A Failure to Communicate!

[Kareeser]

I'm currently in the process of installing 6 computers for my parents' office. It's a complete system overhaul, as their old Compaqs were reaching their limits. In fact, their most powerful computer advertised the industry standard: 2X AGP! Awesome.

Anyway, bought 5 Dell 1100's, simply because I hadn't the time to build 5 computers from scratch. Another Dell server was donated to us by a collegue, who set up the computer to act as a server.

Enough History:

Network Hardware:
1 Switch. (No DCHP)

Server:
Windows 2000
Network Group: WORKGROUP

Other Computers:
Windows XP Home
Network Group: WORKGROUP

The 5 Dells see each other just fine. However, none of them can see the server.
The server can see itself, but can't see any of the 5 Dells.

Wires are connected to the network cards on all the machines, and I've deliberately set a distinct IP address for each of them (192.168.0.100 - 192.168.0.105)

Any suggestions?

[mairving]

Is the server Windows 2000 pro or Windows 2000 server?

An important thing to remember is that 'ping is your friend'. Ping from the Dells to the server. Ping from the server to the Dells. That can tell you if you are getting a connection. You can also try accessing the via backslash \\computername or \\IPAddress in a command prompt. Make sure also that the XP firewalls allow File and Printer sharing and that F&P is turned on on the server as well.

Also if you are using server, then setup DHCP and DNS and it will help with IP Addresses and computer names.

[glc]

Enable the Guest account on the Win2000 box. Enable file and print sharing in the firewall exception list on the XP boxes, or disable the firewall. Make sure the 2000 box is not running a 3rd party firewall. In the TCP/IP properties, advanced, WINS tab, enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP on all boxes.

This will leave security wide open - if these are connected to the Internet in any way, reintroduce security after you get them talking to each other.

I suspect that the factory installed McAfee on the Dell boxes is causing the problem. Uninstall it.

[Kareeser]

I've formatted the Dell boxes, so McAfee isn't the problem anymore

The real kicker is that the person who set up the Windows 2000 box only gave me the username and password for two accounts. Both guest accounts. I can't modify any settings, and I can't find out anything about the network except the Workgroup name and computer name.

Mairving, I tried typing \\[name] from the server to the Dells, but Windows Explorer immediately bounces back with a message saying that it can't find that computer. The fact that it bounces back instanty might say something, but I'm not entirely sure what...

Thanks for your help

[glc]

A "colleague" won't give you the administrator password? If he is going to be that way about it, get him to set up the network.

[chuck4456]

Sounds more like a faulty connection - or (perhaps) a faulty card in the server. If you got it hooked up the way you say, it should all ZAP! right in. Time to inspect and reseat........