[newskin0318]

The Basics: 6 work-stations, all xp home, basic file sharing, all networked.

Try to add a laptop. Here is what i've done:

Connected the laptop hardwire ethernet, Go to Start - Network Connections - Setup small office or home network - Ran the wizard as per normal.

Go into all laptop files I want shared - sharing and security - share the folders.

Right click on my computer, make sure name is correct, and make sure it is added to the proper workgroup. All correct.

Restart.

After the re-start the laptop shows up in the network neighborhood on all of my machines, however I cannot access it. I get an error message saying:

//laptop is not accessible. You may not have permission to use these resources. Contact your network administrator..

Blah, Blah, Blah.

When I got onto the laptop and try to see it's workgroup computers I get the same error message.

Can somebody tell me what I am doing wrong? Why Can't I get this silly thing onto a very basic network?

[Emrys88]

Right.
I assume they have firewalls?
If so add the Ip address of all the computer you want to the firewall.
For Example:
Zonealarm > Open Zonealarm>Firewall>Add>Ip address>Fill in the details
To find out Ip address:
Start>Run>Cmd>ipconfig

Each PC/Laptop will need the Ip addresses of the other:
Example:
PC1:192.168.12.1
PC2:192.168.12.2
PC3:192.168.12.3
Laptop:192.168.12.4
PC5:192.168.12.5
PC6:192.168.12.6

PC1, would need 192.168.12.2, 192.168.12.3, 192.168.12.4, 192.168.12.5, 192.168.12.6 on it's firewall

PC2, would need 192.168.12.1, 192.168.12.3, 192.168.12.4, 192.168.12.5, 192.168.12.6

So on so forth.

Let me know if this helps.

Dan