Rather then type this all out have a look here:

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;304040

thank you techniner, but i have gone through all the microsoft helps and been through a ton of forums. i just can't find why its not working.

Then it has to be permissions issue.

I had a similar problem. Worked on it for two weeks. Was tearing my hair out. Finally fixed it. I'm not a computer whiz but this is what seems to have done the trick.

I had the computer without the router setting wrong ...
only one computer can have server setting enabled
go to network places
view network connections
right click on the various connections go to advanced tab and make sure the computer/s without the router don't have
"allow other network users to connect throught this computer's internet connection" checked


Then I reset tcp/ip stack and winsock with the following command (go to start, run then enter the command). I did this on the computer with the router but I don't see why it would hurt anything to do it on the other computer/s if it doesn't fix the problem.


run command to enter for the winsock:
netsh winsock reset


run command to enter for the tcp stack:
netsh int ip reset c:\resetlog.txt


Now I can see each computer in the workgroup and share files and printers between them. Got all those error messages .... network path not found ... may not have permission etc. This fixed it all. Hopefully it will help others.

if it's a winsock problem, you should take the advice above. otherwise, simply make sure that
all computers are in the same workgroup,
all computers have the same users protected by the same passwords
to speed things up, use static LAN IPs, and enter those into the hosts file.

its easier to use share level instead of user level security as XP home does not support the creation of user level shares and its client is crippled

I have found a universal solution for those who are using two more than two pcs with xp home or xp professional or any windows OS, and are not able to share files over lan, for printer sharing on lan, i am working on another solution, which i will will post later.
For this solution to work on your lan, these are the requirements :
1)you are able to ping all the pc's/nodes successfully.
2)you are able to ping each pc/node with their computer name as well and its successfull
3)you are able to see all the computers in the VIEW WORKGROUP COMPUTERS option, in the explorer but not able to see their shares.
4) you have put all the pc's under same workgroup.

Now let me give you the best most successfull method, without installing any software and also without using windows as well. Microsoft is a good OS but not as good as DOS..hahaha.
yes DOS will come to your help at these times.
The famous NET USE command will be used to mount/connect to any share on the lan on any pc which is on the same workgroup.
First, choose any directory you want to share and give its some name for the share.I am not going into these elementary things,i hope you know it how to enable-share any file or a directory over lan,or ask your administrator.
The go to any pc and type this command:
NET USE
----------
Once you type this command you will be able to see all the computers with their names listed in this service.
Then according to this example:
NET USE h: \\smartpc\pc_h
Command successfull
------------------
I will explain this command, its pretty simple.
Here NET USE is the normal command, H: means the shared directory will have a local drive named H:, make sure you dont have H: already assigned to your pc to any peripheral or on the HDD, \\smartpc means the computer name which was actually on my lan, and \\smartpc\pc_h where pc_h is for the H: drive partition on my other pc, i acutally shared the hole drive on that pc.
After this, you can go to My Computer on the pc where you executed the NET USE command, you will be surprised to see a new icon which will show the pc name and the shared resource, and use it just like any other local folder.
No more explanations, try other stuff on your own.
I own a website call www.bookprofit.com and currently a technical analyst in stock market, earlier i was a sysadmin in Linux, now doing a fulltime business in stocks.

take care
mohit thapar
(from india)

hello everyone
i have a big problem. my system give error "check the spelling of the name .otherwise there might be a problem with your network. to try to identity and resolve network problems.

give me solutions.thanks in advance.