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Windows firewall may sometimes make your LAN connection inaccessible. Sometimes one computer will list all the other computers on your LAN, but the other won't. This happens due to windows firewall settings. So it is advisable to disable the firewall when you are trying to set up your LAN connection for the first time.

If you have some computers running firewall software like mcafee, norton internet security, etc.., then disable the firewall in them when testing the LAN connection for the first time.

Eventually you should enable the firewall for added security when you go on the internet to protect your computer from hackers.

Let's see how to disable or enable windows firewall for the time being.

To disable or enable the windows firewall follow the following instructions.

Under the start menu select the control panel link, after that select the appropriate link that directs you to windows firewall. In case of windows vista select the "Check this computer's security status" link.

Once you get the window on the left select the windows firewall and enable/disable it.

Once your LAN starts to work, now enable the firewall on each computer one by one and see if the LAN connection is still available, in this way you can figure out which firewall from which computer is blocking the LAN connection.

If you have a antivirus/firewall software then you can configure it to accept connections from the computers on your LAN network.

I would like to add one successful example of enabling firewall on McAfee antivirus. Follow the steps to enable McAfee firewall to accept computers on your LAN connection. Similarly, other firewall softwares can also be configured to accept connections from computers on your network.

Tip: Disable your firewall on all the computers on the LAN. After establishing succesful LAN connection, enable the firewall again. Sometimes the firewall will configure the IP addess of each computer on the LAN automatically.

Enabling McAfee Firewall on your LAN connection.

Step1...Finding your systems IP Address.

Obtain the IP address of every system on your LAN network. You need the IP address so that you can configure your firewall software to allow communication with the computers on LAN.

Click "start" on your desktop and select the "Run" on the popup menu.

Type in "cmd" on the box as shown in the figure.

Once you get the command prompt type in "ipconfig" as shown and press enter.

Now note down the IP address of the system. The IP address will be in the XXX.XXX.XX.XXX format. (Example: 192.245.20.233).

On your McAfee firewall, go to your firewall section and select the networks link. Now click the "Add" button.

On this screen, add the IP address of the system you want to be connected on LAN and make sure you select the trusted zone. Now click "Ok". Make sure you add the IP address of all your systems on your LAN network and put them under trusted zone.

Now we completed configuring the firewall software to allow other computers on your LAN connection.