really weird networking problem

  • Thread starter Thread starter Samsome
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Samsome

Desktop is a 1.5 GHZ P4, WIN XP Pro SP1, ethernet connected to an SMC
router. DHCP is active. There are two other computers (one XP Home, one
98SE) on the net, and an HP Jetdirect 300x print server. All have been
happily talking to each other for months.

Starting a couple of days ago, the desktop lost its ability to find the
other computers. When I click on "view workgroup computers" then "entire
network" then "microsoft windows network", I get a message that "unable to
browse the network. The network is not present or is not started".

When I go into connection properties, everything checks ok. Device is
enabled and functioning properly. No conflicts in IRQ, etc. Windows
firewall (ICF) is disabled, and it doesn't matter whether my TrendMicro
Internet Security 2004 firewall is running or not (it's set for "office",
and has been just fine for months.)


However, I can print to the print server, I have internet access via that
connection, and both of the other computers can access drives/folders on the
desktop with no problem.

Actions I've taken so far without result: (beyond using the repair utility
and the WIN XP network troubleshooter).

1. Uninstalled/reinstalled the NIC via device manager (nothing was ever Xd
out) and rebuilt the network using the windows wizard.
2. Uninstalled/reinstalled all Windows networking via Add/remove programs.
Network components shown are: Client for MS networks, file/print sharing,
MS TCP/IP version 6, TCP/IP. I cannot access properties for file/print
sharing or version 6. TCP/IP properties are: automatic IP and DNS.
Automatic alternate IP. No 802.11 authentication.

The NIC is a built in REALTEC fast ethernet.

I'm about to install an independent NIC just to check if the REALTEC has
gone bad, but before doing that, thought I'd ask the pro's about other steps
to take.

tia

Samsome
 
we need more details to help. 1. can the desktop ping itself? 2. whet do you
get if using net share command? 3 or post the result of ipconfig /all here.

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Samsome said:
Desktop is a 1.5 GHZ P4, WIN XP Pro SP1, ethernet connected to an SMC
router. DHCP is active. There are two other computers (one XP Home,
one 98SE) on the net, and an HP Jetdirect 300x print server. All
have been happily talking to each other for months.

Starting a couple of days ago, the desktop lost its ability to find
the other computers. When I click on "view workgroup computers" then
"entire network" then "microsoft windows network", I get a message
that "unable to browse the network. The network is not present or is
not started".

When I go into connection properties, everything checks ok. Device is
enabled and functioning properly. No conflicts in IRQ, etc. Windows
firewall (ICF) is disabled, and it doesn't matter whether my
TrendMicro Internet Security 2004 firewall is running or not (it's
set for "office", and has been just fine for months.)


However, I can print to the print server, I have internet access via
that connection, and both of the other computers can access
drives/folders on the desktop with no problem.

Actions I've taken so far without result: (beyond using the repair
utility and the WIN XP network troubleshooter).

1. Uninstalled/reinstalled the NIC via device manager (nothing was
ever Xd out) and rebuilt the network using the windows wizard.
2. Uninstalled/reinstalled all Windows networking via Add/remove
programs. Network components shown are: Client for MS networks,
file/print sharing, MS TCP/IP version 6, TCP/IP. I cannot access
properties for file/print sharing or version 6. TCP/IP properties
are: automatic IP and DNS. Automatic alternate IP. No 802.11
authentication.

The NIC is a built in REALTEC fast ethernet.

I'm about to install an independent NIC just to check if the REALTEC
has gone bad, but before doing that, thought I'd ask the pro's about
other steps to take.

tia

Samsome
Click to expand...

The first thing to do is reboot the modem and the router. This
frequently takes care of weird occurences. If this does not help,
suspect the cables, especially if you make your own like I did before
all my cables slowly failed. You can change the router port for problem
computers to see if a port is failing, which they do. Recheck the file
sharing, turn it off, reboot, turn it back on. Failed cables, though,
will cause a computer to exhibit what yours is doing.

Q
 
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