Win2k laptop can't ping itself

[Rediranch]

I know someone with a desktop and a laptop, both hooked into a DLink Router, sharing a cable internet connection.

When the computers had win2k setup, I think that both could see each other (they were able to, at one time, because the desktop could print through the printer attached locally to the laptop).

However, now, the desktop cannot ping the laptop local IP, but can ping itself and the router.

The laptop cannot ping the desktop, and it cannot ping itself, but it can ping the router.

IP is automatically assigned by the router, on both machines.

I've checked the workgroup (not using domain), and they match (laptop, router, desktop). I've released and renewed both IP's..I've checked and doublechecked the dlink router settings (allow share, specified the two IP's to not be restricted)....No firewall softare is present on either machine....

The desktop can actually see the Laptop computer name, when you go to "Computers Near Me", but when selected, it says that it cannot find the path.

The laptop cannot even see the desktop under Computers Near Me.

Hardware - I have swapped out the pcmcia ethernet (no difference), I have changed out the ethernet cables, I have even disconnected from the router and used a plain old hub, all with no more (or less) access than the above.


Any suggestions? Any settings in the OS that I may have set wrong?

(just occurred to me and I'm not around the machines right now), is there a boot up option, with win2k, with network connections in safe mode? If so, that might rule out other software interfering with the connections (that is, if the safe mode with network support actually works with 2k).

[smily_03]

Your two computers will need to be on the same subnet. For example, if you have an IP address on the local side of the router of 192.168.0.1 (sn mask of 255.255.255.0), then your computers would be automatically assigned IP's in the range of 192.168.0.2 through 192.168.0.254. 192.168.0.255 is reserved for broadcasting. If one or both are outside of this range, then one computer can't see the other because of how TCP/IP works. (I'm leaving out the whole routed IP part here cause most personal routers don't support multiple local networks.) The same ideas apply to if your router had an IP of 172.16.0.1 and a sn mask of 255.255.0.0, then your computers would have ip addresses between 172.16.0.2 and 172.16.254.254. (you could have them up to 172.16.255.254, but good practice says that you dont' get any ip address assigned in the 255 area).

If your laptop can not ping itself (by either ping localhost or ping 127.0.0.1), then it means that your network card and/or tcp/ip stacks are damaged or broken. This is an internal loopback ping.

As for your laptop showing up on your other computer, that is because windows has the tendency to cache up entries about where it has found computers in the past. It will occasionally clear that out after enough time has passed.

[smily_03]

Oh, and Windows 2k doesn't have safe mode. Well, not really. What it will give you is Windows with a command window open....

one thing you might try doing on the win2k machine is uninstall and reinstall TCP/IP. this will reinstall the stacks and can potentially fix whatever is causing your trouble.

[Rediranch]

They do have the same subnet (255.255.255.0), sorry I didnt include that before.

One machine is assigned 192.168.0.120 (desktop) and the laptop was assigned 192.168.0.175.

Also, I changed the computer name of the laptop, and the desktop correctly identified the new name in Computers Near Me after that.

[Midknyte]

you need to press "F8" when you see the black and white boot screen on win2k to get to the safe mode menu. in winxp, press "F8" at the winxp logo (with the black and white bar).

it seems like your dhcp is working properly. can they access the internet at all?

Did you make sure to have identical usernames and passwords on both systems? You must create a local user account on both systems in order to share resources. Since there is no domain, each system has to authenticate from its local users group.

Are you just trying to share files? If you can't get TCPIP to work, you can also use NetBEUI. win2k install is pretty easy, but you'll have to do a special install on winxp. Here's how:

http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;Q301041&LN=EN-US&rnk=1&SD=tech&FR=0&qry=netbeui&src=DHCS_MSPSS_tech_SRCH&SPR=WINXP&

[Rediranch]

Yes, both computers have access to the internet.

I believe that the laptop has Netbeui installed from the start, and I installed it on the desktop to make sure it wasn't the issue.

I've got user accounts setup on both, but I dont even get prompted for logon because the laptop can't even find the desktop, and the desktop can find the laptop, but never gets any farther than seeing the icon of the laptop.

I'll try the TCP/IP uninstall/install, but I figured that since it has internet access, the TCP/IP files would be ok.

If I can get it to boot safe mode, with network connections, then I can at least rule out other programs interferring.

[Rediranch]

DOH!

Finally got up to the site where these PC's were (45 mi round trip), and before I was going to uninstall and reinstall TCP/IP, I shut down all running programs on the laptop, and then it was able to ping itself, and let the desktop see it! What the...?

The owner had, shortly after Win2k was installed on the laptop and on the advice of a co-worker, installed Norton Internet Security, and failed to mentioned it......

Thanks for all the suggestions. :t I'll have to make sure this is the first thing I do, next time.

[BipolarBill]

Users....

PEBCAK

Problem Exists Between Chair and Keyboard.

First question:

Have you installed any new software?