Why can't 2 of my computers ping any of my other computers on the same network?

Question

All Windows XP machines, I'm trying to hook up a network printer but it's impossible without being able to ping each other!!

Answer 1

It sounds like a Workgroup Name issue. If alll of your networked computers do not share the identical Workgroup Name, then they willl not be able to communicate with each other. Also, each computer must be on the same subnet of the same default gateway. However, if each can connect to the internet fine then that is probably not the issue, and the Workgroup Name is.

Go into System Properties by right clicking on My Computer and clicking on Properties. A System Properties dialog box will open with tabs. Click on the Computer Name Tab. Now, please don't confuse the computer name with the Workgroup Name. This is a mistake many make and it gets in the way of the networked computers ability to communicate with each other.

At the bottom of the page is the place to input a new Workgroup Name if any computer has a different one than the others. Decide which name you wish you network to have and then type it into each computer at this page. Click Ok, and then reboot the computers. Now check and see if the computers can speak with each other.

If each computer is able to access the internet without issue, then this is probably your problem. You can also fix this and other issues by rerunning the Network Setup Wizard. Often people just fly by the Name your Network page or think it is the same as the Computer Name. The are different. Each comptuer needs a different Computer Name but must have the same WorkGroup Name.

I hope this fixes your problem. Also, each computer must have an Private IP Address assigned by the DHCP, which is through the Router. If the IP Address is not unique on each comptuer then they are unable to communicate with each other. You can find out easily if each has a different IP Address by accessing the Status dialog box of your connection.

Right click on the little computer icon in the notificaiton area of your taskbar and select Status. Click on the Support tab and write down all of the informaiton. At the very top of this page it should state-Assigned by DHCP. Then it will list the Private IP Address of the computer you are accessing, the Subnet which is usually always, 255.255.255.0 and the default Gateway which has the first number in the series of Private IP Address your Router uses. Linksys uses: 192.168.1.1, while Belkin uses: 192.168.2.1. These numbers are also how you access the Routers setup pages via the browser. You just type in that number and your browser opens your Routers setup pages.

Hopefully you won't need to work with the IP Addresses. If so, I reccomend you repost here and write in Additional details stating you already made sure each computer has an identical Workgroup Name and you are still experiancing communication problems between your networked computers.

Also, is it possible you do not have the proper settings configured in those computers? You must have both Client for Microsoft Networks and File and Printer sharing for Microsoft Networks enabled in your internet connection dialog box. You can determine this by opening your connections properties and viewing this information on the General Tab.

Open Network Connections by right clicking on the little computer icon in the notification area of the taskbar. Then right click on the current active connection and select Properties. On the General Tab look in the box and check and see if these two items are checked on all of your computers. If not, place a check mark in the empty boxes and click Enable, and then OK. Then try to ping your computers and see if you receive any data.

Good luck and I hope you get this problem solved right away. It is really annoying when your network does not work as expected. If you still have problems you may need to do more work on your conneciton. I suggest the following book:

Absolute Beginner's Guide to Home Networking, by Mark Edward Soper.

This book is a bit over 300 pages long, but is concise, easy to understand, has step by step instructions and is the best Home Network book I have yet seen. I used it myself when first establishing my Home and Office Networks. It also has additional information on adding other items to a network, including but not limited to: xboxs, TiVo, entertainment devices, and other great items.

Here are a few websites which may help you:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/maintain/troubleshoot.mspx

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/network/wifi/default.mspx

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=1427&page=1

Answer 2

If you're running XP SP2, ICMP (which handles pings) can be denied via the firewall.

Step 1 - Check to make sure you are online and able to do something else (like surf). If this is ok, that means your networking is configured right.

Step 2 - Disable the firewall temporarily on the machine you want to ping via Start -> Control Panel -> Security Center -> Windows Firewall -> Turn it off. Can you ping that machine now? If so, it's the ICMP setting.

Step 3 - Re-enable the firewall. In the firewall settings, click the Advanced tab and then hit Settings next to ICMP. Click the box for Allow incoming ICMP request. OK all the way out and your pings should be all good.

Take it easy.

Answer 3

Have you set IP to both ?
What did ping reply ? With the error cmd, the solution can be found.

Else you ask your problem in detail to an expert in allexperts.com.. It's a free and best service..

You may get solution from here..

Answer 4

They just can't ping each other, or they don't see each other at all? Is it a wired or wireless network? Any routers or firewalls? There are so many things that could cause the problems of which you speak.

Answer 5

are you able to get the internet on either of the other 2? Try typing: netstat -na into a command prompt on the computer you are on now, and if the hostnames for the other 2 computers come up then that might mean they are connected

Answer 6

it is definately not impossible, it might just be that your router is not allowing the ping to go through...check your settings and try again.

Answer 7

check your IP address and then the setting of that PCon which printer is attached...you might not have enabled printer sharing option...you can enable it only with admin. rights

Answer 8

don know
try pong pong instead of ping ping