Desktop and Laptop won't share files on home network

12 Nov 2006 2:00 AM

Haris.Hadzimuratovic

I'm running XP Pro on a Dell desktop and an IBM R60e. I get cable
internet to both with a NetGear wireless router. The desktop is
connected by ethernet cable, the laptop connects wirelessly. I haven't
had any problem connecting to the internet with either computer, but I
cannot get them to share files over the network. I've gone through most
of the basic steps: both computers are on the NETGEAR workgroup with
unique names, no domain of any kind; netbeui is installed and enabled
over TCP/IP. I've created identical accounts on both computers, and
I've allowed "Everyone" in the local security policies.
All that this has resulted in is that my desktop can now see my laptop
in Entire Network. I get the "List of servers for this workgroup is not
available" when I try to access any files on the laptop or to view
workgroup computers. My laptop sometimes sees the desktop in Entire
Network, but even if it does, it gets the same error message.
This is starting to really annoy me. Am I missing something?

12 Nov 2006 5:10 AM

John Wunderlich

Haris.Hadzimurato***@gmail.com wrote in
Show quoteHide quote

news:1163296839.854667.147160@b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:

> I'm running XP Pro on a Dell desktop and an IBM R60e. I get cable
> internet to both with a NetGear wireless router. The desktop is
> connected by ethernet cable, the laptop connects wirelessly. I
> haven't had any problem connecting to the internet with either
> computer, but I cannot get them to share files over the network.
> I've gone through most of the basic steps: both computers are on
> the NETGEAR workgroup with unique names, no domain of any kind;
> netbeui is installed and enabled over TCP/IP. I've created
> identical accounts on both computers, and I've allowed "Everyone"
> in the local security policies. All that this has resulted in is
> that my desktop can now see my laptop in Entire Network. I get the
> "List of servers for this workgroup is not available" when I try
> to access any files on the laptop or to view workgroup computers.
> My laptop sometimes sees the desktop in Entire Network, but even
> if it does, it gets the same error message. This is starting to
> really annoy me. Am I missing something?

The "List of servers ... not available" message is usually
indicatative that there is no master browser operational on the
subnet. This can be caused by a firewall on any one of the computers
in the subnet or perhaps by the browser service being disabled on all
computers in the subnet. If you are using the Windows Firewall, go
to the Windows Firewall control panel and make sure that under the
"Exceptions" tab that "file and printer sharing" is checked on all
machines. If you are using another firewall product, check for the
equivalent.

Some articles that may help:
"Troubleshooting the Microsoft Computer Browser Service"
<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/188305>

"Internet firewalls can prevent browsing and file sharing"
<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/298804/en-us>

HTH,
John