Number 304 - September 2008

Using Shared Folders in Network Magic
by Carl Tenning Tacoma Open Group For Microcomputers
I have a home network consisting of four computers. Three are desktop computers and one is a laptop. The network is connected through an Actiontec GT701-WG DSL router. I have Network Magic installed on the three desktop computers and wanted to use the shared folders through Network Magic. Two of the desktops could not open the shared folders on the third desktop.    Here are my troubleshooting notes that solved this problem.    I will designate the three desktops as K1, K2, and K3. K1 and K2 are Windows XP operating systems. K3 is operating Windows Millenium. The laptop is Windows Vista.    Computer K1 connects to the router via an ethernet cable. The other three computers connect via wireless. All four computers can connect to the internet through the router. No problem here.    Computers K1 and K2 use the Comodo firewall. The Comodo firewall on computer K1 is Version 2.1.19.185. The Compdo firewall on computer K2 is Version 3.0.25.378. Computer K3 uses the ZoneAlarm firewall, Version 6.1.744.001. I went in to the setup on each of the firewalls to make sure they permitted the two Network Magic applications, nmapp.exe and nmsrvc.exe. I set each one to allow TCP/UDP In/Out, destination "Any" and Port "Any".	Computer K1 had no shared folders. The other two desktops have two shared folders each. Computer K1 shows all four shared folders and they are not grayed-out. It can open and display the contents of the folders on computer K2, but not on K3. The "Shared Folder Not Available" window pops up. System Error: The network path was not found (0x80070035).    Computer K2 shows all four shared folders (two of which are its own) and they are not grayed-out. This computer can open its own shared folders, but not those on computer K3. The "Shared Folder Not Available" window pops up. System Error: The network path was not found (0x80070035)    Computer K3 shows all four shared folders (two of which are its own) and they are not grayed-out. This computer can open and view all four of the shared folders.    From computers K1 and K2, highlighting the shared folders on computer K3, and selecting the Details tab shows: "Network Address: \\qwest\MYDOCUMENTS and \\qwest\SHARED". I don't know how the path name ever got set to "qwest". I had named that computer "Workroom". Changing the computer name to "qwest" however, solved the problem. To change the computer name on a Windows ME operating system, go to Start > Settings > Control Panel > Network. The Network window opens and there are three tabs. Select the "Identification" tab and change the computer name to "qwest" or whatever Network Magic is looking for.    To change the computer name on a Windows XP operating system, right click on My Computer, and select "Properties". The System Properties window opens with seven tabs. Select the "Computer Name" tab and click on the "Change" button to edit the computer name. Hope this helps anyone else with this problem.
Number 304 - September 2008