1.
Objective. You never said what you're trying to do. Are you trying to enable "File and Printer Sharing" within your local area network?
2.
Reference(s):
Troubleshooting File and Printer Sharing in Microsoft Windows XP File and Printer Sharing with Microsoft Windows Troubleshooting Computer Browsing on SOHO Networks with Microsoft Windows Computer Browsing for SOHO Networks with Microsoft Windows3. Possible causes of "
The network path was not found":
a. Host firewalls are being used
b. The computers are not server computers
c. Computers are not on the same TCP/IP subnet
4.
Host Firewall. For the Windows XP firewall, the "File and Printer Sharing exception" must be enabled (from Exceptions tab of Windows Firewall Control Panel applet).
For third party firewall, the equivalent must be enabled for the following types of unsolicited incoming traffic:
o User Datagram Protocol (UDP) port 137
o UDP port 138
o Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) 139
It might be best to disable the firewalls while you're trouble shooting this problem. If it works with no firewall, then the firewall was blocking your traffic.
5.
Not server computers. Verify the "File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks" component is installed and enabled (the checkbox is checked) within the network connection "Properties" window on both computers.
6.
Not on same TCP/IP subnet. If using TCP/IP, check the configuration to ensure both computers have IP address on the same network (subnet mask must be the same).
7.
Services. Within both computers, verify the following "services" are running:
a. Computer Browser
b. Server
c. Workstation
To access services, select Start -> right-click My_Computer -> select Manage -> select Services.