Thinkpads Forum

I just purchased a T61 Thinkpad 8892-02U (T7500 XP pro 14" 4:3 3GB RAM) and am unable to see my other 3 home computers, which all run XP Home, have file sharing enabled and can all see each other. Interestingly, my settings for Printer & File Sharing in the advanced network tab (TCP/IP and NETBEUI) keep getting unchecked by some program during use. But, even with them checked, I can't even see my own computer on the Microsoft Windows Network. I have Norton Internet Security 2008, but have enabled all of the IP addresses in the network. The network identification is the same and simple file sharing is enabled (though disabling it and setting folder permissions directly didn't make any difference).

Any idea why I can't see the network? Any suggestions to try?
It's not the end of the world, but it's very frustrating, particularly since XP home computers have no problems.

XP Home was born simple-minded and uses simple file sharing only. You can try making sure all systems have proper user id's and passwords for authentication (not simple logons), and then try to map the drive of the XP Pro machine from the XP home machine. That has worked for me in past. ... JDH

XP Home has limited networking capabilities. I suggest trying a Ubuntu Live CD. I switched to Ubuntu 2 years ago, and I will never go back to Windows again. Linux is sooooooooo much more powerful, It can do everything one can possibly imagine. Now I have Ubuntu on all of my servers, desktops, and laptops.

I can PING the Thinkpad from my XP home computer but I can't find it nor map it (I tried directly mapping to the computer name and shared directory and tried browsing - neither was "accessible"). I'll see if there are specific XP Pro permissions that need revision.

Switching operating systems in NO way solves the problem. ... JDH

HowardN wrote:I can PING the Thinkpad from my XP home computer but I can't find it nor map it (I tried directly mapping to the computer name and shared directory and tried browsing - neither was "accessible"). I'll see if there are specific XP Pro permissions that need revision.

Make sure the XP Pro has Simple File Sharing turned off. Then you should be able to map its drive with Tools->Map Network drive, provide the machine name, and authenticate. ... JDH

Even with simple file sharing turned off, I can't map anything on the Thinkpad to the XP Home computer. I can ping the IP address but none of the shared directories (or even the computer) can be mapped.

JD - What do you mean by "authenticate"?

I've seen this situation when the wrong profile is selected in Access Connections - for example, when I have my 'office' profile selected but I'm at my home network, I can connect to me Exchange server, but I can't see any of the other computers, and they can't see my T60. Could also explain why settings get unchecked.

Try this:

Determine the IP address of the XP Pro computer. Make sure Simple File Sharing is turned off. Make certain all the computers are in the same Workgroup (they may not be).

At the XP Home computer, open Windows Explorer. Click on Tools-> Map Network drive. Click on an available drive letter. In the next box, enter \\xp's ip address\c$. Click on Different user name. Enter the userid and password of the XP Pro system. Click on OK.

If that does not work, there is some firewall or other blockage.
... JDH

It's very odd. I followed your instructions, but when I tried to map my Thinkpad's IP address \c$, I was only presented with the Guest option for a password (there is none, but I couldn't log in). At least it showed up! Then I tried mapping to the ip address\My Documents (set up to be shared) and it worked! However, I couldn't map to any other shared drives on the c: drive - I received the "access denied" result. And, I still can't see the Thinkpad from the XP Home computer, nor vice versa.

Also, some program keeps turning off Printer & File Sharing in the wireless connection. Some day, I'll figure out the rogue program.

Thanks for your insight

Have you turn off the Windows Firewall in the Network Properties for your connection?

In my home network, I normally turn off Windows Firewall and use the TrendMicro Firewall. TrendMicro allows different level of security: Direct Internet, Home Network, Office Network, Wireless Network. Windows only allows on or off.

I think I had the same problem with my laptop.

I believe the problem is being caused by Norton. Have you gone into the firewall configuration and told norton to "trust" your network?

That was the problem for me and once I did that I had no problems with my network.

I suspect Norton is part of the problem - I have all of the IP addresses "trusted" and the network set to allow all traffic. Strangely, I can map to the Thinkpad's My Documents folder but no others andcan map the Thinkpad to the XP home computer (any shared folder), but not to any other home computer. Also, I notice that every time I reboot my computer, Printer & File Sharing is unchecked. I don't want to uninstall Norton (actually I do, but I'm not ready to switch), so I'll probably give up for a while. Too much wasted time.

I wanted to let you all know the solution ... the problem was in Lenovo's Access Connections software, which I left installed for making wrieless connections. In the "Manage Connection", under the "advanced" tab (which I had not previously examined), there's a checked box for "Network Connections". Under that choice were "Disable Printer & File Sharing","Disable Internet Connection Sharing" and "Enable Windows Firewall". All are checked by default. Unchecking "Disable Printer & File Sharing" fixed everything. Probably emphasizes the need to consider removing any Lenovo programs you don't consider essential to Windows operations, if you have another Windows program that already works.

Actually I prefer such windows programs so they allow you to configure SETTINGS for a given network if you visit several different networks on regular basis. You dont have to then change settings by hand.

Thanks HowardN. Isn't the first time AC has caused us grief!