network headache

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steve2511

11 posts

Geek

#25790 1-Sep-2008 17:41

Hi all I need help!! I have never done much work with network setup and I am trying to get one set up.Ok I have 2 PC’s in the same room and the main one is one that I built 6 months ago, the second is for the kids and it is our old one. It still has some files on it that I would like to access from the main PC and vice versa. I have an ADSL Dlink502T modem it is hooked up to a TP-Link TL-WR642G wireless router (via the wan port), the main PC is connected to the TP-Link TL-WR642G by an Ethernet cable. After several months (hear and there) I got sick of it not working so I called TP-Link (yes strange thing to call for help, almost like reading the instructions lol) and after they told me how to reset the router I had the internet on both PC’s (which I didn’t have before) but I can still not share files or see the other PC.I have done the ping test and this is what happened the main PC will ping the router but will not ping the other Kids PC, the kids PC will not ping the router but will ping the main PC ( I can not figure it out) all IP addresses have beet assigned by DHCP and they do not appear to conflict.HELPThanks Steve

1 | 2

103 posts

Master Geek

#161346 1-Sep-2008 18:16

Hi,

Where and How is the kid's PC connected? I assume it's also connected to the TP-Link Router via ethernet cable?

If you do an ipconfig on both computers it should say something like:

IP: xxx.xxx.xxx.aaa
Subnet: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 192.168.1.1

So for the two computers, the xxx, subnet and gateway should be the same.

So basically different IP addresses but same gateway and subnet. Is this the case?

Cheers,

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steve2511

11 posts

Geek

#161349 1-Sep-2008 18:33

Hi Sinn, I’m using the wireless connection on the kids PC. Both the subnet and gateway are the same on both PC’s and I have also enabled sharing on both PC’s.

Sinn

103 posts

Master Geek

#161351 1-Sep-2008 18:37

The Kids PC is connected wirelessly to the TP-Link?

What do you mean by enabled Sharing?

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steve2511

11 posts

Geek

#161356 1-Sep-2008 18:53

Yes the Kids PC is connected wirelessly to the TP-Link

If you right click on a folder then go down to ‘sharing and security’ and I have enabled that.The other thing I did not mention is that both systems are running windows XP, weather that’s better or worse I don’t know.

Sinn

103 posts

Master Geek

#161374 1-Sep-2008 19:48

In that case you should still be able to ping both the other PC and the router from both PCs.

By the way, if all you want to do is transfer files from one PC to the other, then perhaps getting a removeable USB HDD is the best solution. That way you have something to backup your files on also.

If you dont, you should still be able to copy files across if you can ping from one PC to the other.

Try this:

1) Check that you can ping from the Kids PC to the Main PC
2) Right click on a folder and make it network shareable on the Main PC
4) on the kids PC, press Start>run
5) in the run window type this: '\\xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx\' without the apostrophe and with xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx as the ip address of the main PC.

This should bring up a window that lets you see the shared folder on the main PC from the Kids PC.

This doesn't really explain why your network is like that but it should do what you wanted to do in the first place.

Cheers,

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riahon

946 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 90

#161376 1-Sep-2008 19:52

Have you tried disabling any firewalls?

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steve2511

11 posts

Geek

#161387 1-Sep-2008 20:23

I tried start>run>IP addy from the kids computer. I have a dvd burner and another folder set to share on network.It did not work, I got a windows message ‘the network location could not be reached’.I then tried pinging the main PC from the kids computer and the ping worked no problems all packets sent came back and the average time was 1 msYes I have tried running the net work with out the firewall. And I still have no success.

Sinn

103 posts

Master Geek

#161553 2-Sep-2008 14:36

Hi,

did you run start>run>ipaddress with the two forward slashes before and after the IP address? e.g. \\192.168.1.5\

please do this on both PCs and post the output:

1) open up a command window on the computer start>run>cmd
2) - From the Kids PC "tracert <main PC IPaddress>"
- From the main PC "tracert <kids pac ipaddress>"
3) also do a tracert out to www.google.com just so we can see how your traffic is being routed.

Please post the output of that here, or you can PM me if you like.

Cheers,

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steve2511

11 posts

Geek

#161633 2-Sep-2008 17:31

OK this is all from the main pc
this 1 is from the main pc to the kids pc

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>tracert 192.168.xxx.xxx

Tracing route to 192.168.xxx.xxx over a maximum of 30 hops

1     *        *        *     Request timed out.
2     *        *        *     Request timed out.
3     *        *        *     Request timed out.
4     *        *        *     Request timed out.
5     *        *        *     Request timed out.
6     *        *        *     Request timed out.
7     *        *        *     Request timed out.
8     *        *        *     Request timed out.
9     *        *        *     Request timed out.
10     *        *        *     Request timed out.
11     *        *        *     Request timed out.
12     *        *        *     Request timed out.
13     *        *        *     Request timed out.
14     *        *        *     Request timed out.
15     *        *        *     Request timed out.
16     *        *        *     Request timed out.
17     *        *        *     Request timed out.
18     *        *        *     Request timed out.
19     *        *        *     Request timed out.
20     *        *        *     Request timed out.
21     *        *        *     Request timed out.
22     *        *        *     Request timed out.
23     *        *        *     Request timed out.
24     *        *        *     Request timed out.
25     *        *        *     Request timed out.
26     *        *        *     Request timed out.
27     *        *        *     Request timed out.
28     *        *        *     Request timed out.
29     *        *        *     Request timed out.
30     *        *        *     Request timed out.

Trace complete.

this 1 is from the main pc to the router

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>tracert 192.168.xxx.xxx
Tracing route to 192.168.xxx.xxx over a maximum of 30 hops

1 1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 192.168.xxx.xxx

Trace complete.

this one is from the main pc to google

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>tracert www.google.com

Tracing route to www.l.google.com [209.85.171.104]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1     *        *        *     Request timed out.
2     *        *        *     Request timed out.
3     *        *        *     Request timed out.
4     *        *        *     Request timed out.
5     *        *        *     Request timed out.
6     *        *        *     Request timed out.
7     *        *        *     Request timed out.
8     *        *        *     Request timed out.
9     *        *        *     Request timed out.
10     *        *        *     Request timed out.
11     *        *        *     Request timed out.
12     *        *        *     Request timed out.
13     *        *        *     Request timed out.
14     *        *        *     Request timed out.
15     *        *        *     Request timed out.
16     *        *        *     Request timed out.
17     *        *        *     Request timed out.
18     *        *        *     Request timed out.
19     *        *        *     Request timed out.
20     *        *        *     Request timed out.
21   211 ms   222 ms   217 ms www.google.com [209.85.171.104]

Trace complete.

and this one is to my ISP

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>tracert 10.1.xxx.xxx
Tracing route to 10.1.xxx.xxx over a maximum of 30 hops

1 <1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 10.1.xxx.xxx

Trace complete.

and yes I went start>run>and typed \\192.168.xxx.xxx\ and it did not work. came up with 'network path not found'

steve2511

11 posts

Geek

#161645 2-Sep-2008 18:04

ok this lot is from the kids pc and even though google and my ISP did not respond i can still serf the net. I sent the other reply from the main pc and this reply from the kids pc not that you would know or that it matters.

this 1 is from the kids pc to the router

C:\Documents and Settings\Steve>tracert 192.168.xxx.xxx

Tracing route to 192.168.xxx.xxx over a maximum of 30 hops

Trace complete.

this 1 is from the kids pc to my ISP

C:\Documents and Settings\Steve>tracert 10.1.xxx.xxx

Tracing route to 10.1.xxx.xxx over a maximum of 30 hops

Trace complete.

this 1 is from the kids pc to the main pc

C:\Documents and Settings\Steve>tracert 192.168.xxx.xxx

Tracing route to 192.168.xxx.xxx over a maximum of 30 hops

1 3 ms 1 ms 1 ms 192.168.xxx.xxx

Trace complete.

this 1 is from the kids pc to google

C:\Documents and Settings\Steve>tracert www.google.com

Tracing route to www.l.google.com [209.85.173.103]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

Trace complete.

C:\Documents and Settings\Steve>

I noticed the the ip for google changes, is that part of there security

Sinn

103 posts

Master Geek

#161649 2-Sep-2008 18:30

mm that is very peculiar. what is the ISP address you are trying to ping? where did you get that IP address from?

Also what network setup did you hvae before this on either PC? i'm kind of thinking it might be some kind of settings in your wireless router.

have you tried connecting the kids PC to the router via a LAN cable too?

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steve2511

11 posts

Geek

#161716 2-Sep-2008 23:57

Hi in my router setup under the settings for the WAN connection is where I got that IP address (which I have assumed to be the ISP) and I’m guessing by you asking me about it, it most likely isn’t. well I’ll post those settings too.This is the first network I have ever setup so it’s a little daunting.

WAN Connection Type:	Dynamic IP Static IP PPPoE 802.1X + Dynamic IP 802.1X + Static IP BigPond Cable L2TP PPTP

Host Name:
IP Address:	10.1.xxx.xxx
Subnet Mask:	255.0.0.0
Default Gateway:	10.1.xxx.xxx


MTU Size (in bytes):	(The default is 1500, do not change unless necessary.)

	Use These DNS Servers
Primary DNS:	10.1.xxx.xxx
Secondary DNS:	(Optional)

	Get IP with Unicast DHCP (It is usually not required.)

steve2511

11 posts

Geek

#161717 3-Sep-2008 00:01

the

WAN Connection Type: should just read Dynamic IP

Sinn

103 posts

Master Geek

#162537 5-Sep-2008 17:23

I have to admit, i'm stumped as to what the problem is. It all looks a little strange and your outputs and results doesn't really seem to reflect what should be happening.

My last suggestion is thta you try plugging in your Kids PC directly to the router via a LAN cable too and see if that makes a difference.

otherwise, perhaps someone else may shed some light here.

good luck!

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steve2511

11 posts

Geek

#162593 6-Sep-2008 00:25

Well thank you for all your help sinn much appreciated, I get this feeling that it is something simple but as this is the first time I have had a real go at setting up a network I’m still trying to figure out all the different settings. I will try hooking up the kids pc via cable and seeing what happens. I’m also thinking of resetting every thing and starting from scratch. But once again thank you for all your help. Anyone else with any thoughts it would be great to hear from you.

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