mapping network drive/viewing share ..

[rhythms5]

i have a Win XP Pro Dell desktop and a Win95B compaq laptop over Netgear wireless network. Both set up to be in the same workgroup.
i have set up share permissions in the laptop so that i can see and work on them from the Dell.
it does not seem to work except once or twice. same problem trying to share the printer connected to the laptop.
so far, on the "network places" of Dell, i have seen the laptop only show up once or twice. double clicking that i did get once the logon screen. ii tried instead mapping the share as a network drive, from Dell; that worked once (on only one of the 2 shares i set up), and i could see the share's files etc.
similar situation with the printer.
no clue what is going on .. i have checked the share permissions, checked the firewalls (no blocking messages). both machines can access internet independently, and show up on the access point as being in the network. BTW, the laptop can see the Dell in its network neighborhood, but Dell does not see the laptop in "workgorup members' ..

any clues?

thanx in advance.

[Mntsnow]

Welcome to XPC Rhythms.

What protocols are you running and what networking client(s) have you got installed on both systems? What type of shares are you creating (IE User based shares ect) Do you have both the the Dell and Laptop Workgroup names EXACTLY the same including CaSe?

[rhythms5]

Thankx for the welcome, Mntsnow.

Let me try to answer your questions -

The Dell is connected via Ethernet to the 4 port Netgear router. The laptop uses the Netgear wireless adapter to connect wireless to the router. Both using TCP/IP and "infrastructure" mode of wireless protocol.
what clients? i have set up both as client for microsoft networking - does that answer your question?
and yes, both workgroup names are the same in upper case.

btw, as i said, it did work once or twice.

one other thing - Dell has Virus Scan and the laptop has McAfee Vshield and ZoneAlarm firewall. i checked the firewall by configuring ZoneAlarm at high security (when it blocked the Dell access). I have it set up at medium security now (for local zone only) and there are no blocking alerts.

[Mntsnow]

First try totally stopping ZoneAlarm and then see how you fair in getting the two system to communicate then you can start configuring your firewall. When troubleshooting make things as simple as possiable with as few variables as possiable to make troubleshooting easier :)

Also make sure the IP ranges given to both systems are in the same subnet :)

[NDC]

Wlecome to XPC! :)

BTW - You can keep the ZA security setting at HIGH. Just add the system IP to the TRUSTED list.

[rhythms5]

thanks for your suggestions. let me try those out ...

[TGK MCP]

Is file and print sharing set up on the windows 95 laptop to let others see my files and let others print to my printer? Just a thought because it wasn't mentioned...

[rhythms5]

TGK MCP: Yes, file and print sharing options are turned on.

I tried without firewall - no luck. IP address ranges are fine. I called Dell support - they weren't sure, but indicated that there may be compatibility problems between XP (using NTFS) and Win 95B(using FAT). They want me to sign up (pay of course!) for additional support first.
Does anyone know of such issue sharing between NTFS and FAT? I still can't figure out how I got connected once (and actually printed a file from Dell on the printer connected on my Win95B laptop) ...

[Woody60]

I've got XP and 98SE networked with no problem. You must have the Guest account on XP enabled and a logon password enabled for XP.

Also try this link:
http://www.performit.co.uk/network/software_setup.htm

[Woody60]

I've got XP and 98SE networked with no problem. You must have the Guest account on XP enabled and a logon password enabled for XP