Takes 5 minutes to browse to a network Share

  • Thread starter Thread starter Leigh Sheppard
  • Start date Start date
L

Leigh Sheppard

This problem has been driving me crazy. Here is the
system setup and the symptoms.

- 5 brand new identical computers running Windows XP
Professional in a peer-to-peer configuration (Workgroup)

- 4 of the computers connect to each other and all shared
resources with no problems. Fast browsing, drive mapping
etc.

- The 5th computer takes 5 minutes to connect to any
other computer on the network for sharing files. It
connects to the Internet through a Linksys cable/DSL
router and cablemodem flawlessly. The other four
computers connect to the "problem" computer just fine.

Symptoms and efforts made so far:
1. Browsing eventually works, as long as I let the
computer keep hunting for 5 minutes or so. Oncce a
connection is made, things seem to operate as normal
until someone logs off, and then I have to go through the
5 minute wait again.

1a. if I try to interrupt the "browsing", I get a (not
responding) error, and pretty much have to reboot.

2. Running in SAFE MODE with Network Support works just
fine... fast browsing, etc.

3. Since all 5 computers are identical, I moved a
functioning Hard Disk from one of the other 4 computers
into the "defective" one, and it worked just fine!

4. I tried moving the Hard Disk from the "defective"
computer into one of the other working computers, and the
problem followed the drive (in other words the problem
moved with the hard disk"
- this tells me, that it is not the wiring, the hub,
the router, the NIC or even the computer that is the
problem. Possibly the hard drive, but there are no other
problems with using the drive. As a standalone unit, it
operated flawlessly.

5. I have reformatted the Hard Disk and reinstalled XP
Pro from scratch 4 times. I replaced the motherboard, the
NIC, checked the cabling. I have installed all available
updates.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. You can either
respond on this usergroup, or email me directly. TIA
 
Leigh said:
This problem has been driving me crazy. Here is the
system setup and the symptoms.

- 5 brand new identical computers running Windows XP
Professional in a peer-to-peer configuration (Workgroup)

- 4 of the computers connect to each other and all shared
resources with no problems. Fast browsing, drive mapping
etc.

- The 5th computer takes 5 minutes to connect to any
other computer on the network for sharing files. It
connects to the Internet through a Linksys cable/DSL
router and cablemodem flawlessly. The other four
computers connect to the "problem" computer just fine.

Symptoms and efforts made so far:
1. Browsing eventually works, as long as I let the
computer keep hunting for 5 minutes or so. Oncce a
connection is made, things seem to operate as normal
until someone logs off, and then I have to go through the
5 minute wait again.

1a. if I try to interrupt the "browsing", I get a (not
responding) error, and pretty much have to reboot.

2. Running in SAFE MODE with Network Support works just
fine... fast browsing, etc.

3. Since all 5 computers are identical, I moved a
functioning Hard Disk from one of the other 4 computers
into the "defective" one, and it worked just fine!

4. I tried moving the Hard Disk from the "defective"
computer into one of the other working computers, and the
problem followed the drive (in other words the problem
moved with the hard disk"
- this tells me, that it is not the wiring, the hub,
the router, the NIC or even the computer that is the
problem. Possibly the hard drive, but there are no other
problems with using the drive. As a standalone unit, it
operated flawlessly.

5. I have reformatted the Hard Disk and reinstalled XP
Pro from scratch 4 times. I replaced the motherboard, the
NIC, checked the cabling. I have installed all available
updates.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. You can either
respond on this usergroup, or email me directly. TIA

I'll give long odds that the problem is not with the HD, but rather
with the software that is on the HD. My first guess would be
the DNS params, but check all the network stuff until you find
the difference(s) between the slow PC and the others.
 
I'm sure you are correct. I have checked all the "Network
Stuff" and all five machines are identical. I set each
one up from its RAW state and each of the first four
operate flawlessly. (well... at least in this respect).
The fifth one has been reformatted 4 times, each time
installing it in an identical procedure to the 4 working
workstations.

Another interesting thing, is that I am running into
similar situations at other locations that have switched
to XP. Most computers work fine, but the "odd" one will
exhibit this identical problem.

I suspect it may be an issue between XP and a Hard Disk
driver, but it is the same model Hard Disk as the other 4
computers. BTW, the computer works just fine if I stick
Windows 2000 on it!!
 
If browsing works properly in Safe Mode with Networking, one of the
services that loads in Normal Mode is the problem.

See: 316434 HOW TO: Perform Advanced Clean-Boot Troubleshooting in Windows
XP http://support.microsoft.com/?id=316434 and 310560 How to Troubleshoot
By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310560 for details on how to troubleshoot
this. The following services start in Safe Mode with Networking:
===========================
Computer Browser
Cryptographic Services
DHCP Client
DNS Client
Event Log
Help and Support
Logical Disk Manager
Messenger
Plug and Play
Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
Server
System Restore Service
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper Service
Upload Manager
Windows Management Instrumentation
Workstation

Note: While running in "Safe Mode with Networking" no third party services
set to
Automatic will start.
 
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