Home Networking Problem - XP, 2000, Netgear

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C

CP

Hi. I have a mini-network involving 3 laptops (two are Windows 2000 and one
is Windows XP). Before today, all three were happily connected (via Cat 5
cable) to a Netgear MR814 router and they were all happily using my cable
modem which is also connected to the router.

Then, I decided I wanted to share the printer which is connected to the
Windows XP computer through a parallel cable. So I started working through
the XP Network Setup Wizard (I don't know the exact name). I changed the
names of the Workgroup but didn't put in a domain (I'm pretty sure). When I
got to the part that said "You have to create a network setup disk to use on
the non-XP computers", my XP computer locked up and one of the Win2000
computer started making weird noises (sounded like a hard drive but the hard
drive light wasn't flashing).

I turned off the Win2000 computer, hoping that the XP computer would un lock
but it didn't so I turned it off and then on again. Now, if I turn on the
XP computer with the network cable attached, it doesn't get much past the
login prompt before it locks up. If I start it without the network
connection, it starts without a problem. I can plug the cable in and access
the computer and the Internet for a while but then it locks up. The other
two computers are working fine as far as Internet access goes.

Here's what I've tried.
1. Changed cable.
2. Made Zone Alarm so it doesn't run at startup (although it loads after
the point when the computer locks up anyways).
3. Downloaded the newest security patch from Microsoft.
4. Connected the XP computer directly to the cable modem (i.e. bypassed the
router).
5. Ran diagnostics on the network card. All tests passed.
6. Tried running in "Safe Mode with Networking." Same problem.
7. Ran Norton AntiVirus (with virus definition file updated yesterday).
8. Checked the router. It seems fine (and it's not causing problems with
the other computers).

Nothing has helped and I haven't found any evident problems.

So, can anyone give me any ideas where to start? Thanks in advance. Carol.
 
CP said:
Hi. I have a mini-network involving 3 laptops (two are Windows 2000
and one is Windows XP). Before today, all three were happily
connected (via Cat 5 cable) to a Netgear MR814 router and they were
all happily using my cable modem which is also connected to the
router.

Then, I decided I wanted to share the printer which is connected to
the Windows XP computer through a parallel cable. So I started
working through the XP Network Setup Wizard (I don't know the exact
name). I changed the names of the Workgroup but didn't put in a
domain (I'm pretty sure). When I got to the part that said "You have
to create a network setup disk to use on the non-XP computers", my XP
computer locked up and one of the Win2000 computer started making
weird noises (sounded like a hard drive but the hard drive light
wasn't flashing).

I turned off the Win2000 computer, hoping that the XP computer would
un lock but it didn't so I turned it off and then on again. Now, if
I turn on the XP computer with the network cable attached, it doesn't
get much past the login prompt before it locks up. If I start it
without the network connection, it starts without a problem. I can
plug the cable in and access the computer and the Internet for a
while but then it locks up. The other two computers are working fine
as far as Internet access goes.

Here's what I've tried.
1. Changed cable.
2. Made Zone Alarm so it doesn't run at startup (although it loads
after the point when the computer locks up anyways).
3. Downloaded the newest security patch from Microsoft.
4. Connected the XP computer directly to the cable modem (i.e.
bypassed the router).
5. Ran diagnostics on the network card. All tests passed.
6. Tried running in "Safe Mode with Networking." Same problem.
7. Ran Norton AntiVirus (with virus definition file updated
yesterday).
8. Checked the router. It seems fine (and it's not causing problems
with the other computers).

Nothing has helped and I haven't found any evident problems.

So, can anyone give me any ideas where to start? Thanks in advance.
Carol.
Click to expand...

Carol, I would try the following steps.

Boot the problem computer unconnected to the network. From Control
Panel/System/Hardware Tab/Device Manager, expand the view to show hidden
devices. Open the network adapters, and remove the adapter and any
"phantoms" that refer to it. Restart, and let XP detect the NIC and
install the driver. If the redetection works, redo your network
connection using the wizard and see if that solves the problem.

Q
 
Thanks, Quaoar. Looks like that did the trick. I have a few things to do
before I can start installing the network again but at least I know what to
do if that screws up again.

Any idea what might have happened and anything I can do to try and make sure
it doesn't happen again? Is XP temperamental when it comes to setting up
networks?

Thanks again. Carol.
 
Worked great once I stopped the bridges from being created automatically.

Thanks for your help. Carol.
 
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