4 computers 2 not talking to each other

I have 4 computers, carol, beta, sewing and p25
carol and beta can talk to all and all can talk to them.
Sewing can talk to all but p25 and p25 can talk to all but sewing.
all are set up for simple file sharing and all can be shared by at least 2
other computers.
I've rebooted everything (router, modem, computers) and I don't know what
else to try. Any suggestions?
Thanks

 

Isn't there any MVPs that have any suggestions as to why I can access these
computers with all the computers on my network except the one I need?

 

Gheess, I guess I have a real problem. No one can think of any reason why
two computer on the same home network can't talk to each other when other
computers on the same home network can communicate with both?
They are both attached to the same workgroup and I can see them in the
workgroup. All are set with simple sharing and all can access at least 2
other computers on the same network and can be accessed by other computers,
but not with each other.

 

These problems are usually caused by a misconfigured firewall although
of course there can be other reasons. Make sure that you are only
running one firewall and that it is configured to allow the lan traffic
as trusted. Some new antivirus programs such as Norton 2005/06 have
"Internet Worm Protection" which acts as a simple firewall and will
cause a problem if you have another firewall enabled. If you have XP
SP2 and are using the Windows Firewall, make sure that File & Printer
Sharing are enabled on the Exceptions tab.

Otherwise, go through this excellent network troubleshooter by MVP
Hans-Georg Michna:

http://winhlp.com/wxnet.htm

If you take the time to go through it carefully, it will usually
pinpoint the problem area(s).

Malke

 

I thought about the fire wall so I tried turning it off. Also, at least two
other computers can access the computers, they just can't access each other,
but other computers can access both BUT, they both are running zonealarm,
one a paid subscription and one the free version... then again, other
computers have no problems sharing everything back and forth. The IP numbers
are so far apart I can't see how the firewall could be blocking them unless
they are blocking each others particular IP address, but I don't see
anything blocked. ZoneAlarm only lists the starting IP address of the
allowed network (no other firewall).
I do appreciate the suggestions and I'll check out the site you suggested.
Thanks,
Carol

 

Well, nothing there either. My problem is, computers can access the problem
computers. If there was any basic setting incorrect on one of the computers,
than none of the computers would be able to share with it. But that isn't
the case:
carol shares both ways with p25, beta and sewing
beta shares both ways with p25, sewing and carol
sewing shares both ways with carol and beta (not p25)
p25 shares both ways with carol and beta (not sewing)
Only p25 and sewing don't talk to each other. If there was a setting
blocking access, then none of the other computer should be able to share
either. There is something just between these two systems that do not affect
their ability to connect with all the others.

Everything I saw on the site you guided me to had to do with one computer
not connecting or being accessed by all.

I"m willing to check out any other suggestions and appreciate any
suggestions.

 

I have no idea what this means "The IP numbers are so far apart I can't
see how the firewall could be blocking them" but that's not how a
firewall works. If you are using ZA, then make sure the WF is disabled.
In ZA, allow the lan's IP *range* as trusted. For ex., my network range
would be 192.168.1.0-192.168.1.254. Substitute your correct subnet
mask.

Since you only have 4 computers and they are all presumably XP Pro
(since you mention Simple Sharing which can only be changed in Pro),
make identical user accounts/passwords on all machines. Make sure none
of the user accounts have the same name as a computer; i.e., don't name
a computer "Carol" and have a user account "Carol". Make sure there are
no blank passwords and no spaces in user/computer names.

And of course make sure you've created shares with desired permissions.

Other than that, yes do try Mr. Michna's troubleshooter. It's quite
good.

Malke

 

I did get it Malke, that's so very much for your input. What I meant by the
ip address, one ended in 83 and the other in 153 and I have other computers
lower and higher, so it wasn't the range. I had set the range from 0 to 199.
What had happened after the last update of ZoneAlarms, the computer (sewing)
that I really did not think was the problem (I thought it was p25), turns
out is excluded 83 (p25) I have no idea why but I did find it and remove the
exclusion.
It was in relating to you that I realized it just had to be the firewall
blocking the specific computers and I remembered that I had done an update
on that one machine just a few days earlier. I don't know anything about
networking, but you got my brain cells working and I'm learning

 

So it was a firewall issue after all. I'm glad you figured it out, and
thanks for posting the solution.

Malke