Network Problems (LAN)

[AngelzUnit]

Well I saved up over the summer and bought a badass new computer but I can't get them to connect to eachother. I didn't really configure anything so maybe thats why.

Here is some basic information, maybe it'll help in solving

Computer #1 - Windows XP
Computer #2 - Windows Vista

Both are connected to a wired router using ethernet cables.
Both can access internet.

The part where the problem lies is here...

I go to the command window (black screen, dont know the name lol) and both computers ping the ip address of the router no problem (ping 192.168.0.1) or whatever it is.

But when I ping the the other computers address I get some timed out thing.

Computer #1 pings router
Computer #2 pings router

Computer #1 DOESNT ping Computer #2
Computer #2 DOESNT ping computer #1

I don't know what any of that means but was browsing google and those seemed important...

any help would be greatly appreciated.

[The Mob]

are you trying to directly connect to the other computer?
if not, you have to set up a work group. thats the way that you can share files and printers. etc etc

[BlindMansTicket]

Run the network setup wizard in XP.
next
Go to the Network and Sharing Center in Vista and turn on all the network features you want.

The important ones are the top 3 i've got turned on. Dont know wtf the password protected sharing stuff is as ive never had to put in a password for anything from a different computer. and i have media sharing on because i stream shit to my ps3.

restart both machines and you should be able to share files and what not.

[AngelzUnit]

are you trying to directly connect to the other computer?
if not, you have to set up a work group. thats the way that you can share files and printers. etc etc

yea I want to share files/printer between them.

I also want to play games via lan with them, when I create a game over lan on one computer, the other computer can't see it.

Run the network setup wizard in XP.
next
Go to the Network and Sharing Center in Vista and turn on all the network features you want.

The important ones are the top 3 i've got turned on. Dont know wtf the password protected sharing stuff is as ive never had to put in a password for anything from a different computer. and i have media sharing on because i stream shit to my ps3.

restart both machines and you should be able to share files and what not.

I tried that, but when I run the network wizard and create a new one, after it restarts it disappears and I'm only left with the two networks I had before.

This is how my network screen looks on vista, pretty much like yours...



For starcraft, when I try Local Area Connection (IPX) both computers can't join, it's like disabled or something.

With starcraft on my XP, it has a Local Area Connection (UDP) and it can create a game with that but my vista doesn't have the UDP option.

[The Mob]

then xp and vista may not be able to communicate with each other

[BlindMansTicket]

how many NICs or wifi cards do you have in your computer?

also, IPX is ancient shit. vista doesnt have that. i wouldnt be surprised if starcraft was broken on vista. game is so old.

[Spitfire]

then xp and vista may not be able to communicate with each other

old post but, XP and Vista communicate fine. I have 2x Vista ultimate PC's and 1x XP Pro. They are connected via an ASUS GX1108B 8-Port Gigabit Switch which is also connected to the ADSL Wireless modem (Billion 7404VGP).

Are all the ports on your router set as bridged?
Are all your PC's set as the same workgroup?
Are your firewalls setup properly? Disable them and try to ping?

[AngelzUnit]

Hey everyone how's it going =p

Just got back from my *too* long trip to the United States (how can you live in the cold for months at a time haha) and back to trying to fix this problem. Thanks for the suggestions, will try them out and I'll report the answers to your questions a little later today.

[Fykins]

Xp and Vista communicate no problem.

Check and see if your computers are on the same subnet. Should be 255.255.255.0 for both AND that on your router/cable modem.

Make sure your ip addresses are right.
For example: 192.168.2.1 and 192.168.1.1 are on different networks from eachother with the default subnet information.
Only change the last digit(s). You should be using DHCP so it should not be a problem.

Keep trying to ping eachother, again, make sure the ip addresses are correct. You can go to the command prompt and type ipconfig to see your ip and subnet info on a computer.

Your pings can get to the router but not past, which means the problem should be with your router(assuming that your ip and subnet info is correct)

Don't try to troubleshoot with a game or something like that, those take place at the application layer, you need to focus on IP layer connectivity right now. Use ping commands, once you get pings to work then you can try your games.

It could be a firewall causing this too, I don't think windows firewall blocks ICMP by default though.

Either disable your windows firewalls altogether, or change them so they allow ICMP
(the protocol that ping uses) through.

You probably should post some screenshots of your routers configuration.

Also, your workgroup doesn't matter when it comes to pinging.

[ZxSlippy191]

Seems like a common firewall issue, just allow the other computer(s) IP through the firewall on each computer, there should be an option to add a trusted IP / source.