How to make Domain pc see Workgroup network?

[Mark42]

My home network was defined using Network Setup Wizard on Win XP Pro and uses a Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router.

I have a Laptop PC from work that normally works through VPN or network cable in the office, and I also got it to recognize the home wireless network for internet connection at home.

The issue I have is this:

- The laptop PC can't see any of the other PC's when at home, and the other (workgroup) PC's can't see it. (it is NOT using VPN for internet connection)

- I tried using the NET USE command to attach a workgroup PC shared directory as a drive but I get errors.

How do I get the laptop to be recognized by the home workgroup PC's and vice versa?

I was told the problem is becuase the laptop is part of a domain, the the home PC's are part of a workgroup. I was told to use the NET USE command to access a shared directory.

Is this possable?

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: How to make Domain pc see Workgroup network?

From a command prompt(not Start/Run), net use \\computername\sharename /user:username password

where computername\sharename is the name of the computer at home that houses the sharepoint, username is a valid username on THAT computer, and password is the password of the valid username.

For additional help, enter net help user from a command prompt.

 

[i386]

Re: How to make Domain pc see Workgroup network?

^^ Close...

You need to put 2 slashes so it's \\computername

You can't always rely on "My Network Places" so I just call 'em up by name. I just do Start -> Run -> \\computername <enter>

( Start, Run, whack whack computername, <enter> )

Enter the username/password if prompted. Then a window will come up showing all the shares on that computer. You can just right-click to map the drives if you want to. Nothing wrong with net use (with correct syntax), but that's how I do it.

If that doesn't work, file and print sharing might not be enabled on the computer you're connecting to or firewall software could be blocking it.

Edit: He didn't tell you wrong. The forum just stripped out the other slash. I had to switch mine from BBCode to Plain to display the characters properly.

 

[Mark42]

Re: How to make Domain pc see Workgroup network?

OK, so far I have limited success. I have connected a drive to one workgroup PC using a username that has no password.

When I try to assign a drive letter to the second PC, I am getting error 53 "network path was not found". or 59 "an unexpected network error occurred" depending on what I enter for password.

 

[i386]

Re: How to make Domain pc see Workgroup network?

Hold off on mapping a drive for a minute. Are you able to authenticate and look inside the shared folders?

 

[Mark42]

Re: How to make Domain pc see Workgroup network?

Yes, I can see the files in the shared folders and open photos and video on PC named REMOTE1. But I can't do the same on a computer named MAIN. All users on MAIN have passwords. The user I connected to on REMOTE1 does not have a password.

So a net use worked for REMOTE1\Shareddocs for a user with no password worked. But a net use for MAIN with a user that has password does not work.

I'm wondering if its has to do with the setup of MAIN?

 

[i386]

Re: How to make Domain pc see Workgroup network?

I'm wondering if its has to do with the setup of MAIN?

Probably. What happens when you do start -> run -> \\MAIN <enter>?

Does it give an error or ask for username/password?

If it asks for a username and password, good. For the username, type MAIN\username and enter the password. Substitute username for a known account on the computer named "MAIN".

For example:

MAIN\owner
******

 

[Mark42]

Re: How to make Domain pc see Workgroup network?

I'll give it a try tonight.

 

[tommays]

Re: How to make Domain pc see Workgroup network?

Mark

With in my home network things like the win XP firewall make it hard for a computer to be seen BUT it will be able to find the network printer and use it


In general i have found that after setting it up all the computers finding each other is NOT instant ? but has allways happened if i run the wizard at each one and use the common names and such

Tommays

 

[Mark42]

Re: How to make Domain pc see Workgroup network?

Its working! Woo Hoo!

The problem was this:

I was using the wrong path name in the NET Use command on the laptop. I was using \\MAIN\SharedDocs because that is what showed in "My Network Places" on MAIN when I moused over the file icon. I finally looked in properties and realized the target was actually \\MAIN\Documents. So entering \\MAIN\Documents in the net use command worked.

Now why the shared folders ended up with different names (Documents vs SharedDocs) on these two PC's is beyond me, especially because I loaded the same Windows XP Pro CD on both machines, so they should be identical in structure names. But they are not. I have found other differences in directory names.

Thanks for everyones input. You really helped me find the solution sooner.

BTW, I am able to play MP3 files smoothly over the wireless G lan on the laptop. AVI and DVI files are not compresses like MP2 and MP3 files and play very jerky.

So I guess I'm going to have to compress all the family video (DVI format) to MP3 to play on the D-link Digital Media Player.

Also going to look into some high end video cards with remote that guys at work told me about.

 

[i386]

Re: How to make Domain pc see Workgroup network?

Congrats! Glad it's working.

"SharedDocs" is automagically named that if you run through the network setup wizard.

 

[Xcusme]

Re: How to make Domain pc see Workgroup network?

You might find it a bit easier to turn off Simple File Sharing too. Run Windows Explorer. At top menus, click Tools, Folder Options, View....at the bottom of the list,uncheck Simple File Sharing.

You will now be able to share folders by user login. Setting up user accounts on your machine will allow you to control who has access to what. You can restrict certain users from seeing the contents of certain shared folders and resources etc.

 

[Mark42]

Re: How to make Domain pc see Workgroup network?

One last issue. How do I see/share files on the laptop with the PC's?

I tried net use from PC to see laptop but it didn't work.

I know the IP of the laptop is 192.168.1.103

Does it work differently from PC to laptop with this configuration?

 

[Xcusme]

Re: How to make Domain pc see Workgroup network?

Be sure file and print sharing is turned on. On laptop,run Windows Explorer, right click on a folder you want to share and pick Sharing from menu. Click on Share this folder, click Apply.

 

[Mark42]

Re: How to make Domain pc see Workgroup network?

The problem the PC has is the full name of the Laptop gets an error in the net use command. The laptop has a name like rrrrrrpub111111.AA.AD.XXX.COM (I get this from the Control Panel/Systems/Computer Name) and that just doesn't fly in a net use command.

I changed the name a little to protect my job d

 

[i386]

Re: How to make Domain pc see Workgroup network?

Only use the first part of the name. Stop at the first dot. The rest is the context of your Active Directory name on your corporate network. So per your example, just use rrrrrrpub111111

Since you're joined to domain (correct?) I think the simple file sharing won't be an option. You'll need to right-click and specifically share and resource (drive/folder/printer) you want to share.

Remember, once back at work others might have access to your share so either undo or set permissions accordingly. Your network administrator(s) have access to everything regardless.

\\your_puter\c$