Basic connectivity problem

I have two computers, one running Windows ME and the other running Windows
XP Professional.

The former connects to the Internet using a built-in dial up modem. The
latter connects to the Internet using an ADSL modem which is plugged into a
built-in ethernet adapter. Neither computer has any problem connecting to
the Internet via its chosen method.

I bought two WLAN USB adaptors of the 802.11b type, with the intention of
using one with each computer to create an ad hoc network, over which the ME
computer would be able to take advantage of the XP Professional's broadband
connection. Various documents on the Microsoft website encouraged me to do
so in the way just mentioned.

I installed the adapters and their software on each computer and was able to
establish the network with no difficulty. The signal strength of the network
is said to be 100%.

I have only one slight problem--neither computer will communicate with the
other over the network!

When I go on the ME computer to Start-Settings-Control Panel-Network and
open it, the Configuration tab tells me that the following network
components are installed: Client for Microsoft Networks; Microsoft Family
Logon; Dial-Up Adapter; NP7042 Wireless USB Adapter; IPX/SPX-compatible
Protocol-Dial-Up Adapter; IPX/SPX-compatible Protocol-NP7042 Wireless USB
Adapter; TCP/IP-.Dial-Up Adapter;TCP/IP-NP7042 Wireless USB Adapter; and
File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks. I'm also told that the
Primary Network Logon is Client for Microsoft Networks.

When I select Client for Microsoft Networks and then click Properties, I get
a General tab in which, under Network logon options, Logon and restore
network connections is selected.

When I select NP7042 Wireless USB Adapter and then click Properties, I get
the following:

Driver Type: Enhanced mode is selected
Bindings: IPX/SPX-compatible Protocol-NP7042 Wireless USB Adapter and
TCP/IP-NP7042 Wireless USB Adapter are ticked
Advanced: I get a long list of Properties and their Values which seems to
duplicate the things I've set using the software that
came with the WLAN adapters.

When I select TCP/IP-NP7042 Wireless USB Adapter and then click Properties,
I get the following:

IP Address: IP Address: 192.168.0.2 (I inserted that myself); Subnet
Mask: 255.255.255.0 (I inserted that myself); also,
Detect connection to network media is checked.
WINS Configuration: Disable WINS Resolution is selected
Gateway: Installed gateways shows only 192.168.0.1 (I inserted that myself)
DNS Configuration: Disable DNS is selected
Bindings: has ticked: Client for Microsoft Networks; File and printer
sharing for Microsoft Networks; Microsoft Family
Logon
Advanced has Allow Binding to ATM set to the value No and the Set this
protocol to the default protocol unticked
NetBIOS has the only box which can be ticked set as ticked and dimmed.

When I select File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks and Click
Properties, I get Browse Master Enabled and LM Announce Yes.

When I examine the device manager on the ME computer, I'm told the WLAN
adapter is working properly. When I run Network Diagnostics on the ME
computer, I'm told that NP7042 Wireless USB Adapter and the DefaultGateway
are both unreachable.

When I run Network Diagnostics on the XP computer, I'm told that the WLAN
adapter and its IPAddress both passed. The IP address, which I inserted
myself, is 192.168.0.1.

I have tried to ping each computer from the other one and the requests
always time out.

Perhaps there are other things I should be mentioning, but I'm too ignorant
of these matters to know what they are. All I can say is that I've been
trying to fix this myself for what seems like forever and have now reached
the despair stage.

If anyone can tell me how to get the two computers to communicate with one
another, I'd be very grateful. If that can't be done without further
information, I'll happily supply it when asked.

Thank you.

Have you got a firewall running? You have to set each computer into the
Trusted Zone of the other.


Rick


Leslie wrote:

I have two computers, one running Windows ME and the other running Windows
XP Professional.

The former connects to the Internet using a built-in dial up modem. The
latter connects to the Internet using an ADSL modem which is plugged into a
built-in ethernet adapter. Neither computer has any problem connecting to
the Internet via its chosen method.

I bought two WLAN USB adaptors of the 802.11b type, with the intention of
using one with each computer to create an ad hoc network, over which the ME
computer would be able to take advantage of the XP Professional's broadband
connection. Various documents on the Microsoft website encouraged me to do
so in the way just mentioned.

I installed the adapters and their software on each computer and was able to
establish the network with no difficulty. The signal strength of the network
is said to be 100%.

I have only one slight problem--neither computer will communicate with the
other over the network!

When I go on the ME computer to Start-Settings-Control Panel-Network and
open it, the Configuration tab tells me that the following network
components are installed: Client for Microsoft Networks; Microsoft Family
Logon; Dial-Up Adapter; NP7042 Wireless USB Adapter; IPX/SPX-compatible
Protocol-Dial-Up Adapter; IPX/SPX-compatible Protocol-NP7042 Wireless USB
Adapter; TCP/IP-.Dial-Up Adapter;TCP/IP-NP7042 Wireless USB Adapter; and
File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks. I'm also told that the
Primary Network Logon is Client for Microsoft Networks.

When I select Client for Microsoft Networks and then click Properties, I get
a General tab in which, under Network logon options, Logon and restore
network connections is selected.

When I select NP7042 Wireless USB Adapter and then click Properties, I get
the following:

Driver Type: Enhanced mode is selected
Bindings: IPX/SPX-compatible Protocol-NP7042 Wireless USB Adapter and
TCP/IP-NP7042 Wireless USB Adapter are ticked
Advanced: I get a long list of Properties and their Values which seems to
duplicate the things I've set using the software that
came with the WLAN adapters.

When I select TCP/IP-NP7042 Wireless USB Adapter and then click Properties,
I get the following:

IP Address: IP Address: 192.168.0.2 (I inserted that myself); Subnet
Mask: 255.255.255.0 (I inserted that myself); also,
Detect connection to network media is checked.
WINS Configuration: Disable WINS Resolution is selected
Gateway: Installed gateways shows only 192.168.0.1 (I inserted that myself)
DNS Configuration: Disable DNS is selected
Bindings: has ticked: Client for Microsoft Networks; File and printer
sharing for Microsoft Networks; Microsoft Family
Logon
Advanced has Allow Binding to ATM set to the value No and the Set this
protocol to the default protocol unticked
NetBIOS has the only box which can be ticked set as ticked and dimmed.

When I select File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks and Click
Properties, I get Browse Master Enabled and LM Announce Yes.

When I examine the device manager on the ME computer, I'm told the WLAN
adapter is working properly. When I run Network Diagnostics on the ME
computer, I'm told that NP7042 Wireless USB Adapter and the DefaultGateway
are both unreachable.

When I run Network Diagnostics on the XP computer, I'm told that the WLAN
adapter and its IPAddress both passed. The IP address, which I inserted
myself, is 192.168.0.1.

I have tried to ping each computer from the other one and the requests
always time out.

Perhaps there are other things I should be mentioning, but I'm too ignorant
of these matters to know what they are. All I can say is that I've been
trying to fix this myself for what seems like forever and have now reached
the despair stage.

If anyone can tell me how to get the two computers to communicate with one
another, I'd be very grateful. If that can't be done without further
information, I'll happily supply it when asked.

Thank you.