File sharing on my T43 only works one way?

[alpuzz]

Hi all,

I've had this problem over two separate installs of windows. On my T43, File sharing is enabled. All my machines are in the same workgroup, and for purposes of troubleshooting, I've turned off Windows firewall for the time being.

All my other machines can share files without any problems; However when it comes to the ThinkPad, sharing is a one way street. In other words, if I'm sitting at the ThinkPad, I can browse my network,send files to any of my other machines, and receive files from those machines. However, from any of my other machines, the ThinkPad is completely invisible. It doesn't show up under entire network, and it's not even found if I use the UNC, \\thinkpad or \\it's IP.

I was initially using access connections, and I wonder if it change some obscure registry setting or something? I uninstalled access connections, and just for kicks, ran the network setup wizard, but the problem remains.

At this point, I'm out of ideas. Any thoughts would be very much appreciated.

TIA,

[pianowizard]

The first and simplest thing to check is the XP Firewall. See if "File and Printer Sharing" in the "Exceptions" menu is checked; you want it to be checked. Also, uncheck "Don't allow exceptions".

[alpuzz]

The first and simplest thing to check is the XP Firewall. See if "File and Printer Sharing" in the "Exceptions" menu is checked; you want it to be checked. Also, uncheck "Don't allow exceptions".

Both those settings are correct, but the problem persists even when Windows firewall is completely disabled.

[alpuzz]

Just an update:
over the past day, I've been poking around, and have learned more about TCP related registry entries than I ever thought I'd want to know, but to no avail. The interesting thing though is that if I hard wire the machine to the LAN, file sharing through the local area connection works as expected. So, I think that means we can rule out any firewall weirdness.
It would seem then that the issue has something to do with the TCP/IP settings of my wireless connection, but I have no idea what to change. So, thinking I'd just start from scratch, I completely removed and then reinstalled the wireless driver. My initial wireless connection is gone, and has been replaced by a wireless connection 2, which I assumed would start out in life with default settings; However, wireless connection 2 is still having the same problem.

Any other thoughts?

TIA

[jdhurst]

Access Connections has the ability to set the Windows Firewall ON even though (1) you don't have it enabled anywhere else, and (2) you use a different and more readily controlled firewall. It's under the Network Security setting and has to be checked for each profile. I think somehow that affects the entries for specific connectoids. Each connectoid (wired, wireless1, wireless2, etc) has its own values. So maybe there is something leftover there.

The other possibility is that your wireless security in your router is affecting the ability to see the T43. You would have to check your router.

There is nothing endemic about the T4x or Windows XP Pro. I have a T41 and it sees other things and other things easily see it. I access the T41 all the time from client machines to get updates and software upgrades.

.... JD Hurst

[alpuzz]

HI,

Access Connections is gone, but you may be right in that it left some sort of residual change that's causing the issue. The problem is how to track it down? At this point, I feel like I'm trying to find a needle in a haystack.

The other night, while I still had access connections installed, I called IBM tech support, hoping that they could shed some light on the situation. That was a joke! The guy agreed with me that Access Connections could conceivably be causing the problem, and then promptly proceeded to transfer me to Microsoft because, "This is obviously a Microsoft issue.". So much for IBM's renowned customer service!

So now, I'm really not sure what to do next. Maybe I aughta reinstall the latest version of access connections and scour the UI again, in hopes of finding something I missed before? Other than that, I'm out of ideas. I'd hate to consider a windows reinstall just to fix something this stupid, but I really don't know what else to do.

[bill bolton]

So much for IBM's renowned customer service!

If were as pasimoneous with basic information in dealing with the IBM support desk person as you have been in providing basic information here, you probably got an entirely predicatable result.

You haven't said anything about.....

1. If you have any other wireless connected devices and whether they experience the same problem

2. What wireless access device/router you are using

3. Which wireless card is in your T43

4. Which driver version is installed for your T43

Cheers,

Bill

[dr_st]

Also, have you tried connecting to the LAN by wired Ethernet? Can other computers see the Thinkpad then?

[Paul Unger]

The interesting thing though is that if I hard wire the machine to the LAN, file sharing through the local area connection works as expected. So, I think that means we can rule out any firewall weirdness.

@ dr_st,

It looks like he has, and that, yes, other computers can see the T43.

@ alpuzz,

You've got my sympathies! For the longest time I kept getting prompted for a 'guest' password between my Dell I8000 and my T42. Of course, I never had a 'guest' account and didn't have a password set for it . . . I finally gave up on 'networking' and just used my router for internet access. Now that I've sold the Dell and got a second T42, I'm tempted to try again. My overall feeling is that networking is entirely too complicated, but then grass is green, the sky is blue, and there's nothing new under the sun . . .

[carbon_unit]

Under properties for the wireless connection is netbui installed as well as tcp/ip?
I have had times that I had to install netbui before the computer would show up on a network. Wired or wireless.

[PJMoore]

I'm not a PC guru. My new T43 did the same thing. I went to properties from the wired and wireless icons in the taskbar, and sure enough - Windows Firewall was set to ON - even though I had told the Windows Security icon to turn it off. When I clicked the icon properties to turn off windows firewall, it works fine on my wired and wireless network. Hope this makes sense and helps.