREA CONNECTION – I’m assuming, indicative of
>the computers being on different LANs!  Can someone help me unravel this
>mystery?  I would even be willing to create a new network (using the default
>MSHOME) and run the Network Wizard on the all the machines and reconfigure
>all the devices.  Anything to restore order on my network!
>
>Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide.  Please feel free
>to embarrass me with a simple solution; if I read another networking article
>on the Internet, I think I’m going to explode!

"Chuck" wrote:

> On Tue, 13 Feb 2007 14:41:00 -0800, Joe D. <J***@discussions.microsoft.com>
> wrote:
>
> >I usually find it challenging to solve my own computer problems, but I have a
> >networking problem that has got me stumped.
> >
> >I have a small home Ethernet network (via a DLink router and Linksys switch)
> >consisting of 4 computers (3 of which run Windows XP SP2, and the fourth
> >running Windows 95).  I also have a networked printer and a Simpletech NAS
> >device, all of which have been living together comfortably.  No networking
> >problems whatsoever.
> >
> >One of the XP machines was in serious need of a clean reinstall of its
> >operating system, so I did a clean reinstall of XP SP2.  That went without a
> >hitch.  I had a nice fresh Windows installation, did all the upgrades, and
> >got the system all set up.  I ran the Network Wizard on that machine, in the
> >hopes of reconnecting to my little home network, which I’ve name HOME,
> >followed all the rules and naming conventions, and I got some rather
> >interesting results. 
> >
> >The machine in question can see all the other machines on the HOME network,
> >connect to their shared drives, and to the NAS device; however, it does not
> >appear when I select Show All Workgroup Computers, either on itself or on
> >other machines, nor does it show in Windows Explorer when I go to view the
> >Entire Network.  Oddly though, I can search for the errant computer using
> >Windows Search, find the computer (in a folder called, what else, HOME), and
> >I can access its shared folders.  In short, it seems to be accessible on the
> >network, can share network resources, but it is quite invisible!
> >
> >I’ve done all the regular hardware checks, did all the pings, checked things
> >out using IPCONFIG, and I haven’t encountered anything that I could spot that
> >would indicate anything out of the ordinary.   
> >
> >One exception: When I select View Network Connections (from My Network
> >Places) all the other machines indicate LOCAL AREA CONNECTION 2, while the
> >machine in question shows LOCAL AREA CONNECTION – I’m assuming, indicative of
> >the computers being on different LANs!  Can someone help me unravel this
> >mystery?  I would even be willing to create a new network (using the default
> >MSHOME) and run the Network Wizard on the all the machines and reconfigure
> >all the devices.  Anything to restore order on my network!
> >
> >Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide.  Please feel free
> >to embarrass me with a simple solution; if I read another networking article
> >on the Internet, I think I’m going to explode!
>
> Joe,
>
> One of the most common causes of this problem would be a misconfigured or
> overlooked personal firewall, or other security component. There are several
> other possibilities too, and any might be the cause of your problem. Read this
> article with an open mind.
> <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html>
> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html
>
> For more direct help, let's look at "browstat status", "ipconfig /all", "net
> config server", and "net config workstation", from the 3 XP computers, so we can
> diagnose the problem.  Read this article, and linked articles, and follow
> instructions precisely (download browstat!):
> <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>
> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp
>
> --
> Cheers,
> Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
> Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
> My        email         is          AT         DOT
>    actual       address    pchuck       mvps        org.
>