PCTech Forums

Somehow, something has changed on my home network that now prevents all PCs from accessing shared folders on any other.

DI614+ Router
PC1, XP, LAN, (workgroup "HOME")
PC2, XP, LAN ("HOME")
Laptop1, 2000, Wireless ("HOME")
PC3, XP, connected through laptop which is set to share Internet connection.

The most recent change was the addition of PC3. I didn't have a hardwire to that room in the house, so we set it up to access the net through the wireless card in the laptop, which was surprisingly easy to do!

The "Home" network shows up under any PC's Network Connections, and all PCs can ping the others. But attempts to open the 'Home' connection results in the error message "Home is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available."

I've gone through the router's settings and not found anything out of the ordinary and have confirmed folders are set to be shared and that File and Printer sharing is still enabled on each PC.

I also disconnected the LAN cable between the laptop and the newest PC and that hasn't changed anything. I think I'll go and 'unshare' internet connection of the laptop next and see what happens.

Any other suggestions greatly appreciated.

When you turn all of those computers on, they hold an election to see who is the "token" server. It looks like the Windows 2000 unit won the election. 2000 doens't like a unit coming on line that didn't have to have a password to get into your "home" network. Try booting up the 2000 unit last, or create a user account on the 2000 machine with a logon name and password.

The errors you are getting from the unit you are trying to read from, indicates that it doens't know who you are, or the directory that you are trying to access, isn't shared.

Thanks Icecube, now I wonder if there's a way to block the 2000 machine from 'winning the election' permanently. Disconnecting it from the network and rebooting the others allowed them to access each other, but when the 2000 unit is back on the network, it apparently is assuming control.

I remember the old LM Browse Master setting from earlier days, but don't see that option anymore and presume it's not still used.

I've done so poking around and have disabled "Server" under services on the 2000 unit and that seems to have taken care of it...at least for now!