Main computer won't see other on LAN unless reboot?

  • Thread starter Thread starter jbclem
  • Start date Start date
J

jbclem

If I start up my main computer and my second computer is already on, the main computer will recognize the
second one on the LAN (connected directly cable to cable). But if I shut off my second computer, which I do
every night, when it's on again it won't be recognized by the main computer unless I reboot the main
computer.

Is there a way to avoid having to reboot the main computer just for this. It's busy most of the time and
can't always be rebooted. How can I get it recognized on the fly?

John
 
First rule of 10BaseT Ethernet, is interconnect all computers with a hub or
switch. Never connect them with crossover cables. Cover your ears and
shout "Blah Blah Blah Blah" if anyone tries to say it will work by
connecting two NIC's together with a crossover cable.
Larry

jbclem said:
If I start up my main computer and my second computer is already on, the
Click to expand...
main computer will recognize the
second one on the LAN (connected directly cable to cable). But if I shut
Click to expand...
off my second computer, which I do
every night, when it's on again it won't be recognized by the main
Click to expand...
computer unless I reboot the main
 
:
: First rule of 10BaseT Ethernet, is interconnect all computers with a hub
or
: switch. Never connect them with crossover cables. Cover your ears and
: shout "Blah Blah Blah Blah" if anyone tries to say it will work by
: connecting two NIC's together with a crossover cable.
: Larry

Covering my ears and shouting "Blah Blah Blah Blah" while Larry is saying
you cannot connect two computers together with a x-over cable. The hub
ports are x'd (crossed). It allows you to connect more than 2 but that is
about all it does that the NIC cannot do. A switching hub on the other hand
would be different but that's not part of this discussion.

The OP has not given enough information, including if both computers are
running W2K or not, who connects to what share, rights, etc. Perhaps
supplying some setup info might get us further down the road?!

--
Roland Hall
/* This information is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
without any warranty; without even the implied warranty of merchantability
or fitness for a particular purpose. */
Online Support for IT Professionals -
http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/technet/default.asp?fr=0&sd=tech
 
I guess I'm the "OP"???. Sorry I didn't give out enough information, didn't really know what would help.
Both computers running Win2000. I use them mostly for transfering files from one to the other, so have one
or two partitions in each set up for sharing. The profile that each computer runs under has full
administrative priviledges. Other than this current problem I don't have any other problems transfering
files back and forth. The direct wire connection seems to work fine.

The way I initiate the process is by running "computers near me" from the main computer. Right now that
gives me the error message "the workgroup is not accessible" and "the list of servers for this workgroup is
not currently available". Both computers are running right now and if I reboot the main computer this
problem will go away and it will recognize the 2nd computer via the network.

Sorry I don't know alot yet about networking. Is there any other information you need?

John
 
:
: I guess I'm the "OP"???.

Yes. Original Poster.

: Sorry I didn't give out enough information, didn't really know what would
help.

No problem. If we need more info, we'll ask. It's supposed to be a dialog.
If you knew everything to provide you could proably fix it on your own.
(O:=

: Both computers running Win2000. I use them mostly for transfering files
from one to the other, so have one
: or two partitions in each set up for sharing.

Partitions? You partitioned your drive so you have logical drives and then
share the whole logical drive from the root? That probably doesn't matter
but if so, it is not required you do that for file sharing.

: The profile that each computer runs under has full
: administrative priviledges.

Ok, but does each computer map to the other? Or do you only map in one
direction?

: Other than this current problem I don't have any other problems
transfering
: files back and forth. The direct wire connection seems to work fine.

Perhaps this answers my previous question. I should also mention in my
previous post, a hub also is a repeater and a NIC is not. It is an end
point.

: The way I initiate the process is by running "computers near me" from the
main computer.

Does this mean you do not have any mappings?

: Right now that
: gives me the error message "the workgroup is not accessible" and "the list
of servers for this workgroup is
: not currently available".

If you do have mappings, can you open Windows Explorer and tell me what you
see for those mappings? I'm interested mostly to know if you can open
Windows Explorer on the system that stays up after the other workstation is
back up and running and you cannot see it by running "computers near me".
If it shows disconnected, what happens if you click on that mapping or
possibly double-clicking. I forget which one at the moment.

: Both computers are running right now and if I reboot the main computer
this
: problem will go away and it will recognize the 2nd computer via the
network.

So, the main computer does not browse on demand, it appears.

: Sorry I don't know alot yet about networking. Is there any other
information you need?

You'll gain knowledge over time just like the rest of us. Just answers to
the questions above for now.

--
Roland Hall
/* This information is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
without any warranty; without even the implied warranty of merchantability
or fitness for a particular purpose. */
Online Support for IT Professionals -
http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/technet/default.asp?fr=0&sd=tech
 
Roland,

I do have mappings, at least on the #2 computer (so I can transfer files from the main #1 computer to the
#2). I have a logical drive mapped and some folders. I can't confirm what they are right now because I
can't read the other computer.
I never use Windows Explorer (I prefer My Computer and ZTree Gold), but I looked and can't see any mappings,
but I'm not sure where to look in Windows Explorer.

What I usually do to initiate the process is open My NetWork Places, then double click on Computers Near Me,
then I will get two icons, one for each computer on the network. If I'm on the #1 main computer, I double
click on the icon for the #2 computer and that opens a window that shows what I think are my mappings on
that computer. Then I can drag and drop folders from the #1 main computer into those mappings on the #2
computer, and the folders/files are transfered.

Right now when I double click on Computers Near Me I only get one icon, for the computer that I'm
doubleclicking from.

But...it turns out there is another problem right now, in addition to the original problem. I've rebooted
both computers and still can't get the #2 computer icon to show in Computers Near Me. I checked the Local
Area Network status and both computers are sending packets, but neither are receiving any packets (that's
zero packets received). I checked everything I could and all seems to be working. The cable is connected.
I'm not sure how to troubleshoot this problem...but I need to emphasize that the original problem I
mentioned has been around for months and this new one is just from this week. Sorry to confuse things, but
I guess I have to solve this new problem first.

John
 
Roland,

I didn't mention this in my message 30 minutes ago...when I look in My Network Places in my #1 main
computer, there is an icon for a mapped folder in the #2 computer. As I said, I usually get the icons for
the rest of the mapped folders/drive by opening Computers Near Me and clicking on the icon for the #2
computer.

John
 
:
: I do have mappings, at least on the #2 computer (so I can transfer files
from the main #1 computer to the
: #2). I have a logical drive mapped and some folders. I can't confirm
what they are right now because I
: can't read the other computer.
: I never use Windows Explorer (I prefer My Computer and ZTree Gold), but I
looked and can't see any mappings,
: but I'm not sure where to look in Windows Explorer.
:
: What I usually do to initiate the process is open My NetWork Places, then
double click on Computers Near Me,
: then I will get two icons, one for each computer on the network. If I'm
on the #1 main computer, I double
: click on the icon for the #2 computer and that opens a window that shows
what I think are my mappings on
: that computer. Then I can drag and drop folders from the #1 main computer
into those mappings on the #2
: computer, and the folders/files are transfered.
:
: Right now when I double click on Computers Near Me I only get one icon,
for the computer that I'm
: doubleclicking from.
:
: But...it turns out there is another problem right now, in addition to the
original problem. I've rebooted
: both computers and still can't get the #2 computer icon to show in
Computers Near Me. I checked the Local
: Area Network status and both computers are sending packets, but neither
are receiving any packets (that's
: zero packets received). I checked everything I could and all seems to be
working. The cable is connected.
: I'm not sure how to troubleshoot this problem...but I need to emphasize
that the original problem I
: mentioned has been around for months and this new one is just from this
week. Sorry to confuse things, but
: I guess I have to solve this new problem first.
:
: John

John...

It's time to test the cable. Do you have another x-connect cable? If not,
do you have a hub with ST (straight-thru) patch cables? Unless you're
having driver issues, which it doesn't sound like, then it is possibly a
cable going bad or one of the NICs. That is never pleasant news but a known
is always better than an unknown.

The other possibility is another piece of software is interfering, like a
personal firewall, etc. It's easier and quicker to test the physical
(hardware) before the software, excluding the driver.

--
Roland Hall
/* This information is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
without any warranty; without even the implied warranty of merchantability
or fitness for a particular purpose. */
Online Support for IT Professionals -
http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/technet/default.asp?fr=0&sd=tech
 
:
: I didn't mention this in my message 30 minutes ago...when I look in My
Network Places in my #1 main
: computer, there is an icon for a mapped folder in the #2 computer. As I
said, I usually get the icons for
: the rest of the mapped folders/drive by opening Computers Near Me and
clicking on the icon for the #2
: computer.

To know what you have by default, you can look in Windows Explore after you
logon. It will show permanent mappings, or at least current mappings if
you're running a logon script.

Another way to know is to run this:

net use

....at a command prompt on each computer.

I asked if you only mapped in one direction because I wanted to know how the
files were transferred and which computer connected to which. Normally,
mappings are not made in both directions if one person is using both
computers. Generally they have a computer they use most of the time, like a
laptop, but they may want to transfer the files to a desktop when they
return from being away. Or, the opposite. They normally work on the
desktop, but when they leave, they want to take files with them. So,
mappings are made on the computer that needs to transfer the file to and not
from, thus my question.

In a peer-peer network, 2 computers-2 users, then mappings are generally set
in both directions so files can be shared back and forth.


--
Roland Hall
/* This information is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
without any warranty; without even the implied warranty of merchantability
or fitness for a particular purpose. */
Online Support for IT Professionals -
http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/technet/default.asp?fr=0&sd=tech
 
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