I have a home network with one desktop (XP HE) and one laptop (XP HE)
connected through a Linksys wireless router. Both can access the
Internet.  The laptop keeps dropping the connection to the shared
files and printer on the desktop - "not accessible".  I have rerun
setup wizard for home network, unshared and shared folders on the
desktop.  Another direct computer running win98se has no problems
accessing the desktop, but not the laptop wireless machine.  Whe can
help?

Hello

There could be a few problems which is making this occur.

1. Have you got the default windows XP firewall on? if so disable it
or do you have a program such as Trend Micro etc which is a firewall
program, These kind of programs need to be disabled or lowerd so that
it doesnt block communication.

Im assmung that this would be the only thing stopping it the IP
addresses are set up correctly? in the same range eg. 192.168.1.XXX?

By default, XP drop Guest access from Network. You should go to the
Control Panel-> Administrative Tools->Local Security Police and find
there "Deny access to this computer from the network". Delete Guest
from list of users and everything gonna be allright, i think.

From: extraction-ga on 22 May 2005 18:45 PDT
Turning off SP firewall does not solve problem.  I do not use Trend Micro

Response to peshkoff-ga on 23 May 2005 00:38 PDT

There is no "Local Security Police" in Administrative Tools and can
not find any reference to "Deny access to this computer from the
network".

Hi there.

The answer to your question lies not with the firewall, or computer
security.  The only time I've had this issue is when the router isn't
setting up IP addresses properly.

First of all, you are going to need to get into the administrator
panel of your firewall.  Make sure that it distributes IP addresses
dynamically to your machines.  In other words, make sure each computer
gets its own IP address.  This is usually in the range of 192.168.0.x
where 'x' denotes 1-500, or something similar.

Then, go into your network settings in the control panel for each
machine.  Since you are in a wireless connection, make sure you click
the 'Wireless Connection' to open up the status box.  Then, hit
'Properties' and click on 'INternet Protocol (TCP/IP).  Once you have
this selected, hit 'Properties' and make SURE that you are 'Obtaining
the IP address automatically', and also 'Obtain DNS server address
automatically'.  If these are already set to this, you can hit cancel
and get out of the Network settings.

Assuming both machines are set to finding IP addresses automatically,
you might need to 'refresh' their network address since you probably
'refreshed' the configuration of the router.  To do this on each
machine, you go to the start menu --> RUN.  Then, type : cmd

It should open up a little window with the command prompt.  If you
type: /ipconfig all

it should show you all the IP address information.  If you type: /ipconfig release

It will drop your network address completely from the network.  

Typing: /ipconfig renew

will 'refresh' the IP address for each machine.  I suggest you do this
for both machines so that you can make SURE they both have individual
IP addresses.  It is my hypothesis that your computers are sometimes
sharing IP addresses after your IP lease expires on each machine,
which is causing your LAN and shared folders to drop off.  This would
NOT harm your WAN connection (communication with the outside world).

Let me know if this helps.

Correction:  Administrative panel of your 'firewall' should be
administrative panel of your router.  I apologize.

Subject: Re: Home network "not accessible" between computers 
From: transgenicboy-ga on 23 May 2005 06:08 PDT 

Thanks for the help so far, but no cigar. Neither machine sees the
other.  I am copying in the ipconfig reports from both machines for
your inspection.

Desktop:
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Betty Renier>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

        Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : BETTY
        Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . :
        Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
        IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
        WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
        DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : triad.rr.com

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

        Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : triad.rr.com
        Description . . . . . . . . . . . : GVC-REALTEK Ethernet 10/100 PCI Ad
ter
        Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-C0-A8-80-3E-36
        Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
        Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
        IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.102
        Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
        Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
        DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
        DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 24.28.227.63
                                            24.28.227.64
                                            24.28.227.65
        Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Monday, May 23, 2005 6:12:49 PM
        Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, May 24, 2005 6:12:49 PM

Laptop wireless: (I have put '.........' where info was not pertinent)
Windows IP Configuration

	Host name		SONYLAPTOP
	Primary Dns Suffix	
	Node Type		Peer-Peer
	IP Routing Enabled	No
	WINS Proxy Enabled	No
	DNS ...........

Ethernet adapter Wireless network connection:
	Connection........	triad.rr.com
	Description........
Connection
	Physical address	..........
	DHCP Enabled		Yes
	Autoocnfiguration Enabled	Yes
	IP address		192.168.1.101
	Subnet			255...........
	default gateway		192.168.1.1
	DHCP server		..........
				..........
				..........
	Lease obtained		may 23, 2005 6:13:48 pm
	Lease expires		may 23, 2005 6:13:48 pm

Ethernet adapter local area connection
	Media state		Media disconnected  (Is this the problem?)
	Description		Intel Pro/100 VE ..............
	Physical address	..................

Is the problem with my laptop ethernet adapter?

Have you checked to verify the power saving mode is set to (CAM) and
is not shuting down the radio. the setting is accsesible in sevral
places. I use the contol panel, System,Hardware, Device manager,
network adapter,whatever radio your using, under the advanced tab.

This will allow you to make sure the radio is not turning off at the
most inoppurtune times.

"Seek His wisdom above all others!"

peshkoff-ga 

I've now got the laptop working on the network through a hardwire
connection.  It see the other computer; the other one sees it.  But,
now the wireless adaptor keeps timing out - disconnecting.  I've
changed something, but not sure what.

I found the problem.  I have been turning off the windows firewall on
the General tab and not also on the Advanced tab.  Every time I exited
the firewall page it was keeping the Network Connection Settings on. 
Everything works fine with them turned off.
Thanks for all your help

I spoke too quickly.  Back with the same original problem.  The
network works fine for a few minutes, then disconnects again.  Any
more ideas?  Please?

check the both the computers are in the same work group.

The laptop is now networking fine when directly connected, but not
when working on wireless (not recognizing the network).  However, on
wireless it can still access the Internet through the wireless router,
the same router through which it is connect by network cable. 
Periodically when directly connected by cable, it loses contact with
the network, but reconnects automatically within a few minutes.
Windows firewalls are all off.  Where can I confirm the workgroup name
for all machines?

All comments so far seem to be from Network Technicians without
wireless experience. The problem you are facing is a very common
problem and is entirely a wireless problem nothing to do with the
network itself.

I have had similiar issues with my WIFI network with my laptop at
home. The disconnect issues seemed to have dissapeared with Using the
WIFI client that comes with WinXP SP2. When I originaly upgraded from
SP1 the problem was persistant but ever since I have reloaded windows
fresh with SP2 without installing the wireless client from Broadcom it
stays connected.

Also you may check the following link for wireless tips, you can
ignore steps 3,4 and 5 (they just want to sell you stuff through
Microsoft's windows marketplace)

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/moredone/wirelesstips.mspx

aNoNiM

Also try this document

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=35c7e5ad-59e7-477b-9d27-6a7030e67002&displaylang=en

aNoNiM

Did you get your problem resolved? I do believe anonim is on the right
track, security settings and firewall settings would not cause the
problems you initially described, Security programs and settings will
not be intermittened, it will either allow it or not allow it.

Like anonim suggested try updating your version of windows to the
latest edition, and if you can locate updated patches for your
wireless card.

Also you can check to make sure they are within the same workgroup by
clicking "Start" the right click "My computer" and select "Properties"
and under the "Computer Name" tab it will show what work group you are
part of, make sure both computers are in the same workgroup and
restart them.

Let me know if this helps.

C

i dont know if you solved your problems yet, but here is what i see on
your sony laptop...
	Host name		SONYLAPTOP
	Primary Dns Suffix	
	Node Type		Peer-Peer <-----(bingo)
	IP Routing Enabled	No
	WINS Proxy Enabled	No
	DNS ...........
your wireless network card on the sony is setup for peer to peer only,
meaning without the use of a router... meanwhile your other computer
is Hybrid --> which queries the name server first, then broadcasts...
anyways this is netbios settings, now you can also set this using the
software that came with the network card, i really cant get into this
too much cause of many other issues that can arrise so i will try to
find you something to read up a bit, but anyways that looks like your
problem, the sony is skiping the router and comunicating with the
other computer without an "access point" so be sure to set the
wireless NIC card to "access point" mode cycle the cards (unplug
US/PCMCIA then reinsert) and you should be fine, from what you posted
that seems the be a major problem.
oh here is something that may help you. its microsoft so its
confusing, almost french or something but based on your settings this
may help if you cant get anywhere with your software. sorry i cant
help you anymore, wireless as you can read is nothing you just write a
few lines on.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q160177/