Is The Problem My Config Or My NIC?

[Spether]

The stats: Two comps, both hooked directly into a router. Machine A is new and has an integrated NIC, machine B is about 4 years old and has a Kingston KNE120TX PCI NIC. Both machines are running XPSP2. Both have simple file sharing turned off, shared drives enabled and they belong to the same workgroup. The same users are on both machines with identical passwords. Guest account is on. Both machines access the internet just fine.

The issue: B can see A with no problems at all. But A cannot get through to B, even though it shows up under the Workgroup list. The message I always receive is:

"
\\Workgroup 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 network path was not found.
"

I have disabled the firewall on B so I know it is not that. Also, the router thinks that B is disconnected several minutes after B boots up, even though the connection is still open, LAN link light on router is lit, etc. And in the Network Connections list on B, I do not see my router listed as a Gateway, as I do on A. I'm thinking these issues are connected.

I think I've done all the right things configuration-wise. Is this a problem with my NIC? Is there any chance replacing it with a new one will correct the problem? Does UPNP figure into this at all?

 

[folken]

Did you ever make a share with simple filesharing turned on?
You have to make one share with simple filesharing before turning it off or that machine will resist all network relating things trying to get to it. It is crazy but true, good ol windows
There will be a little link to click that is sort of a disclaimer that you agree to and then enables file sharing

<A HREF="http://www.folken.net/myrig.htm" target="_new">My precious...</A>

 

[Spether]

Thanks for the response.

No, I don't think I did. So if I re-enable simple sharing and share a folder, is that all I would have to do? I won't have to re-install XP, will I?

 

[folken]

Yup, just share a file using simple filesharing. Then you can turn it off agian. I was going crazy because of this when my comp resisted all network traffic. Then I finally just decided to go back to simple filesharing and I saw the little disclaimer to emable sharing. I was pissed, lol.

<A HREF="http://www.folken.net/myrig.htm" target="_new">My precious...</A>

 

[Spether]

Update:

The file-sharing trick did not work, so I kept working on it. Finally I have found the answer. The problem PC has the Cisco VPN software installed on it. This program has its own firewall built into it, which defaults to on and runs whether or not the VPN software is running. I disabled this firewall in the Cisco options, and now everything works great. Man, I'm glad to have this one behind me.