Connect to Printer / Network browsing problems

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Paul Durdin

I have a small network consisting several Win XP Pro Machines and a Win 2K
Domain Controller using AD. Everything has been fine on the network until
recently, now I am getting the following problems;

1. I cannot print, or connect to a network printer. I can see the network
printers (attached to the server and other machines) when I browse using the
'Find a printer in the directory', but I cannot attach the printer - I get a
'Windows cannot connect to the printer' error. If I try to browse using the
other options, or enter the printer names directly I again get the 'Cannot
connect to the printer' error. Trying to print to a printer that is already
attached, and which used to work, now gets a 'Cannot connect to printer
error', or (depending on the application) simply no message at all. Note
that most machines are able to print.

2. Mapped network drives: at least two of the machines have started to show
Mapped Network drives as 'Disconnected Network Drive'. If I click on one of
these drives I can 'open' the folder and access all of the files / folders
therein, however the 'disconnected' label remains.

3. Browsing the domain: This now doesn't work. The domain is listed, but
apparently I have no permission - despite being domain admin!. If I try to
map a drive a find that I cannot browse the domain, however I am able to add
a mapped drive by entering the full path \\server\sharename, but still the
'disconnected' label remain on the new mapped drive.

The machine with most problems was built from scratch a few weeks back and
is fully patched
with all the latest updates. As I said before is has worked fine up until a
couple of days back.

As I said everything worked fine until recently. The only thing that I have
done recently is to uninstall Norton Internet Security and install Symantec
Client security and the Microsoft AntiSpyware, but I these symptoms existed
on some machines before I did this. I suspect that some windows protocol is
being blocked - but I am at a loss to know where to start looking.

Any help would be gratefully received.

regards

Paul
 
Start by removing all firewall software until the network is working
correctly and stable (on computers using the Windows XP firewall you may
disable the firewall, all other firewall software must be uninstalled) then
re-install/re-configure firewall software.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
 
Make sure you've got "Simple File Sharing" on all machines, and added the
relevant "Protocol" to the Lan properties.

(I also found I had to have simple file sharing "off" and add all the users
to each machine, but I think that was a long way of doing it, one day I find
an easier way...)

Oh, and regarding NIS, when you have it running, make sure you've run the
"Network Wizard" to allow it to know what is on the network, and presumes
all the network pc's will be allowed to talk to one and all.

Regards.

Richard G. Harper said:
Start by removing all firewall software until the network is working
correctly and stable (on computers using the Windows XP firewall you may
disable the firewall, all other firewall software must be uninstalled)
then re-install/re-configure firewall software.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


Paul Durdin said:
I have a small network consisting several Win XP Pro Machines and a Win 2K
Domain Controller using AD. Everything has been fine on the network until
recently, now I am getting the following problems;

1. I cannot print, or connect to a network printer. I can see the network
printers (attached to the server and other machines) when I browse using
the
'Find a printer in the directory', but I cannot attach the printer - I
get a
'Windows cannot connect to the printer' error. If I try to browse using
the
other options, or enter the printer names directly I again get the
'Cannot
connect to the printer' error. Trying to print to a printer that is
already
attached, and which used to work, now gets a 'Cannot connect to printer
error', or (depending on the application) simply no message at all. Note
that most machines are able to print.

2. Mapped network drives: at least two of the machines have started to
show
Mapped Network drives as 'Disconnected Network Drive'. If I click on one
of
these drives I can 'open' the folder and access all of the files /
folders
therein, however the 'disconnected' label remains.

3. Browsing the domain: This now doesn't work. The domain is listed, but
apparently I have no permission - despite being domain admin!. If I try
to
map a drive a find that I cannot browse the domain, however I am able to
add
a mapped drive by entering the full path \\server\sharename, but still
the
'disconnected' label remain on the new mapped drive.

The machine with most problems was built from scratch a few weeks back
and
is fully patched
with all the latest updates. As I said before is has worked fine up until
a
couple of days back.

As I said everything worked fine until recently. The only thing that I
have
done recently is to uninstall Norton Internet Security and install
Symantec
Client security and the Microsoft AntiSpyware, but I these symptoms
existed
on some machines before I did this. I suspect that some windows protocol
is
being blocked - but I am at a loss to know where to start looking.

Any help would be gratefully received.

regards

Paul
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Hi

I have turned off just about everything that I can see - anti-virus,
firewall and anti-spyware - but there is no difference.

regards

Paul

Richard G. Harper said:
Start by removing all firewall software until the network is working
correctly and stable (on computers using the Windows XP firewall you may
disable the firewall, all other firewall software must be uninstalled)
then re-install/re-configure firewall software.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


Paul Durdin said:
I have a small network consisting several Win XP Pro Machines and a Win 2K
Domain Controller using AD. Everything has been fine on the network until
recently, now I am getting the following problems;

1. I cannot print, or connect to a network printer. I can see the network
printers (attached to the server and other machines) when I browse using
the
'Find a printer in the directory', but I cannot attach the printer - I
get a
'Windows cannot connect to the printer' error. If I try to browse using
the
other options, or enter the printer names directly I again get the
'Cannot
connect to the printer' error. Trying to print to a printer that is
already
attached, and which used to work, now gets a 'Cannot connect to printer
error', or (depending on the application) simply no message at all. Note
that most machines are able to print.

2. Mapped network drives: at least two of the machines have started to
show
Mapped Network drives as 'Disconnected Network Drive'. If I click on one
of
these drives I can 'open' the folder and access all of the files /
folders
therein, however the 'disconnected' label remains.

3. Browsing the domain: This now doesn't work. The domain is listed, but
apparently I have no permission - despite being domain admin!. If I try
to
map a drive a find that I cannot browse the domain, however I am able to
add
a mapped drive by entering the full path \\server\sharename, but still
the
'disconnected' label remain on the new mapped drive.

The machine with most problems was built from scratch a few weeks back
and
is fully patched
with all the latest updates. As I said before is has worked fine up until
a
couple of days back.

As I said everything worked fine until recently. The only thing that I
have
done recently is to uninstall Norton Internet Security and install
Symantec
Client security and the Microsoft AntiSpyware, but I these symptoms
existed
on some machines before I did this. I suspect that some windows protocol
is
being blocked - but I am at a loss to know where to start looking.

Any help would be gratefully received.

regards

Paul
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Again - unless the firewall software is the Windows XP firewall, don't turn
it off - UNINSTALL IT.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


Paul Durdin said:
Hi

I have turned off just about everything that I can see - anti-virus,
firewall and anti-spyware - but there is no difference.

regards

Paul

Richard G. Harper said:
Start by removing all firewall software until the network is working
correctly and stable (on computers using the Windows XP firewall you may
disable the firewall, all other firewall software must be uninstalled)
then re-install/re-configure firewall software.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


Paul Durdin said:
I have a small network consisting several Win XP Pro Machines and a Win
2K
Domain Controller using AD. Everything has been fine on the network
until
recently, now I am getting the following problems;

1. I cannot print, or connect to a network printer. I can see the
network
printers (attached to the server and other machines) when I browse using
the
'Find a printer in the directory', but I cannot attach the printer - I
get a
'Windows cannot connect to the printer' error. If I try to browse using
the
other options, or enter the printer names directly I again get the
'Cannot
connect to the printer' error. Trying to print to a printer that is
already
attached, and which used to work, now gets a 'Cannot connect to printer
error', or (depending on the application) simply no message at all. Note
that most machines are able to print.

2. Mapped network drives: at least two of the machines have started to
show
Mapped Network drives as 'Disconnected Network Drive'. If I click on one
of
these drives I can 'open' the folder and access all of the files /
folders
therein, however the 'disconnected' label remains.

3. Browsing the domain: This now doesn't work. The domain is listed, but
apparently I have no permission - despite being domain admin!. If I try
to
map a drive a find that I cannot browse the domain, however I am able to
add
a mapped drive by entering the full path \\server\sharename, but still
the
'disconnected' label remain on the new mapped drive.

The machine with most problems was built from scratch a few weeks back
and
is fully patched
with all the latest updates. As I said before is has worked fine up
until a
couple of days back.

As I said everything worked fine until recently. The only thing that I
have
done recently is to uninstall Norton Internet Security and install
Symantec
Client security and the Microsoft AntiSpyware, but I these symptoms
existed
on some machines before I did this. I suspect that some windows protocol
is
being blocked - but I am at a loss to know where to start looking.

Any help would be gratefully received.

regards

Paul
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I am only firewall I have is the Windows XP firewall.

regards

Paul

Richard G. Harper said:
Again - unless the firewall software is the Windows XP firewall, don't
turn it off - UNINSTALL IT.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


Paul Durdin said:
Hi

I have turned off just about everything that I can see - anti-virus,
firewall and anti-spyware - but there is no difference.

regards

Paul

Richard G. Harper said:
Start by removing all firewall software until the network is working
correctly and stable (on computers using the Windows XP firewall you may
disable the firewall, all other firewall software must be uninstalled)
then re-install/re-configure firewall software.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


I have a small network consisting several Win XP Pro Machines and a Win
2K
Domain Controller using AD. Everything has been fine on the network
until
recently, now I am getting the following problems;

1. I cannot print, or connect to a network printer. I can see the
network
printers (attached to the server and other machines) when I browse
using the
'Find a printer in the directory', but I cannot attach the printer - I
get a
'Windows cannot connect to the printer' error. If I try to browse using
the
other options, or enter the printer names directly I again get the
'Cannot
connect to the printer' error. Trying to print to a printer that is
already
attached, and which used to work, now gets a 'Cannot connect to printer
error', or (depending on the application) simply no message at all.
Note
that most machines are able to print.

2. Mapped network drives: at least two of the machines have started to
show
Mapped Network drives as 'Disconnected Network Drive'. If I click on
one of
these drives I can 'open' the folder and access all of the files /
folders
therein, however the 'disconnected' label remains.

3. Browsing the domain: This now doesn't work. The domain is listed,
but
apparently I have no permission - despite being domain admin!. If I try
to
map a drive a find that I cannot browse the domain, however I am able
to add
a mapped drive by entering the full path \\server\sharename, but still
the
'disconnected' label remain on the new mapped drive.

The machine with most problems was built from scratch a few weeks back
and
is fully patched
with all the latest updates. As I said before is has worked fine up
until a
couple of days back.

As I said everything worked fine until recently. The only thing that I
have
done recently is to uninstall Norton Internet Security and install
Symantec
Client security and the Microsoft AntiSpyware, but I these symptoms
existed
on some machines before I did this. I suspect that some windows
protocol is
being blocked - but I am at a loss to know where to start looking.

Any help would be gratefully received.

regards

Paul
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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