ThinkPad T60 Network problem

[vn2000]

I just bought a ThinkPad T60 and set it up fine with the good old Windows XP.
I connect the Ethernet to a same Router in which 3 other desktop PCs are connected through a same workgroup. Internet connection works fine so there isn't any problem with the network adapter.

But from the ThinkPad I cannot see other PCs in Microsoft Windows Network, while from any other PC I can see the ThinkPad and other PCs. Therefore I can't share any file between the T60 and any other PC.

I wonder what is the problem here? I set up desktop PCs and I didn't have this problem. Any suggestion would be appreciated.

[RealBlackStuff]

Welcome to the forum.
Check that all of them have FileSharing enabled
see http://compnetworking.about.com/cs/winx ... nxpsfs.htm

[bill bolton]

I wonder what is the problem here?

Your problem is settings in good old Windows XP (which is certainly old, but not particularly good).

You need to enable file sharing.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[vn2000]

Thanks for all your suggestions.
But I did enable file sharing and even enable sharing one folder as a shared name. I did the same things on other desktop PCs with no problem, so something must be different on this ThinkPad.
I tried to compare to no avail all the network settings between the ThinkPad and the PCs, They are practically identical.
Even with all those settings, from the ThinkPad I can't see any other PC in the same Workgroup (in Windows Explorer).
From other PCs, I can see the ThinkPad, but when I tried to open it, I got the following message:

'T60 is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. The network path was not found.'

[RealBlackStuff]

Check your Firewall software, that it should allow for the range of your home network PCs/laptops (e.g. IP addresses 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.10)
Or start with disabling the firewall everywhere to see if you can get it going. (remove the modem DSL/cable temporarily).

[bill bolton]

so something must be different on this ThinkPad.

Its going to be a Windows XP setting... you will just need to find which one.

There is nothing specific in a ThinkPad that will stop shares working, and I have had Workgroup sharing running off my T60 and T61 under XP, Vista and now Win 7.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[EOMtp]

... But from the ThinkPad I cannot see other PCs in Microsoft Windows Network ...

What you describe is an annoying problem because it virtually defies diagnosis ... unless you already know the solution! Here it is. Do the following:

1) Open Notepad, copy/paste into it the following 3 lines, and save as a file named NodeType.reg

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NetBT\Parameters]
"NodeType"=-
"DhcpNodeType"=-

[Note: If you are inclined to make the Registry modifications directly manually, then change only the two items shown above; do not touch/change any of the many other settings at that Registry location.]

2) Double-click on the file you created above -- make sure the file name ends in .reg, not .txt -- and answer "Yes" to permit the Registry modification with the contents of the file.
3) Reboot ... and (most likely) you will be able to browse the network once again.

[vn2000]

An image is worth a thousand words.

In my set up, I have 3 PCs and the ThinkPad connected to a NetGear Router through Ethernet cables. That Router is connected to AT&T 2Wire DSL Modem, which also has WiFi outside the Router.

The difference I have here is that none of the PCs have wireless adapter. Only the ThinkPad has built-in wireless adapter. I thought that wireless adapter might cause the problem so I did go to Device Manager and disabled it. But the problem is still there.

[EOMtp]

Your configuration is clear. Once again, try the following:
Select the path of your choice and verify that the T60 can reach the router via that path, i.e., via wire (path A) or via wireless (path B). Let's say you select path A. Then do what I mentioned earlier, and upon reboot you will be able to browse your Microsoft Windows Network via path A.

Repeat the procedure if you wish to browse Microsoft Windows Network via path B.

[vn2000]

From the ThinkPad I don't see anywhere I can select any network path.
I also forgot to mention that the NetGear Router by itself has a hardware firewall, according to the manual.

[BillP]

You can turn off the wireless from a switch on the front of the T60, leaving Ethernet as your only network connection. To force Wireless only, turn the switch back on and unplug the Ethernet cable. All the routers I know of for home use have a hardware firewall.

[EOMtp]

From the ThinkPad I don't see anywhere I can select any network path.

Alright; let's back up. One does not select a network path explicitly -- not in this context. All I meant earlier is for you to decide whether you are going to use the wired or the wireless "path" to reach the router, and then actually do something to verify that you are reaching the router via that "path", e.g., go to Google. Do what BillP suggested above.

Once you know what network "path" you are using, do precisely what I explained earlier, and your problem of browsing the network via that "path" will be resolved .

[vn2000]

In this configuration I certainly only want the Ethernet Router path. So I totally disable the wireless connection. To double check, I type the command ipconfig at the command prompt on all 3 destops and the ThinkPad.
All of them have the same DNS: gateway.2wire.net
same subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
and same Default Gateway: 192.168.0.1

Each PC and ThinkPad has successive IP Address:
192.168.0.2 (PC)
192.168.0.3 (PC)
192.168.0.4 (PC)
192.168.0.5 (ThinkPad)

From any PC I can ping other PC with the command:
ping 192.168.0.x

I got reply from other PC, but when I ping the ThinkPad, there is no reply (time out)
So I don't really know why the ThinkPad didn't ping, even it's in the same gateway.

But from the ThinkPad, if I ping other PCs I got the reply.

[EOMtp]

...From any PC I can ping other PC ... but when I ping the ThinkPad, there is no reply (time out)

Well, this is a different issue than what you described in your first post. You have not indicated if the Thinkpad can ping any of the other PCs, or if the Thinkpad can connect to the router, or if the Thinkpad can "get out" to the Internet. Are any or all of those activities possible? Please clarify.

[vn2000]

OK, let's summarize everything here:

The ThinkPad now only has Ethernet connection through the NetGear Router. Wireless connection is disabled.
From the ThinkPad I can browse the Internet with no problems.

The 3 Pcs and ThinkPad have the same Workgroup name. All have file sharing enabled. All have same Gateway, and of course each computer has unique IP address.

All 3 PCs can see each other and can share files with no problem, but not with ThinkPad. From the PCs Windows Explorer, I can see the ThinkPad through:
My Network Places -> Entire Network -> Microsoft Windows Network -> Workgroup -> T60
But when I tried to open T60, I got the message:
'T60 is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. The network path was not found.'

From the ThinkPad, I cannot see any of the PCs.
But I can ping other PCs and got response back.

From any other PC, I can see the ThinkPad in Windows Eplorer.
But I cannot ping the ThinkPad, I got time out.