confusing network problem :(

[person135]

I have verizon DSL. I have two computers and a router that I created a network with. The computer called davidzhang has the shared folder, which is called shared. I had the free avast antivirus and the free zone alarm on it, and the network was working fine, and the second computer was able to access davidzhang and open shared to access the files inside.

Now I switched to Kaspersky 6.0.2.614, which costs money, and Zone Alarm Pro 7.0.302 by checkpoint, which costs money. So basically I switched antiviruses and changed to the more advanced Zone Alarm that costs money. Now everything doesn't work.

My second computer can't access davidzhang and the folder shared anymore. The shared folder is on the desktop of davidzhang computer, and I can open it. However, if, on davidzhang computer, I go \\davidzhang\shared, it says "\\davidzhang\shared 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 location cannot be reached. For more information about network troubleshooting, see Windows help."

On the davidzhang computer, I am on the administrator account, so I don't get why I can't open the shared folder through that. I've tried shutting down zonealarm and kaspersky, but it still didn't work.

In safe mode, it doesn't work either. There is only one account on my computer, and that is the account called davidzhang, which is the admin account on the davidzhang computer. However, when I loaded safe mode, two accounts appeared. One is the davidzhang account, and the other is called Administrator. It doesn't work in safe mode through that account either. I've even uninstalled zone alarm pro and kaspersky, and it still didn't work.

so to summarize it, I can open the folder shared just by clicking it on my desktop, but I can't access it through \\davidzhang\shared. My computer is called davidzhang and the admin account, the only admin account on this computer is called davidzhang too.

I'm not sure if it's zonealarm or kaspersky that's causing the problem. I'm pretty sure it's zone alarm.

Help!!!

[ale52]

A couple of things to try:
1. Do a system restore prior to the problems starting.  If that doesn't work...
2. Try uninstalling both applications, rebooting after doing one, then the other.  Now see if everything works.  If so, install one program.  Test to see if all things work.  If so, install the second program.  Test to see if all things work.

Make sure you have your Windows CD handy.

Alan <>< 

[person135]

thanks for the advice, but if I uninstall these two programs, I might not be able to get them to work again, since they both require money and I'm not sure if entering the same CD key stuff will work.

Oh and also, I think I've tried uninstalling the two programs before, though I don't remember rebooting each time I do one.

[ale52]

"...I might not be able to get them to work again, since they both require money and I'm not sure if entering the same CD key stuff will work.

Did you register them after they were installed?   If so then the keys should work.

Oh and also, I think I've tried uninstalling the two programs before, though I don't remember rebooting each time I do one. 

Process of elimination.  Do one, then the other to see if one of them is causing the problem.

Any program I download, then purchase, I ALWAYS burn to a cd just in case of a situation like yours. and make copies of the serial numbers/purchase order/whatever.  That way if I need to reinstall everything I've got it on CD and don't have to worry about downloading it all over again.

Alan <>< 

[person135]

nope, still doesn't work

[ale52]

The last two things I can think of is a restore from an earlier date or save your data, wipe the drive & reinstall.   

Alan <>< 

[2k_dummy]

Have you checked in ZA's setup to make sure you are allowing local computers access to each other?