Using multiple networks on one laptop

[mike_376]

Here's my problem. I have a compaq 900z which works great except for the home networking feature. The problem is that when I try to use it on more than one network I can use the interent but can't share files between computers. I have a network at my house and at the office and if I format the drive, everything is fine at the house, I can view other computers, share files and use the internet. Once I bring it in to work I can use the interent but not share files. Then, if I bring it home I can only use the internet and not share files. I have to format the drive again to share files amongst my network at home. Any suggestions are appreciated. Im running xp and have run the network setup wizard to. thanks in advance.

[Ron Kinner]

If you are running DHCP to get the IP address try doing:

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /registerdns

See if that helps. How are you sharing your files? Are you mapping network drives? It's possible that when you plug in at work that a script causes you to map the drives one way and when you come home it tries to connect to the nonexistent drives. You may just need to remove the work mappings and remap.

Also it could be that when you log on at work you log on to a different domain and when you go home you are using the same domain without realizing it. Try changing the domain back to whatever it is at home when it works before you log on.

If the other computers at home are not XP they may want to use netbeui which is not available by default on the XP anymore. You can however, install it

http://www.dictacomm.com/XPHelp/XP_NetBEUI.htm

tho your IT people at work would probably prefer that you didn't.

Ron

[mike_376]

How do you remove the work mappings and remap the drives. I appreciate the help. I also checked the domain and I'm on the same domain at work and at home so that's not it.

[Ron Kinner]

From Window Explorer Click Tools then either Disconnect network drive or Map network drive.

However, if you have two different domains with the same name then you are going to have problems. You might want to rename your home domain so you can keep them separate.

Ron