>Hello,
>I am experiencing some problems regarding a small network between 2
>computers. Both computers run Windows XP Home. One of the two is connected
>through a router to internet, the router itself is a hub. The second computer
>connects wiressly to the router and there is a network between them with
>shared folders.
>Last 15 days, for unknown reasons to me, the shared folders are not visible
>the way they were. I used to open Windows Explorer and click on my network
>places, that would immediately bring all the shared folders in the 2nd
>computer. Well, not anymore! Now, I have to right click on my network places
>(in windows explorer) and choose explore. When I do that, I see the entire
>network, which I can expand, then I expand the Microsoft Windows Network, to
>eventually see the workgroup that both computers share. Under that workgroup,
>I can see the 2 computers and under the 2nd computers name, I can finally see
>the shared folders.
>Note that this is something I was not doing before, since all shared folders
>used to appear as soon as I clicked on my network places, both 1st and 2nd
>computers' shared folders.
>This is not convenient for me and today checking on the computer names,
>workgroup, even local IPs in case something was modified, I found no change
>at all, except from discovering a new problem. The 2nd computer cannot print
>on the shared printer of the 1st computer, while its able to access the
>printer preferences!
>I get a message from Word that there is a problem with the printer setup,
>that I should check if the printer is online, if it can print a test page.
>Well, it was fine up to now...Still, I cant find a way to reinstall the
>drivers on the remote computer, so I delete the printer, then I reinstall it
>in the remote computer by browsing on the shared printer. The problem
>remains...
>
>Is there a logical cause for all these problems? Starting from the first
>problem, as it was the first noticeable and continuing to the printer
>problem, is there a possible solution? Nothing at all has been altered from
>the initial settings, yet I had to go manually add shared folders to my
>network places so that I am not forced to go browse the entire network to
>point to the computer containing the folders I am interested. I repeat,
>before this problem appeared, I would only turn the sharing on in any folder
>in the 2nd pc and it would immediately appear in my network places at the 1st
>computer...
>
>Anybody willing to help with a possible solution?
>Thanks

"Chuck" wrote:

> On Wed, 14 Feb 2007 17:41:00 -0800, dimie71 <dimi***@discussions.microsoft.com>
> wrote:
>
> >Hello,
> >I am experiencing some problems regarding a small network between 2
> >computers. Both computers run Windows XP Home. One of the two is connected
> >through a router to internet, the router itself is a hub. The second computer
> >connects wiressly to the router and there is a network between them with
> >shared folders.
> >Last 15 days, for unknown reasons to me, the shared folders are not visible
> >the way they were. I used to open Windows Explorer and click on my network
> >places, that would immediately bring all the shared folders in the 2nd
> >computer. Well, not anymore! Now, I have to right click on my network places
> >(in windows explorer) and choose explore. When I do that, I see the entire
> >network, which I can expand, then I expand the Microsoft Windows Network, to
> >eventually see the workgroup that both computers share. Under that workgroup,
> >I can see the 2 computers and under the 2nd computers name, I can finally see
> >the shared folders.
> >Note that this is something I was not doing before, since all shared folders
> >used to appear as soon as I clicked on my network places, both 1st and 2nd
> >computers' shared folders.
> >This is not convenient for me and today checking on the computer names,
> >workgroup, even local IPs in case something was modified, I found no change
> >at all, except from discovering a new problem. The 2nd computer cannot print
> >on the shared printer of the 1st computer, while its able to access the
> >printer preferences!
> >I get a message from Word that there is a problem with the printer setup,
> >that I should check if the printer is online, if it can print a test page.
> >Well, it was fine up to now...Still, I cant find a way to reinstall the
> >drivers on the remote computer, so I delete the printer, then I reinstall it
> >in the remote computer by browsing on the shared printer. The problem
> >remains...
> >
> >Is there a logical cause for all these problems? Starting from the first
> >problem, as it was the first noticeable and continuing to the printer
> >problem, is there a possible solution? Nothing at all has been altered from
> >the initial settings, yet I had to go manually add shared folders to my
> >network places so that I am not forced to go browse the entire network to
> >point to the computer containing the folders I am interested. I repeat,
> >before this problem appeared, I would only turn the sharing on in any folder
> >in the 2nd pc and it would immediately appear in my network places at the 1st
> >computer...
> >
> >Anybody willing to help with a possible solution?
> >Thanks
>
> 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
>
> Or look at "browstat status" and "ipconfig /all", from each computer, and
> 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.
>

>Thanks
>
>"Chuck" wrote:
>
>> On Wed, 14 Feb 2007 17:41:00 -0800, dimie71 <dimi***@discussions.microsoft.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >Hello,
>> >I am experiencing some problems regarding a small network between 2
>> >computers. Both computers run Windows XP Home. One of the two is connected
>> >through a router to internet, the router itself is a hub. The second computer
>> >connects wiressly to the router and there is a network between them with
>> >shared folders.
>> >Last 15 days, for unknown reasons to me, the shared folders are not visible
>> >the way they were. I used to open Windows Explorer and click on my network
>> >places, that would immediately bring all the shared folders in the 2nd
>> >computer. Well, not anymore! Now, I have to right click on my network places
>> >(in windows explorer) and choose explore. When I do that, I see the entire
>> >network, which I can expand, then I expand the Microsoft Windows Network, to
>> >eventually see the workgroup that both computers share. Under that workgroup,
>> >I can see the 2 computers and under the 2nd computers name, I can finally see
>> >the shared folders.
>> >Note that this is something I was not doing before, since all shared folders
>> >used to appear as soon as I clicked on my network places, both 1st and 2nd
>> >computers' shared folders.
>> >This is not convenient for me and today checking on the computer names,
>> >workgroup, even local IPs in case something was modified, I found no change
>> >at all, except from discovering a new problem. The 2nd computer cannot print
>> >on the shared printer of the 1st computer, while its able to access the
>> >printer preferences!
>> >I get a message from Word that there is a problem with the printer setup,
>> >that I should check if the printer is online, if it can print a test page.
>> >Well, it was fine up to now...Still, I cant find a way to reinstall the
>> >drivers on the remote computer, so I delete the printer, then I reinstall it
>> >in the remote computer by browsing on the shared printer. The problem
>> >remains...
>> >
>> >Is there a logical cause for all these problems? Starting from the first
>> >problem, as it was the first noticeable and continuing to the printer
>> >problem, is there a possible solution? Nothing at all has been altered from
>> >the initial settings, yet I had to go manually add shared folders to my
>> >network places so that I am not forced to go browse the entire network to
>> >point to the computer containing the folders I am interested. I repeat,
>> >before this problem appeared, I would only turn the sharing on in any folder
>> >in the 2nd pc and it would immediately appear in my network places at the 1st
>> >computer...
>> >
>> >Anybody willing to help with a possible solution?
>> >Thanks
>>
>> 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
>>
>> Or look at "browstat status" and "ipconfig /all", from each computer, and
>> 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

>Despite trying those tests, problem remains.
>I repeat, because it maybe wasnt clear enough. I can browse shared folders
>between the 2 computers. I just cant see my shares and the other pc shares in
>"my network places". I can only see them after exploring (right click on my
>network places-explore), clicking on entire network, then microsoft windows
>network, then my workgroup name, thats when I get to see the names of the 2
>computers and their shares under each computer name...
>The main problem is that they dont initially appear in my network places...