workgroup can't see my laptop - worked till last month!

Help!

I have a home LAN of 5 PCs running XP-Pro. This is attached to a
Linksys router (wireless, but the PCs are wired). They are all set up
for the same workgroup. Everything used to be fine (for many months).
Sharing worked. VNC worked for remote access. About a month ago
(maybe two?) things got weird:

PCs A, B, C, D, and E can all access the Internet via the router/cable
modem.

PCs A, B, C, and D all see each other and share fine.
They cannot access (sharing or VNC remote access) PC E.
PC E shows up under the workgroup from these PCs, but when selected it
gives the error:
\\PCE is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this
network resource. Contac the administrator to find out if you have
access permissions.
The network path was not found.

PC E can get to shares on PCs A-D.
PC E can also access VNC remote control of PCs A-D.
PC E sees everyone (including itself) in the workgroup, and can access
its own shares.

PC E had both wired and wireless NICs. Both worked fine. For fun I
removed the wireless and moved the wired to the other PCMCIA slot and
let Windows find it. No change.

PC A (for example) has Client for Microsoft Networks, File and Printer
Sharing for Microsoft Networks, QoS Packet Scheduler, and Internet
Protocol(TCP/IP) installed.

PC E (the troublemaker) has those plus Deterministic Network Enhancer.
What is that?

The Internet Connection Firewall is disabled on all PCs.


I searched deja.com and found people with similar problems, but didn't
see any real answers. I checked network & TCP/IP settings -
everything looks fine. The users and passwords on the PCs match.
I'm not a Windows expert, but I'm pretty good at it and have been
setting up LANs at home for years.

Any ideas? It's driving me crazy!

Many thanks in advance!!!

David

On 5 Jan 2004 21:53:47 -0800, david DeleteThis @therogoffs.com (David Rogoff) wrote:

 >Help!
 >
 >I have a home LAN of 5 PCs running XP-Pro. This is attached to a
 >Linksys router (wireless, but the PCs are wired). They are all set up
 >for the same workgroup. Everything used to be fine (for many months).
 > Sharing worked. VNC worked for remote access. About a month ago
 >(maybe two?) things got weird:
 >
 >PCs A, B, C, D, and E can all access the Internet via the router/cable
 >modem.
 >
 >PCs A, B, C, and D all see each other and share fine.
 >They cannot access (sharing or VNC remote access) PC E.
 >PC E shows up under the workgroup from these PCs, but when selected it
 >gives the error:
 >\\PCE is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this
 >network resource. Contac the administrator to find out if you have
 >access permissions.
 >The network path was not found.
 >
 >PC E can get to shares on PCs A-D.
 >PC E can also access VNC remote control of PCs A-D.
 >PC E sees everyone (including itself) in the workgroup, and can access
 >its own shares.
 >
 >PC E had both wired and wireless NICs. Both worked fine. For fun I
 >removed the wireless and moved the wired to the other PCMCIA slot and
 >let Windows find it. No change.
 >
 >PC A (for example) has Client for Microsoft Networks, File and Printer
 >Sharing for Microsoft Networks, QoS Packet Scheduler, and Internet
 >Protocol(TCP/IP) installed.
 >
 >PC E (the troublemaker) has those plus Deterministic Network Enhancer.
 > What is that?
 >
 >The Internet Connection Firewall is disabled on all PCs.
 >
 >
 >I searched deja.com and found people with similar problems, but didn't
 >see any real answers. I checked network & TCP/IP settings -
 >everything looks fine. The users and passwords on the PCs match.
 >I'm not a Windows expert, but I'm pretty good at it and have been
 >setting up LANs at home for years.
 >
 >Any ideas? It's driving me crazy!
 >
 >Many thanks in advance!!!
 >
 > David

- When was the last time you ran an updated anti-virus sweep?
- I suggest you find out wtf "Deterministic Network Enhancer" is, as none of
my very mature XP Pro machines have such an entry...

/daytripper<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->