Can't see other PC's on network

[shivinder]

I have recently install a new computer and have one other pc and a laptop. There are no firewalls and not even Windows Firewall in use. I am able to ping each PC but cannot see or connect to their hard drives. All is shared and running XP Pro on 2 desktops and home on laptop. Is there something to do with Netbios? Thanks.

[Russell]

It will be good if they are on the same workgroup. It is not the best practice to share a hard drive. The more proper thing to do is share a folder like C:\share. It is not required, just a better practice for security purposes. You also dont have to delete the hard drive share, but make C:\share and share it. You can see if that shows on the network neighborhood. Did you check if Simple file sharing is turned on or off on all of them and have you actually Share anything out?

[shivinder]

I didnt need the netbios, usually, I share 4 pcs in the house via firewalls and have no problems. The STD Windows XP network loads fine but I was wondering whether you ever had any share working?

[Reegan]

You dont have to do anything with Netbios, just check if all the systems are in Workgroup and then you can go to My Network places and then click on Entire Networks, then click on Microsoft Windows network, then click on Workgroup and there you will find the 4 pcs.

[John John (MVP)]

"My Network Places" (Computers Near Me, Network Neighborhood) relies on
the Browser service, the Browser uses NetBIOS to build its Browse List,
without NetBIOS the Browser service can't gather a browse list and
without a Browse List there are no "Network Places".

[Cavemanstyle1908]

If you're using Windows XP, and you try to browse Network Neighborhood for other computers on the network, but you get the "Don't have access" error, try this, it worked for me.

Go to "Start", select "Settings", then select Network Connections.

Double click "Network Setup Wizard" and answer all the questions to your preference, then finish.

Something get's messed up and this wizard sets things back to normal. You should be able to browse all the computers on your network now.

If this doesn't work.. sorry.