for people having trouble setting up networks.
Workgroup network Troubleshooting:
Checking connectivity:
If you can't ping either machine at all then here are a few things to check:
1. make sure that both the cards are set to the same network speed. (i.e 10/100mbp or "auto")
2. make sure your using the proper cables refer to the hardware guide to see what cables to use.
3. make sure all nic's, cables, hub's/switches/router's are working.
4. if you can't ping 127.0.0.1 then make sure that all the tcp\ip settings are correct.
5. that all machines are on the same subnet.
Checking installed components:
1.Check to make sure the following network components are installed and enabled.
Client for MS network.
File & printer sharing.
Tcp/Ip
From Tcp\ip>> properties>> Advance>> Wins tab enable "netbios over Tcp/ip".
2.Make sure all computers are in the same Workgroup.
3.Setup common user accounts & passwords on all workstations.
4. On XP machines, make sure the firewall is turned off, also make sure that you don't have any other firewalls setup that could be blocking network traffic.
5.Some XP users report that after connecting their machine to a corporate network and then connecting it back to their home network causes the Node -Type to be changed.
In this case type ifconfig/all and check node type make sure its not peer to peer.
If it is then edit this reg key to change it to either broadcast, unknown, or mixed.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVIC ES\NETBT\PARAMETERS The values are:
1= broadcast
2 = Peer-to_Peer,
4 = Mixed,
8 = Hybrid.
Most everything else will Unknown.
6.Check to make sure file and print and Client for MS is bound to the correct protocol.
For XP and w2k go to networking properties>> ADVANCE>> ADVANCE SETTINGS select the interface from the list and make sure file and print & client for MS is checked in the bottom box for the protocol you are using.
For win 98 go to networking properties select the protocol click the properties button,
then select the binding tab and make sure client for MS and file and print are checked.
7.In some cases you may have everything setup correctly but the computers don't show up in network neighborhood, or you can't find network resources. Also you will not be able to access the entire network icon.
In windows 98 you will get a message "Unable to browse the network".
In XP you will notice that you dont have a MY network Places icon in the start menu.
One reason could be a Master Browser issue.
To resolve this disable master browser on all computers except one preferably an XP or w2k then restart all, this should fix this problem.
See Tips section (tip #001) for instructions on how to do this.
Refer to "Guide to setting up workgoup Network"
Sharing problems in a w2k/9X network can be sloved by , right clicknig on My Network Places, on the w2k machine, select Properties, double click on the Local Area Connection , click the Properties tab, select TCP/IP and click the Properties button. Click the Advanced button and select the WINS tab. Select Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP.
hope this helps
please refer to
www.pctechnicians.ca for more help
network troubleshooting 
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