Cannot see netowrk shares

[Xistic]

I just upgraded my machine and *finally* reinstalled XP with nLite.

My installation cannot see shares on my network. I can ping and otherwise communicate with the machines that have the shares. The machines with the shares have not been touched before, during, or after the reinstall.

If I run \\(computer with share name) it comes back immediately that it cannot find the machine. Usually there is a pause while it searches the network, but it's not even doing that.

Also of note is that I can create a share on the upgraded machine and run \\(upgraded computer name) it will open up the computer with the share name, but then if I try to open the share (from the same computer that it lives on) I get this:

"\\(upgraded computer name)\(share name) is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the admin (blah blah blah). The network location cannot be reached. (Some other crap about using Windows help.)"

I've attached the last (only) session info. Did I get over zealous and remove something needed to use file and printer shares on the network? If so, can I fix it without another reinstall?

LAST_SESSION.INI

[johnhc]

Xistic, I think you may need NetBT (TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper.) Please go into your Services manager (right click My Computer, click Manage, then Services) and set it to Automatic and then click Start. While you are here, make sure the Server service is Started. Then see if you can see the computers on your network. Also you need to remove the tweak "Explorer-Launch folder windows in a separate process." This tweak exposes a Windows bug. To see if it is having any affect now, go into Folder Options (Control Panel) and find this option and uncheck it. Please make sure to always start with a fresh copy of your CD files/folders, do all your work in one nLite session and integrate only one SP. Please report when you have a solution, so others can benefit. Enjoy, John.

[Xistic]

Xistic, I think you may need NetBT (TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper.) Please go into your Services manager (right click My Computer, click Manage, then Services) and set it to Automatic and then click Start.

I tried that and this is what I got:

"Could not start the TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper service on Local Computer.

Error 1068: The dependency service or group failed to start."

I looked in the logs and found this:

The TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper service depends on the NetBios over Tcpip service which failed to start because of the following error:

The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or because it has no enabled devices associated with it.

Did something else that I axed break this?

While you are here, make sure the Server service is Started. Then see if you can see the computers on your network. Also you need to remove the tweak "Explorer-Launch folder windows in a separate process." This tweak exposes a Windows bug.

Done and done.

Please make sure to always start with a fresh copy of your CD files/folders, do all your work in one nLite session and integrate only one SP. Please report when you have a solution, so others can benefit.

I did (and always will) start with a fresh CD copy and I only integrated SP2.

[Xistic]

After some googling I found this out that the failing service is in the device manager.

I opened the device manager and under view checked "View hidden devices"

Under Non-Plug and Play Drivers opened the properties for NetBios over Tcpip and set startup type to Automatic.

After that TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper server started without issue and I can see shares on the network. Huzzah.

I don't know what I did when setting up my install to break this.

[johnhc]

Xistic, go to Services manager again and set Net Logon to manual and Start it. Did you reboot? If this still fails, open Network Connections (Start) and right click the adapter you are using, then click Properties. In the pull down list select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and click properties. This page should say Obtain IP and DNS addresses Automatically. Click Advanced, then the WINS tab. LMHOSTS Lookup should be checked and the NetBIOS Settings should be Default or Enabled - OK out. Disable then enable your connection (right click your adapter.). You can post some screen shots if your still have no joy. Can you get an Internet connection? Good luck, John.

[Xistic]

Xistic, go to Services manager again and set Net Logon to manual and Start it. Did you reboot? If this still fails, open Network Connections (Start) and right click the adapter you are using, then click Properties. In the pull down list select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and click properties. This page should say Obtain IP and DNS addresses Automatically. Click Advanced, then the WINS tab. LMHOSTS Lookup should be checked and the NetBIOS Settings should be Default or Enabled - OK out. Disable then enable your connection (right click your adapter.). You can post some screen shots if your still have no joy. Can you get an Internet connection? Good luck, John.

I did get it fixed, (See my previous post) but I had tried this suggestion already and it did not help. Enabling the netbios over tcpip driver hidden in the device manager was the fix, ultimately.

Thanks for the help.

[johnhc]

Xistic, I am glad you are running. I, too, don't know what caused your problem. Perhaps disabling NetBT caused this problem also. Thanks for reporting your result and if your rerun nLite, not disabling NetBT, please let us know if your problem does not recur. Thanks, John.