Windows HomeGroup not working; can it be my Linksys router?

[+BudMan MVC]

The browse list is maintained completely different than accessing it \\computername -- see the error network path not found. Points to simple name resolution issue.

go to a command line and do net view \\computername

example

C:\Windows\system32>net view \\p4-28g
Shared resources at \\p4-28g

Share name  Type   Used as  Comment
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ML2571N	 Print		   Samsung ML-2570 Series
partimage   Disk
pch-stuff   Disk
Public	  Disk
test		Disk
The command completed successfully.

C:\Windows\system32>net view \\pch
Shared resources at \\pch

SMP8634 Share

Share name  Type  Used as  Comment
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
share	   Disk
The command completed successfully.

You have firewall blocking broadcast traffic on, you have your name resolution messed up and not doing broadcast? your boxes are not on the same network segment and broadcast will not work.

By default windows machines will broadcast for netbios names - do you have netbios enabled over tcp?

Please post the output of both your machines ipconfig /all -- what I am curious is their node type and if netbios enabled, and if same network segment, etc.. So here is mine

C:\Windows\system32>ipconfig /all
Windows IP Configuration
   Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : i5-w7
   Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . : local.lan
   Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
   IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
   WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
   DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : local.lan

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom NetLink (TM) Gigabit Ethernet
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 18-03-73-B1-0D-D3
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
   IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.100(Preferred)
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.253
   DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.253
   NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

[kiddingguy]

Netbios is enabled.

I have both ipconfig /all details - same lines as yours - copied hereunder:

Windows IP Configuration
   Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : <<desktop>>
   Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . :
   Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
   IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
   WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
   DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : arnhem.chello.nl
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2:
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Marvell Yukon 88E8056 PCI-E Gigabit Ether
net Controller #2
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : BC-AE-C5-1B-73-E9
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
   IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.137(Preferred)
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
   DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 62.179.104.196
									   213.46.228.196
   NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Windows IP Configuration
   Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : <<notebook>>
   Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . :
   Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
   IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
   WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
   DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : arnhem.chello.nl
Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Atheros AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 48-5D-60-5A-5B-E6
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
   IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.143(Preferred)
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
   DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 62.179.104.196
									   213.46.228.196
   NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

What can it be??

[+BudMan MVC]

Well since your on the same segment so broadcasting should not be an issue. I would assume FIREWALL as the problem. Or since I see one of these is a wireless connection - it could be a problem with your wireless not sending the broadcast traffic.

Can you ping 192.168.1.143 from the .137 box? using IP not name.

Please post the output of

net view \\192.168.1.143

from your .137 box.

There was a thread back where had sim type of issue with name resolution and accessing of wireless client over wireless. Broadcast is sent different than unicast over wireless.. Broadcast/Multicast is normally sent using the group key (Group Transient Key) - so you could have a problem with this. In the case of the other thread resetting his wireless settings cleared up the issue of the router not sending the broadcast traffic, have you tried rebooting your router? Have you tried changing your wireless from secured to open (for testing only)?

Or it could be that your wireless router is blocking access to wireless clients from wired or other wireless clients. This is common security feature of many routers - normally called something like AP Isolation or Client Isolation

example;

AP Isolation

The default value is Off. This setting isolates wireless clients so access to and from other wireless clients are stopped.

I would suggest we verify if you can ping by IP, and what happens with net view \\ipaddress

If you can ping but net view ip still says you can not find error 53, error 5 from cmd line version would mean permissions problem. Then I would fire up a sniffer on your client your trying to resolve and verify your seeing the broadcast traffic -- if not then no that would explain why your not finding the client. If you see the broadcast, I would have to assume firewall is just not allowing to send info back -- or maybe if info is being sent back for whatever reason the wired client is not getting it?

[kiddingguy]

From .137 (desktop) to .143 (notebook) I get:

System error 5 has occurred.

Access is denied.

From .143 to .137 I get:

System error 53 has occurred.

The network path was not found.

[+BudMan MVC]

Well looks like you just need to auth then to your .143 from your .137

do a net use * \\x.x.x.143\sharename /u:143computername\143computeruser password

then do a net view \\x.x.x.143

and your having an issue with finding the .143 from the .137

Can you ping these boxes? I still thinking firewall issues!!

Do a sniff on your .143 box, do you see the broadcast for the name and then answer from your .143 -- give me a second and will show you this traffic example.

[kiddingguy]

I have installed Windows on both devices without a password (just a username on admin).

Which password do I have to use?

[Mando]

Kiddingguy, are you using a WAG series of router by any chance?

I have a 120N and recently a 160N and AP isolation was disabled by default on both, other models good chance of it too.

As budman said earlier "Or it could be that your wireless router is blocking access to wireless clients from wired or other wireless clients." - Linksys units are shipped wih this set as disabled.

log into your router on 192.168.1.1 log in as admin and go to the following:-

Wireless\Advanced Wireless Setting

AP Isolation is at the top.

change to enable.

Save router settings

[kiddingguy]

My router is a WRT320N with firmware 1.0.05 installed.

AP Isolation changed to Enabled.

Cannot connect by net view commands.

[+BudMan MVC]

Ok here are some examples first me authing to box when getting error 5

Now I use dns for my name resolution - so I have a hard time trying to get it to resolve something via broadcast that is actually in my network. Would have to turn off my dns, etc..

But here is for example broadcasting for computer name

Now since your using the \\ipaddress -- there should be no name resolution involved, but what would have to happen is arp for IP first - now this could be failing and could cause the same error. Which is why I asked if you could ping

If you seeing error 53 and you can talk to that IP, then I would have to assume either there is nothing shared - or firewall is blocking it.

Can you ping the boxes -- if you can not ping, then look at arp -a, do you see the mac for the IP your trying to ping?

edit: enabled AP isolation would BLOCK traffic -- I thought you wanted to ALLOW traffic!

edit2: Blank is NOT a password, you can not auth with blank -- unless you have made a registry change to allow for that!!

edit3: Tell you what -- if you allow me to access both boxes via teamviewer, will have you sharing files in 2 shakes!!

edit4: There are standard steps used to troubleshoot any issue.

connectivity - basic arp/icmp, are services listening/open that trying to use. Firewall Blocking?

name resolution - if using name you have to be able to resolve, multiple methods can be used.

permissions/auth - if you can connect to said service, can you auth to said service.

If I had access I could scream through these in like 5 minutes. And can tell you exactly what the problem is.

[kiddingguy]

I have shared drivers, how elso could I connect from .143 tp 137 by means of Windows Explorer.

I have KIS 2012 installed, turned if off on both devices, still no net view pinging possible.

Btw, AP Iso is back to disabled.

[Mando]

Doh, thats correct it should be set as disabled. its been a long day at work, apologies I got it upside down lol :)

[+BudMan MVC]

Arrrghhh -- dude give me 5 minutes of teamviewer access and will fix this up

What do you mean you have access?

"how elso could I connect from .143 tp 137 by means of Windows Explorer."

From .143 to .137 I get:

System error 53 has occurred.

The network path was not found.

Are you meaning that you have its listed in some network browse list, ie your network list on left side of explorer?

That has NOTHING!!! To do with file sharing - that is the browsing service, again NOTHING to do with file sharing at ALL!!

This?

So what exactly does this mean?

"still no net view pinging possible"

Does this mean you can not net view but pinging works, or both that you can not ping nor new view??

if you can not ping?? Do you get mac in your arp -a output for the IPs your trying to ping?

"I have KIS 2012 installed, turned if off on both devices, "

Don't just turn it off -- UNINSTALL IT!!! KILL IT WITH FIRE AND NUKES!!! REMOVE THAT CRAP!! Download their removal tool!!

http://support.kaspersky.com/faq/?qid=208279463