PC to PC - Tried Everything!!! So frustrated!!!

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › PC to PC - Tried Everything!!! So frustrated!!!

susannah

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#783 4-Dec-2003 14:29

Hi. I'm hoping someone can help me because I am about to smash my monitor here!!!

Okay here's my dilemma;

I am attempting to connect my desktop computer and two laptop compters together in order for them to share the same internet connection. Each of the computers has a USB dongle.

The first two computers, the main server desktop and one laptop will connect to each other, transfer files and network to each other. After they have networked and the main server is connected to the internet (via a dial up connection) the laptop will simply not open explorer! I've tried pinging it through command prompt but it only responded with a "request time out" all four times.

I've tried all the solutions on this forum for Internet Connection Sharing and none seem to work! :S

I think it might have something to do with the connection settings in Internet Explorer. How are these supposed to be displayed? Eg; what connection is supposed to be there or is it the LAN settings? AHHHH I'm so frustrated.

Any help would be greatly appreciated... I really need it...

Thanking you in advance

Susannah

freitasm

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#2356 4-Dec-2003 14:46

Susannah, do you have a personal firewall in any of these computers?

If you follow any the guides for sharing the Internet connection to Pocket PC, you'll see that ICS has to be configured from the adapter connected to the internet to the Bluetooth adapter. Have you set the Sharing tab from your dial-up connection?

On Internet Explorer you can change the connection to LAN. The only thing this will do is prevent a dial-up attempt when Internet Explorer opens. It'll assume there's a connection there (even if it is not connected). This will not influence the Bluetooth connections.

susannah

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2357 4-Dec-2003 15:29

The dial up is set up to allow other users to access it, yes.

When the bluetooth connection is enabled and running and the dial up is connected on the desktop computer, opening explorer on the laptop just initiates a "web page unavailable while offline" alert, then it tries to get me to create a dial up network.... If I simply press "connect," the status bar at the bottom says "finding proxy settings" for ages before going to www.microsoft.com and coming up with "this page cannot be displayed".

Thankyou - I'm one step closer to not smashing the screen! :)

Your help is much appreciated

Susannah

susannah

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2358 4-Dec-2003 15:30

I forgot to add, the firewalls on both computers were disabled prior to connecting the bluetooth devices.

freitasm

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#2359 4-Dec-2003 15:34

Disabled is just not good enough. You have to set it not to load with Windows at all. If it works then you have to create special rules - or change the firewall software. Hard as it seems, it's a problem with some firewalls - and not only for Bluetooth but other networks too, including wi-fi sometimes.

susannah

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2360 4-Dec-2003 16:19

It's only the XP Internet connection firewall though. That's all disabled and not running at all.

I don't understand why it's not working, there's no incorrect settings that I can plainly see. It's very odd.

I don't think the laptop knows it's supposed to be attempting to connect to the internet through the bluetooth connection.

freitasm

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#2361 4-Dec-2003 16:32

I don't think the laptop knows it's supposed to be attempting to connect to the internet through the bluetooth connection.
It doesn't! You have to manually connect. The steps are (just for review, if you've done them already you'll check again:

On the host computer configure the Bluetooth settings to allow Internet access, not private network. You do this by right-clicking the Bluetooth icon in the system tray, selecting Advanced Configuration and changing to the Local Services tab. Then double-click the Network Access service and check the configuration.

On the host computer create the ICS from your dial-up connection to the Bluetooth adapter

On your client laptop open the Bluetooth Places, double-click Entire Bluetooth icon, and find the icon corresponding to the server. Double-click it and you'll see a list of services. Double-click the Network Access service and you should see a connection attempt. If asked for a user/password just check the Save Password box, and click OK.

You should see a connection dialog status.If all is well you're connected. To use this again in a quicker way, right-click the Network Access service icon and select Create Shortcut. It'll place a shortcut in My Bluetooth Places. Next time just double-click this and it should connect.

In the first connection you might want to be close to the server, because a authorisation bubble wil show up. Select the Always allow box and accept the connection.
You have to manually connect from your client when needed. There's no automatic connection (there's one way, but first let's make this work).

Please go through these steps.

susannah

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2367 5-Dec-2003 13:04

On the host computer create the ICS from your dial-up connection to the Bluetooth adapter

How do I do this???

Internet connection sharing is enabled from the dial up connection. Is there somewhere where I am required so specify it is to the bluetooth adapter uniquely?

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freitasm

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#2368 5-Dec-2003 14:29

You should see the Sharing tab like in any other network connections: right-click the My Network places, select Properties. Find the icon corresponding to your dial up, right-click and select Properties. Switch to the Sharing tab.

There you can check the box "Enable Internet Connection Sharing for this connection" and from the dropdown list select "Bluetooth Network".

This will create an ICS connection from your dial up to the Bluetooth network.

If you can't use this, but have Windows XP you can also use Bridge. If these options are not available, look in our Bluetooth Guides for instructions on using NAT32, and add-on program to route networks on Windows (not free!).

susannah

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2369 5-Dec-2003 15:15

The checkbox was already checked but I cannot see any way to select "bluetooth network" anywhere on that page. Also, there was no sharing tab, the checkbox is found under advanced.

I am running Windows XP on both computers.

susannah

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2370 5-Dec-2003 15:25

All the settings appear to be configured properly...

Upon opening Internet Explorer on the laptop computer, the status menu says "detecting proxy settings" before searching for www.microsoft.com and then coming up with "this page cannot be displayed."

On the desktop computer, the bluetooth settings are set up to allow other computers to acces the Internet/LAN through this computer, the dial up connection is set to share and the computers are connected via the bluetooth network.... and it's still not working!

... am I missing something obvious I can't see in all the write ups?

susannah

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2371 5-Dec-2003 18:18

On both computers there are values in the IP address section, the subnet mask but nothing in the Default Gateway section, should there be?

Also, the DNS server sections are empty on both computers.

freitasm

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#2372 5-Dec-2003 18:21

The client computers will connect using a DHCP type connection, and you don't have to enter any IP, gateway or DNS there.

You only have to enter the IP 192.168.0.1 on your Bluetooth adapter on the server machine (the one accepting connections). No need for gateway IP, but you might want to enter the DNS addresses there.

susannah

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2373 5-Dec-2003 21:40

Okay I've put that in and it hasn't made a scrap of difference. Everything appears to be right. I've even installed a different adapter onto a different computer and it still isn't working.

I guess this means the problem is with the main computer. The Internet connection is dial-up- I don't think I can bridge the connections or is there a way?

I think I've just confused myself further... :S