[jhb] Re: Network Mystery

  • From: Gerry Winskill <gwinsk@xxxxxxx>
  • To: jhb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Mon, 05 Apr 2010 14:23:58 +0100

Paul,

Now sorted; oddly.

Each of my three machines has on its desktop a folder I've called SHAREDOCSW7. If I put a file into the one on this machine, then it also appears in the one on my FSX machine, and vice versa. No sign of it in the sibling folder on the laptop. Put a file into the laptop's version of the folder and neither of the other two sees it.

Fiddling on the laptop, just, I opened the folder. Now't there. If I click on the slot containing the address of the open but empty folder, below it appears a folder of similar name, with Webmach as its home. Webmach is the name of this PC. Click on that and the contents now pop up in the Laptop's previously empty version. Move a file from the laptop into its own version of the folder and it appears in the folders on the other two machines.

Since that gets me where I want to be, I'm satisfied.

Each time I open the laptop's version I need to go through the same, brief, routine.

Seemples!

Gerry Winskill

Paul Reynolds wrote:
Assuming you know how to share a folder, and rather than re-invent the
wheel,
see http://maximumpcguides.com/windows-vista/map-a-shared-folder/

NOTE: Some people find Vista doesn't map the other drive on an XP machine
(this could be Frank T's problem) so a MS update is needed on the XP
machine.

See http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=922120

Which includes a link for the XP hotfix

Paul

-----Original Message-----
From: jhb-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:jhb-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Gerry Winskill
Sent: 05 April 2010 11:11
To: jhb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [jhb] Re: Network Mystery

Paul,

If you have an idiot's guide to mapping, I'm definitely qualified to Beta test it!

Gerry Winskill

Paul Reynolds wrote:
What's going on? Network security. When there is no network activity for a while either the router of any of the PC's may disconnect the network resources in line with its own network security policies - it's a bit like saying 'The XP user isn't doing anything and it seems they forgot to disconnect so just to be on the safe side I'll disconnect them'. Consequently, when you go to check your network places on the Vista machine it only sees the active links - its own shared resources and the router. As soon as you go to the Network and Sharing Centre you are then asking Vista to check the network for any connections this sends a signal to the router asking for the info on which connections are active, so both Vista and the router check each link against its security settings and re-establishes contact with those that meet its approval hence they show up in My Network Places again.

One solution is to map to a shared folder on your Athlon from your vista machine. This will create a virtual drive on the Vista machine which Vista should try to keep active so it never disappears.

Paul

*From:* jhb-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:jhb-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] *On Behalf Of *Frank Turley
*Sent:* 04 April 2010 19:57
*To:* JHB List
*Subject:* [jhb] Network Mystery

I thought I would consult the gurus on this list to explain something that has me baffled.

I run a small network here, connected via a Netgear router which connects all machines to each other and to the internet. I use my old Athlon machine running XP Home for e-mail and downloads, and my Vista 32 bit machine for FSX.

When I download a file for FSX I save it on my Athlon machine, to a shared directory. From my Vista machine I access the appropriate folder on the Athlon and copy the file across to the Vista machine. All makes sense so far.

Now for the mystery. Normally, when I select Network from my Vista menu, it brings up a folder, and listed in the folder are my machines plus the router. Sometimes, however, it doesn't seem to find the other machines, I just see the router listed. What makes it more mysterious, is that if I then select Network and Sharing Centre form the network screen, and then click on View Full Map, I can then see the other machines, so Vista is obviously detecting their existence. Anyone seen anything like this? Is there a cure?

Frank T.





Other related posts: