my computer doent show up in Workgroup?

Question

i'm tryin 2 set up a network at home. i have 2 laptops which both connect 2 the inet through a router. 1 *an Acer* is wireless and the other *sony* is connect through the LAN.
after i set up the network *done on the acer and i used a USB stick to make it on the sony.
when i go in2 the Computers in this Workgroup *on both computers* it only shows the acer. is there a reason the sony laptop doesnt show up anywhere? i cant see printers connected to it or use it with any administrator tools.
please help.

yes, they r both using the same workgroup name. they are both on RAYNET *due to my last name*
i checked the firewall settings and it seems ok, do u know what it SHOULD say?
yes both computers are on and signed in.

Answer 1

Ok the first thing I would is run the Network Setup Wizard on the Sony manually like you did on the Acer rather than use the USB stick method. Make sure "Turn on file and printer sharing" is checked and make a note of the name of the computer or name it to something you'll remember. (You probably already did that but...)

Next right click on "My Network Places" and select "Properties". Right click on "Local Area Connection" and select "Properties" again. Now click the "Advanced" tab and then the "Settings..." button under Windows Firewall. Set the firewall to Off and click Ok and then Ok again. If you have another firewall like Zone Alarm or Norton, disable that for now as well. Since you're behind a router it's relatively safe to disable any PC based firewall temporarily.

Now we need to do a couple things to test the network. First we need a test folder so make a new folder called test on your C drive. Right click on the folder you just made and select "Sharing and Security...". In the middle of the window that opens check "Share this folder on the network". The "Share name:" should already be set to "test" so now check "Allow network users to change my files" Click Apply and then Ok.

Now go to "Printers and Faxes". Any printer(s) you have connected should already be shared but pick one and right click on it, select "Sharing..." and change the "Share name:" to something simple and easy to remember. Click Apply and Ok.

Switch to the Acer and disable any firewall(s) like you did earlier on the Sony except instead of "Local Area Connection" you'll want "Wireless Connection"

Now double click "My Network Places" and then click "Add a network place" On the new wizard click "Next>", highlight "Choose another network location" and click "Next>" again.

In the "Internet or network address:" box enter following....

\\ComputerName\test

replacing ComputerName with the name of your Sony and click "Next>"

On the next screen you can enter a name for the network place but since we're just checking things out go ahead and click "Next>" then "Finish"

If everything is working correctly the shared folder "test" should open. You may be asked for a user name and password, just enter the ones you would use if you were logging on to your Sony.

Now go to "Printers and Faxes" and click "Add a printer" and click "Next>" on the new wizard. Select "A network printer, or a printer attached to another computer" and click "Next>".

Select "Connect to this printer (or to browse for a printer, select this option and click Next)". Where it says "Name:" enter the following:

\\ComputerName\PrinterName

replacing ComputerName with the name of your Sony and PrinterName with the share name you gave to your printer and click "Next>".

If all goes well you should get a warning asking you if you want to connect to the printer and install the drivers, click ok or yes to get through. When it asks if you want to print a test page choose to do so.


If this doesn't work and both computers can still access the internet then try installing another protocol like IPX on both machines and then trying adding a new Network Place and adding a printer again.

To install the IPX protocol right click on "My Network Places" and select "Properties". Right click on "Local Area Connection" (Sony) or "Wireless Connection" (Acer) and select "Properties" again. In the middle of the window click "Install...", highlight "protocol" and click "Add...". Double click "NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol" and then after in installs click "Close".

Good luck and email me if you have any more problems or questions and I'll try to help from there

Answer 2

Make sure computer 1 and computer 2 has the same workgroup name. On computer 1, set up a small home network. You need to reboot BOTH machines to make sure the connection took place. Then try and right click on a folder and "share folder". Go to computer 1 and click on My Network Places. You should be able to see Computer 2. Go to computer 2 and right click on a folder and "Share folder". Go to My Network Places and you should see computer 1.

Your printer must also have lan connection or must connect to your router so that you can see it in your network. You need to setup a printer and make sure that you set it up on your small home network and search for your workgroup name.

Answer 3

I had this same problem on my laptop. Right Click your Shared Documents folder - >Sharing and Security.. Then enable sharing and a Wizard will come up. Follow the wizard.

If you want to Remote desktop it, enable it by going Right clicking My Computer ->Properties->goto Remote tab.

As for the printer, you do not need a LAN printer or any connection from printer to router. Just goto the Computer that is directly connected to the printer, go to Printers/Faxes, then enable your printer for Sharing.

Answer 4

Not a guru, but have you prceeded throught the network wizard for both computers and used the same parameters? Also, might check that both are on the same NAME user group. I know this sounds obvious, but are both computers on and signed in?

Just some thougnts...

Answer 5

Probably because the firewall is in the way. Double check to see that you're not blocking inbound traffic on the Sony.

Answer 6

did you placed in the cameras drives on your pc (the cd that got here with your digital camera)? some cameras have distinctive fomats for the pictures you have taken that isn't be what's put in with your OS.