Too many networks?

3 Nov 2006 10:51 PM

keith

I have a desktop and a laptop (running XP & XP Pro respectively) That are
connected via a Linksys ethernet switch. Using the desktop and the Network
Setup Wizard I created a connection (Workgroup?) between the computers that I
called Home Network whick worked just fine. For some reason (long story) I
used the Network Setup Wizard again to setup another Workgroup called Mshome
(the default) and that has caused serious problems. I used the same name in
both for the desktop computer and I am unable to access My Network Places
from the desktop computer. When I click on My Network Places in Windows
Explorer it searches without resolution. The laptop sees both Workgroups ok
and they appear on the same file level under Microsoft Windows Network. On
the desktop both Workgroups appear but only the Mshome Workgroup has a
computer name under it. When the Home is clicked the following appears: "The
network path was not found:. I would like to start all over again and have
one workgroup but when I right click on the Mshome icon the menu does not
present that option.
Please advise.

thanks

3 Nov 2006 11:32 PM

Chuck

On Fri, 3 Nov 2006 14:51:01 -0800, keith <ke***@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote:

Show quoteHide quote

>I have a desktop and a laptop (running XP & XP Pro respectively) That are
>connected via a Linksys ethernet switch. Using the desktop and the Network
>Setup Wizard I created a connection (Workgroup?) between the computers that I
>called Home Network whick worked just fine. For some reason (long story) I
>used the Network Setup Wizard again to setup another Workgroup called Mshome
>(the default) and that has caused serious problems. I used the same name in
>both for the desktop computer and I am unable to access My Network Places
>from the desktop computer. When I click on My Network Places in Windows
>Explorer it searches without resolution. The laptop sees both Workgroups ok
>and they appear on the same file level under Microsoft Windows Network. On
>the desktop both Workgroups appear but only the Mshome Workgroup has a
>computer name under it. When the Home is clicked the following appears: "The
>network path was not found:. I would like to start all over again and have
>one workgroup but when I right click on the Mshome icon the menu does not
>present that option.

Keith,

You can change Workgroup name easily, without running the Network Setup Wizard.
Go into My Computer - Properties - Computer Name, and hit the Network ID button.
Change which ever computer you wish, to whatever you wish.

Having done that, so both computers are in the same workgroup, power both
computers off. Decide which one you would prefer as the master browser (I would
recommend the desktop). Power the master browser up first. Then power the
other computer up, and disable the browser on that computer.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/09/nt-browser-and-windows-networking.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/09/nt-browser-and-windows-networking.html

Based upon your problem description, that's the necessary steps to take. If
that doesn't solve everything, then you'll have to check firewalls and other
security components.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html

Or you can 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.