At home I have three computers which all connect to the internet via a Linksys WRT54G router; all three use wireless connections.
Although they connect to the internet without any problems, and I can see an IP address when I use the ipconfig switch in DOS, none of the the machines can see each other When I try to ping one from the other, to map a network drive, or to use the net view command, I simply get no response.
I found that, when I plugged my laptop directly into the router with an RJ-45 cable I could connect a session of the game Call of Duty to one of the machines; but I still couldn't ping it or share folders.
I've tried doing things like changing from fixed to assigned IP addresses, turning on file-and-printer sharing and switching of firewalls (on the PCs and the router) but still I get no joy.
I think the problem may be in one of two areas.
1: The wireless cards aren't configured properly
2: I need to add another networking component.
Linksys aren't much help - I'd be grateful if anyone could offer any insight.
1) the WRT54G has updated firmware (and a program to install it) on the linksys website, available since dec 2 2004, your wrt54g may have been manufactured before that date, even if you bought it after that date (shipping takes time, delivery trucks aren't santa claus express!)
2) If you have XP SP2 installed, it has it's own firewall and can create problems with any firewall you have and use (you only mention a computer and router firewall, but if you have SP2, you may have 3 firewalls!)
3) If you had one or dueling firewalls active when you set up sharing, there may have only been rules/exception created for one firewall and not the other
4) there is actually a really handy prog for looking at your disks/network/devices etc... It is called file explorer, ships with windows so you already have it, but is no longer installed cuz people get it confised with other explorers (right click on the desktop, select new, shortcut, for location select browse go to windows and select the file named explorer ((the one that looks like a screen and computer), then return return)
If you are looking at a folder with the prog you just added (or the root), right click, pick sharing and security, make sure there is a share name
*AND* Allow network users to change my files is selected (most games change the files on other machines also playing the game)
If that doesn't work, one more thing (but only do it as a last resort) reset the router back to factory settings (press and hold the reset button for
10-20 seconds ((next to the power jack)), the front lights flash) reset your settings, remove and reinstall the software on each PC ( if pre-installed start, connect to, show all connections, wireless network connection, set up a home or small office connection then answer a bunch of q's and check boxes as needed)...
Why? Once in a blue moon I run across whacked settings on the wap/router, or on the pc's, some program that overwrote or corrupted things needed by the system. It doesn't happen often, and should only be a last resort.. you can do it and not screw things up, but if you do the wrong thing you can really screw things up, so better not to do it if you don't have to. If you are ready to pull your hair out, give it a try.. Your head will thank you, especially since it's winter and will help keep your head warm :)
What are their IP addresess? All in the same subnet eg 192.168.1.x? Something peculiar? Do they all have the router set as the default gateway? ipconfig /all may help.
Turn off all firewalls on the PCs, see if that helps. If so, you need to configure the firewalls to allow ping responses, open the ports for file/printer sharing (this is usually very obvious), and open the ports for any games you want to play across them. With ZoneAlarm, you can achieve all this in one go by putting all machines into the "Trusted" zone. With WinXP's builtin firewall its fiddlier.
If you hope to use file/printer sharing then you need to have file/printer sharing on (obviously) on all the machines. Unless you have wired your router up wrong, the firewall in there won't be interfering as its on the upstream side of the wireless. Be sure you've disabled ALL firewalls on the PCs tho - remember XP has a builtin one as well as whatever else you may be using.
Unlikely. If they can get to the internet then they're working properly.
Also unlikely, but depends on your OS. For XP you need TCP/IP, Client for MS networks, and file/printer sharing, nothing else. For 98, I seem to recall you needed NetBEUI or something.
Thanks for the advice folks. Depressingly, I've tried just about everything mentioned above (including flashing the firmware). Could it be a physical fault with the router? As someone's already pointed out, the fact that I can connect to the internet would imply not.
may I suggest you reset the wap/router to factory defaults? The reset switch is next to the power jack on the back of the device... Press it in with a pen or something for about 10-15 seconds. Then when the lights stop flashing, unplug it and plug it back in. At this point it is set new out of the box, but do NOT add security yet.. Test and see if you can access stuff with nothing modified yet.
Have you enabled file and print sharing on your systems (when you go to each system, do the setup a small office or home network) ?
It's very easy to set the options to disable wireless/routimg.. Resetting it all makes absolutely sure nothing is left over from your trying things. By doing the setup (start/connect to/show all connections... and the on the left side set up a small office or home network), basically makes sure that all the settings are enabled correctly.
You tried everything else, why not go back to square one and start over?
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