Internet connection works but local network not connectable (moved by Murf)

zipster1967 · #1 November 2nd, 2009, 06:15 AM

I had to resotere my system (Windows Vista Home Premium) and when I did so I lost the ability to connect to the other computers on my home network. The rest of the computers are as follows
3 laptops running windows vista home basic
2 desktops 1 running windows vista one running windows 2000
I am connected to a WRT54G linksys router which is plugged into a netgear 24 port switch which is what my Hughesnet modem is connected to. All computers can access the internet and all the other computers can connect to each other. I can see the other computers but I get the error message //HT-PC is not a valid host name error message or something similar when I try to connect to one of the other computers. Network sharing is on along with network discovery and password protection is turned off. (no paswrod needed) What am I missing. Could my firelwall settings be wrong? How do I change them if that is the case? Any help would be appreciated very much.
zipster1967

zipster1967 · #2 November 2nd, 2009, 07:24 AM

I am not trying to build a websitye at all I am just trying to share my files from my computer to other computers on my home network. Also I want to be able to access their public files on other computers on my home network. All the other computers are able to access the public folders of the other computers on the network but I am not able to see any of the public folders on any of the other computers.
zipster1967

**Murf** · #3 November 2nd, 2009, 09:47 PM

Welcome to CTH

Sorry about the idiot with the SPAM...

Workgroup names all the same??? I'm going to move this to our networking forum they should be able to help.

ecross · #4 November 3rd, 2009, 02:15 PM

Hello zipster1967,

Which computer is trying to attempt to connect to the //HT-PC? What operating system is that?

First, I would go ahead and turn on Network discovery through the Network and Sharing Center on all of the computers. Since you have Password Protected Sharing turned off, you are using Guest authentication to connect to network shares.

If one of the problem computers is running Windows 2000, then go enable the Guest account if you haven't already. Details here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/258938

zipster1967 · #5 November 3rd, 2009, 10:33 PM

I got it fixed. It was my Norton Anti-virus software. One of the communication settings was blocking the ICMP connections to my desktop. I knew all my network sharing settings were correct. Thanks anyway.
zipster1967