XP to XP File Transfers Over Network Slow


Recommended Posts

I have 2 XP Pro machines at home, and 1 Win98SE, all networked with LinkSys 10/100 cards on a LinkSys 10/100 switch. (Yes, I have tried other brands of equipment but the problem persists). I can transfer files to and from each of the XP machines to the Win98SE machine just fine, but when I try to transfer files between the 2 XP machines, I get extremely slow response, and finally a not responding error. Is anyone else having this problem?

Thanx!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Do you actually manage to open a share on the other XP machine? Does it give you the "not responding" error while you're transfering a file? Do you have any firewalls set up, including the built in one? Are you sure they're in the same workgroup?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by Vlad

Do you actually manage to open a share on the other XP machine? Does it give you the "not responding" error while you're transfering a file? Do you have any firewalls set up, including the built in one? Are you sure they're in the same workgroup?

Yes, I can open the share on the other XP machine, and yes the not responding error occurs during the transfer. It also crashes explorer on the sending machine if you close the explorer window, it comes back after several seconds though. I have a firewall set up only on my dial-up connection, not the network, and yes they are all in the same workgroup. Thanks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by Geronimo

as a test try connecting to the other XP box by ip address instead of thru network n. or the UNC. See if that produces the same result.

As a test of what? I can connect via either method, but the problem is files transfers. Even if I could connect via IP, it wouldn't solve my problem. Thanks for your comment though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We all assume your using TCP/IP since it is pretty much a consitent standard on all networks. Since Geronimo points out some protocol tests, they seem appropriate to me also. Connecting by UNC or PC name vs xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx can show you the difference in speeds between NetBIOS and non-NetBIOS access. Since your XP PC's can communicate without NetBIOS, but are having problems, you probably have incorrect DNS settings on these two PC's.

For networking to work faster, you need to ensure certain "client" services on the XP Pro PC's are not kicking in. XP and 2000 use and check for extra authentication, certificates, authorities and encryption etc and also perform some network replication in the absence of backup domain controllers and browser masters. I don't see any reason why the two XP PC's shouldn't communicate properly in what you describe, but I might deliberately change each PC (one at a time) to a different WORKGROUP name, then reboot and try the transfers (see what happens), then change the PC back to the original workgroup name and retry connection/speed tests. Make sure each XP PC is connected to the network switch when you reboot, that way each PC can see the other and properly elect the browser master.

Make sure you don't have any DNS settings unless you are using ICS, and make sure you don't use any WINS settings either (without a WINS server). If you use ICS, your DNS settings must be right.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sorry for not replying earlier, but busy at work. anyways, the reason to test to see if the transfers work better is to see if you are having lookup problems. WINS, DNS, or netbios. I could not tell if you did the test or not. But if you did, it might have something to do with the authentication. Also have you checked your event log on both machines after the failure to transfer. You might be able to gleam some info from there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.