Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windows.networking.wireless (More info?)

Hi all ... I am running Win XP SP2 on a Dell Inspiron 1150. I have had
nothing but trouble with my wireless network connection since using SP2. I
use a Wireless Lynksys Router configured with a certain SSID, WEP encryption,
etc. It is configured for DHCP. well, after I configured my laptop for a
certain workgroup and with all the same encryption junk, I can not see anyone
on the network. I can not ping others or myself. When I go to My Network
Places and then to view my workgroups... after a pause I get the following
error:

"<workgroup name> is not accessible. You might not have permission to use
this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out
if you have access permissions.

The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available."

On the other hand, I can access the Internet and I can see my Router over
the wireless laptop.

It sounds like a workgroup name error, perhaps? Any ideas would be
appreciated.

-Bill

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windows.networking.wireless (More info?)

www.careyholzman.com/net1htm

Carey

"WJPC" <WJPC@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:5A2D4134-CDD3-4FE5-BCAD-CD73D872E104@microsoft.com...
> Hi all ... I am running Win XP SP2 on a Dell Inspiron 1150. I have had
> nothing but trouble with my wireless network connection since using SP2.
> I
> use a Wireless Lynksys Router configured with a certain SSID, WEP
> encryption,
> etc. It is configured for DHCP. well, after I configured my laptop for a
> certain workgroup and with all the same encryption junk, I can not see
> anyone
> on the network. I can not ping others or myself. When I go to My Network
> Places and then to view my workgroups... after a pause I get the following
> error:
>
> "<workgroup name> is not accessible. You might not have permission to use
> this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find
> out
> if you have access permissions.
>
> The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available."
>
> On the other hand, I can access the Internet and I can see my Router over
> the wireless laptop.
>
> It sounds like a workgroup name error, perhaps? Any ideas would be
> appreciated.
>
> -Bill

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windows.networking.wireless (More info?)

On Sat, 25 Dec 2004 12:01:01 -0800, "WJPC" <WJPC@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote:

>Hi all ... I am running Win XP SP2 on a Dell Inspiron 1150. I have had
>nothing but trouble with my wireless network connection since using SP2. I
>use a Wireless Lynksys Router configured with a certain SSID, WEP encryption,
>etc. It is configured for DHCP. well, after I configured my laptop for a
>certain workgroup and with all the same encryption junk, I can not see anyone
>on the network. I can not ping others or myself. When I go to My Network
>Places and then to view my workgroups... after a pause I get the following
>error:
>
>"<workgroup name> is not accessible. You might not have permission to use
>this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out
>if you have access permissions.
>
>The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available."
>
>On the other hand, I can access the Internet and I can see my Router over
>the wireless laptop.
>
>It sounds like a workgroup name error, perhaps? Any ideas would be
>appreciated.
>
>-Bill

Bill,

I'd start by looking for a browser problem (I'm not talking about Internet
Explorer here).

You need at least one browser running in each workgroup.

Do any of the computers have a software firewall (ICF / WF, or third party)? If
so, you need to configure them for file sharing. Firewall configurations are a
very common cause of (network) browser, and file sharing, problems.

The Microsoft Browstat program will show us what browsers (I'm not talking about
Internet Explorer here) you have in your domain / workgroup, at any time.
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188305

You can download Browstat from either:
<http://www.dynawell.com/reskit/microsoft/win2000/browstat.zip>
<http://rescomp.stanford.edu/staff/manual/rcc/tools/browstat.zip>

Browstat is very small (40K), and needs no install. Just unzip the downloaded
file, copy browstat.exe to any folder in the Path, and run it from a command
window, by "browstat status". Make sure all computers give the same result.

For more information about the browser subsystem (very intricate), see:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188001
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188305
<http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winntas/deploy/prodspecs/ntbrowse.mspx>

The browser needs anonymous access to all computers (it has to work when nobody
logged in). Look at registry key [HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa],
value restrictanonymous.
<http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/en-us/default.asp?url=/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/en-us/regentry/46688.asp>
<http://www.jsifaq.com/subf/tip2600/rh2625.htm>
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=246261
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=296403

The above articles refer to Windows 2000. Remember WinXP is NT V5.1, and Win2K
is NT V5.0.

Have you used the Registry Editor before? If not, it's a scary tool, but it's
pretty simple once you get used to it. Here are a couple articles that might
help:
<http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/using/productdoc/en/default.asp?url=/windowsxp/home/using/productdoc/en/tools_regeditors.asp>
<http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/registry>

Just remember to backup the key (create a registry patch) for
[HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa] before making any changes, if
appropriate.

From the Annoyances article:
You can create a Registry patch by opening the Registry Editor, selecting a
branch, and choosing Export from the File menu. Then, specify a filename, and
press OK. You can then view the Registry patch file by opening it in Notepad
(right-click on it and select Edit). Again, just double-click on a Registry
patch file (or use Import in the Registry Editor's File menu) to apply it to the
registry.

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windows.networking.wireless (More info?)

see the help pages on here:

http://www.ezlan.net/

mike

"WJPC" <WJPC@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:5A2D4134-CDD3-4FE5-BCAD-CD73D872E104@microsoft.com...
> Hi all ... I am running Win XP SP2 on a Dell Inspiron 1150. I have had
> nothing but trouble with my wireless network connection since using SP2.
I
> use a Wireless Lynksys Router configured with a certain SSID, WEP
encryption,
> etc. It is configured for DHCP. well, after I configured my laptop for a
> certain workgroup and with all the same encryption junk, I can not see
anyone
> on the network. I can not ping others or myself. When I go to My Network
> Places and then to view my workgroups... after a pause I get the following
> error:
>
> "<workgroup name> is not accessible. You might not have permission to use
> this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find
out
> if you have access permissions.
>
> The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available."
>
> On the other hand, I can access the Internet and I can see my Router over
> the wireless laptop.
>
> It sounds like a workgroup name error, perhaps? Any ideas would be
> appreciated.
>
> -Bill

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windows.networking.wireless (More info?)

Thanks --- I uninstalled Norton Internet Security and wola --- there are all
my network things I had been missing. Thank you!!! I am however gettin
hammered with popups!!!!

-Bill

"WJPC" wrote:

> Hi all ... I am running Win XP SP2 on a Dell Inspiron 1150. I have had
> nothing but trouble with my wireless network connection since using SP2. I
> use a Wireless Lynksys Router configured with a certain SSID, WEP encryption,
> etc. It is configured for DHCP. well, after I configured my laptop for a
> certain workgroup and with all the same encryption junk, I can not see anyone
> on the network. I can not ping others or myself. When I go to My Network
> Places and then to view my workgroups... after a pause I get the following
> error:
>
> "<workgroup name> is not accessible. You might not have permission to use
> this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out
> if you have access permissions.
>
> The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available."
>
> On the other hand, I can access the Internet and I can see my Router over
> the wireless laptop.
>
> It sounds like a workgroup name error, perhaps? Any ideas would be
> appreciated.
>
> -Bill

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windows.networking.wireless (More info?)

You were always getting hammered with pop-ups, but you chose to blind
yourself to them using pop-up blocker software.

If you sweep dirt under a rug, you no longer see the dirt, but it's still
there.

The proper solution to PREVENT pop-ups (and not simply hide/block them) is
to run anti-spyware software.

Read all about it here:
http://tinyurl.com/5so4d

Carey

"WJPC" <WJPC@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:BE37354D-E854-4B10-B0BD-F19CBFAE6238@microsoft.com...
> Thanks --- I uninstalled Norton Internet Security and wola --- there are
> all
> my network things I had been missing. Thank you!!! I am however gettin
> hammered with popups!!!!
>
> -Bill
>
> "WJPC" wrote:
>
>> Hi all ... I am running Win XP SP2 on a Dell Inspiron 1150. I have had
>> nothing but trouble with my wireless network connection since using SP2.
>> I
>> use a Wireless Lynksys Router configured with a certain SSID, WEP
>> encryption,
>> etc. It is configured for DHCP. well, after I configured my laptop for
>> a
>> certain workgroup and with all the same encryption junk, I can not see
>> anyone
>> on the network. I can not ping others or myself. When I go to My
>> Network
>> Places and then to view my workgroups... after a pause I get the
>> following
>> error:
>>
>> "<workgroup name> is not accessible. You might not have permission to
>> use
>> this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find
>> out
>> if you have access permissions.
>>
>> The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available."
>>
>> On the other hand, I can access the Internet and I can see my Router over
>> the wireless laptop.
>>
>> It sounds like a workgroup name error, perhaps? Any ideas would be
>> appreciated.
>>
>> -Bill

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windows.networking.wireless (More info?)

On Sat, 25 Dec 2004 14:49:05 -0800, "WJPC" <WJPC@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote:

>Thanks --- I uninstalled Norton Internet Security and wola --- there are all
>my network things I had been missing. Thank you!!! I am however gettin
>hammered with popups!!!!
>
>-Bill

Bill,

Un installing NIS (NPF) is good for a diagnostic procedure. But if you have a
wireless LAN, leaving it that way will give you nothing but trouble. Please get
your WLAN working with NPF enabled and properly configured.

Here's a story about somebody's very stupid wireless neighbor. Don't expect all
wireless neighbors to be this stupid.
<http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2003/11/22/264890.html>.

The point is, you need to protect a wireless LAN with more precautions than just
the NAT firewall.

Change the router management password, and disable remote (WAN) management.

Enable WEP / WPA. Use non-trivial (non-guessable) values for each. (No "My dog
has fleas" ).

Enable MAC filtering.

Change the subnet of your LAN - don't use the default.

Disable DHCP, and assign an address to each computer manually.

Install a software firewall on every computer connected to a wireless LAN. Put
manually assigned ip addresses in the Local (highly trusted) Zone. Open the
firewall for file sharing, only in the Local Zone.

Don't disable SSID broadcast - some configurations require the SSID broadcast.
But change the SSID itself - to something that doesn't identify you, or the
equipment.

Enable the router activity log. Examine it regularly. Know what each
connection listed represents - you? a neighbor?.

Use non-trivial accounts and passwords on every computer connected to a wireless
LAN. Disable or delete Guest userid, if possible (XP Home is a bad choice
here). Rename Administrator, to a non-trivial value, and give it a non-trivial
password. Never use the Administrator renamed account for day to day
activities, only when intentionally doing administrative tasks.

Stay educated - know what the threats are. Newsgroups alt.internet.wireless and
microsoft.public.windows.networking,wireless are good places to start.

The pop-ups are another story. AdAware and Spybot, as others will suggest, are
good tools to diagnose and remove pop-ups. But they are not the only, nor the
best tools. And both AA and SSD need to be properly configured, or they are
useless.

The best tool, overall, is HijackThis. But HJT requires expert advice for
interpretation of its output.

Start by downloading each of the following free tools:
AdAware <http://www.lavasoftusa.com/>
CWShredder <http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4086.html>
HijackThis <http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=3155>
LSP-Fix <http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm>
WinsockXPFix <http://www.spychecker.com/program/winsockxpfix.html>
Spybot S&D <http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=download>
Stinger <http://us.mcafee.com/virusInfo/default.asp?id=stinger>
TrendMicro Engine <http://www.trendmicro.com/download/dcs.asp>
TrendMicro Signatures <http://www.trendmicro.com/download/pattern.asp>
TrendMicro Instructions <http://www.trendmicro.com/ftp/products/tsc/readme.txt>

Create a separate folder for HijackThis, such as C:\HijackThis - copy the
downloaded file there. Create a separate folder for the two TrendMicro files,
such as C:\TrendMicro - copy the downloaded files there (unzipped if necessary).
AdAware, CWShredder, and Spybot S&D have install routines - run them. The other
downloaded programs can be copied into, and run from, any convenient folder.

First, run Stinger. Have it remove any problems found.

Next, close all Internet Explorer and Outlook windows, and run CWShredder. Have
it fix all problems found.

Next, disable System Restore.
<http://vil.nai.com/vil/SystemHelpDocs/DisableSysRestore.htm>
Boot your computer into Safe Mode.
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=315222
Run C:\TrendMicro\Sysclean.com. Delete any infectors found. Reboot your
computer, and re enable System Restore.

Next, run AdAware. First update it, configure for full scan
(<http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?showtopic=11150> ), then scan. When
scanning finishes, remove all Critical Objects found.

Next, run Spybot S&D. First update it, then run a scan. Trust Spybot, and
delete everything ("Fix Problems" ) that is displayed in Red.

Then, run HijackThis ("Scan" ). Do NOT make any changes immediately. Save the
HJT Log.
<http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?showtopic=227>
<http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?showtopic=11150>

Finally, have your HJT log interpreted by experts at one or more of the
following security forums (and please post a link to your forum posts, here):
Aumha: <http://forum.aumha.org/index.php>
Net-Integration: <http://forums.net-integration.net/>
Spyware Info: <http://forums.spywareinfo.com/>
Spyware Warrior: <http://spywarewarrior.com/index.php>
Tom Coyote: <http://forums.tomcoyote.org/>

If removal of any spyware affects your ability to access the internet (some
spyware builds itself into the network software, and its removal may damage your
network), run LSP-Fix and / or WinsockXPFIx.

Finally, improve your chances for the future.

Harden your browser. There are various websites which will check for
vulnerabilities, here are three which I use.
http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/BrowserSecurity/
http://bcheck.scanit.be/bcheck/
https://testzone.secunia.com/browser_checker/

Block Internet Explorer ActiveX scripting from hostile websites (Restricted
Zone).
<https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/main.htm> (IE-SpyAd)

Block known dangerous scripts from installing.
<http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html>

Block known spyware from installing.
<http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareguard.html>

Make sure that the spyware detection / protection products that you use are
reliable:
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

Harden your operating system. Check at least monthly for security updates.
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

Block possibly dangerous websites with a Hosts file. Three Hosts file sources I
use:
http://www.accs-net.com/hosts/get_hosts.html
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
(The third is included, and updated, with Spybot (see above)).

Maintain your Hosts file (merge / eliminate duplicate entries) with:
eDexter <http://www.accs-net.com/hosts/get_hosts.html>
Hostess <http://accs-net.com/hostess/>

Secure your operating system, and applications. Don't use, or leave activated,
any accounts with names or passwords with trivial (guessable) values. Don't use
an account with administrative authority, except when you're intentionally doing
administrative tasks.

Use common sense. Yours. Don't install software based upon advice from unknown
sources. Don't install free software, without researching it carefully. Don't
open email unless you know who it's from, and how and why it was sent.

Educate yourself. Know what the risks are. Stay informed. Read Usenet, and
various web pages that discuss security problems. Check the logs from the
security products that you use regularly, look for things that don't belong, and
take action when necessary.

How did I get infected in the first place?
http://forums.net-integration.net/ [...] topic=3051
Essential tips for infection prevention
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/inde [...] opic=24339

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.