[PCbasics]

I have been trying to fix my network for a very loooong time. Its very weird because actually sometimes it will work but other times its like the network had never existed.....but then the next day it would be up again....you get the point.....anyway my network has been down for quite a while now and we seriously need it. I am currently running Windows xp SP3 and there are 2 win 7 and one vista on our network currently. I have tried many things to get the network to work. I am trying my hardest to try to share my 1tb ext. HD with all the computers on the network along with printer.....so as i said the network was working for a while but now it has been down for at least a month and i have run out of ideas. I have done lots of research each resulting in failure....so i am clueless of what to do now.....

[AgentF]

Are the external hard drive and printer connected to one of the computers, or are they connected directly to the router?

Is it just the Windows XP machine giving you trouble, or are all four computers having difficulty networking to each other and the additional devices?

What have you already done while troubleshooting this issue?

[theChuz]

PCbasics, on 23 September 2010 - 05:27 PM, said:

I have been trying to fix my network for a very loooong time. Its very weird because actually sometimes it will work but other times its like the network had never existed.....but then the next day it would be up again....you get the point.....anyway my network has been down for quite a while now and we seriously need it. I am currently running Windows xp SP3 and there are 2 win 7 and one vista on our network currently. I have tried many things to get the network to work. I am trying my hardest to try to share my 1tb ext. HD with all the computers on the network along with printer.....so as i said the network was working for a while but now it has been down for at least a month and i have run out of ideas. I have done lots of research each resulting in failure....so i am clueless of what to do now.....

Since it was initially running, have you checked for an automatic update about the time when it stopped working?

[rgreen4]

This is a very broad question on what can be a complex issue. It would be like calling the auto repair shop to ask why your car won't start. They would have a lot of questions and we do as well. Bear with us and with all of the experienced people as members we can probably find out what is going on.

First - you indicate that you have four PC's, one with XP SP2, one with Vista and two with Windows 7. The last three are easier to network than the first. But you apparently had all of them working on the network at some point.

1. Which of the above PC's are connected to the network via ethernet cable and which are connected via wireless adapters?

2. Is one of the wired PC's in the same room with the router?

3. Can any or all of the PC's currently connect to the internet, but not each other?

4. What is the brand and exact model of your router?

This post has been edited by rgreen4: 24 September 2010 - 05:34 AM

[PCbasics]

AgentF, on 23 September 2010 - 09:29 PM, said:

Are the external hard drive and printer connected to one of the computers, or are they connected directly to the router?

Is it just the Windows XP machine giving you trouble, or are all four computers having difficulty networking to each other and the additional devices?

What have you already done while troubleshooting this issue?

Yes everything is connected to my XP machine (ext. HD & printer)....and the XP is the one that is having all the trouble.....and what i have done well at first i was in the wrong workgroup (changed that) then i tried "unsharing" the ext HD and sharing it again.....that didn't work.....umm lets see....for the printer i have changed different port names to be accessed by my other comp.....i have tried uninstalling the printer and reinstalling it on my xp and ALL other machines.....and maybe some more but thats all i can remember at the top of my head right now.

@theChuz my comp should have all the latest updates.....

This post has been edited by PCbasics: 24 September 2010 - 01:19 PM

[PCbasics]

rgreen4, on 24 September 2010 - 05:33 AM, said:

This is a very broad question on what can be a complex issue. It would be like calling the auto repair shop to ask why your car won't start. They would have a lot of questions and we do as well. Bear with us and with all of the experienced people as members we can probably find out what is going on.

First - you indicate that you have four PC's, one with XP SP2, one with Vista and two with Windows 7. The last three are easier to network than the first. But you apparently had all of them working on the network at some point.

1. Which of the above PC's are connected to the network via ethernet cable and which are connected via wireless adapters?

2. Is one of the wired PC's in the same room with the router?

3. Can any or all of the PC's currently connect to the internet, but not each other?

4. What is the brand and exact model of your router?

1. 1 win 7 desktop comp. & my XP SP3 desktop are ethernet directly to router.....1 vista & one win 7 (both laptops) are wireless
2. both ethernet computers (both desktops) are connected directly to router, not in the same room though.....have like a 50 ft ethernet that connects them
3. Yes all computer can access our internet....not shared files on the network (well right this minute the network can't even be accessed)
4. I think its an att 2wire router

[rgreen4]

OK, so you have a combination modem/router provided by AT&T, not a stand alone modem and then a stand alone router connected to the modem.

I am very suspicious of the 2Wire Gateway. There have been many posts about them.

Turn on all the PC's, go to one of the two Windows 7 PC's (or both) and generate the network map. Control Panel -> Network and Internet -> View Network Status and Tasks. Then click on "See Full Map" in the upper right hand side of the window.

The result should look similar to this:


The important thing is that all 4 computers are listed. (They do have to be turned on for them to be displayed). If any machine is not displayed, again make sure the Workgroup name is the same on all four machines.

Post back the results.

[EkuquoL]

Clear your temp files.

Adobe flash cookies, cookies(*.txt files), css cookies, XML objects, activeX cache, RSS streams>> can clutter your system's tempfiles. Especially if you hold that habit of, clicking that check box that -- Keeps you signed in. Some files stay active, just to keep you logged in. Google has a nasty habit of doing that.

Essentially it can give you DNS problems by cluttering up network traffic and giving you port-mismatch errors. If you go to malicious sites it can cause an intruder to purge your system if they get enough tempfiles on your system.

Here is an excellent program I always use, helps maintain any/all tempfiles stored on the computer ... It also has the option of placing selected folders to be emptied, along side of other temp files.

http://www.ccleaner.com
Freeware - Tempfile cleaner - Registry cleaner... Awesome software.

[PCbasics]

http://i55.tinypic.com/14av86e.png
For some reason there is an "Unknown" on the net map.....and my xp machine doesnt not seem to be listed....

[rgreen4]

Ouch! The map indicates some real problems.

1. The "gateway" should connect directly to the internet, and all other network devices should go through it. Hence, the name gateway, not as a brand name, but as a device function.

2. According to the map computer -2 is wired to unknown which is then wired to 2wire which is then wired to a laptop which is serving as the gateway. Then you have a wireless -PC connecting to the 2wire via wireless.

If you look at my map, there are three desktops listed. P35DS3P which is the name I gave to this machine, because it has a Gigabyte GA-P35DS3P motherboard this machine is wired to a switch. Then there is another desktop named Office, the name I gave to my old HP D530 running XP Pro. At one time it was my main PC in my home office. The third device is my Netgear NV+ Raid storage. All three are directly connected to a Gigabit switch rather than buy a new modem (which only has Fast Ethernet which slows down the file transfers between the two desktops and the NAS). Then I have another PC called Media which is in the LR and my HP dv9500 laptop which is connected to the router via wireless. The router name is animl8.

It appears you have a naming and connection problem. I am going to assume you have the 2wire set up as a DHCP server. What this does is automatically assign an IP address to a device in the 192.168.x.xxx subnet. Most use 192.168.1.xxx (both Linksys and Netgear do). Some use 192.168.0.xxxx. The specifics do not matter, as the router (apparently combined with a modem in the 2wire) determines the IP and assigns the number. You are supposed to assign the names to the computers when you set them up. Apparently when some were set up illegal characters were used in the names. In my opinion a partial network re-setup is required. This is not something to be taken lightly, as all the shared devices will have to be reset. If you have any static IP addresses on devices and they conflict, this could be part of the problem. (I use static addresses on my NAS devices, but the last number is set high to not conflict).

Turn off everything. Disconnect the wired computers from the ethernet cables. With the 2wire off, boot each individual PC and give it a descriptive name. You can use a persons name such as "StevesPC" or a location such as I did with Office, or function such as I did with Media. You can even use model number such as I did with my laptop and this desktop. It does not matter. When you first set up each computer, Windows tried to set up a name usually a long one. Use no special characters in your naming.

Then with all the computers renamed, and turned off, turn on the 2wire again. (The power off and turn back on may have to be done with the power cord if there is no on/off switch). Then power up your main Windows 7 wired desktop first. Once it is up, go thorough the control panel and network options to again generate the map. You should have the computer name with a solid double line to the 2wire and then a solid double line to the globe. If you mouse over the PC icon, it should give you the IP address that has been assigned, and the same is true of the 2wire. The 2wire should the first number in the sequence (Linksys is usually 192.168.1.100 and Netgear is usually 192.168.1.1). At this point you should have internet connection on your desktop.

I would then power up your XP desktop that is wired to the 2wire. Once again, once it is set up, you should have internet connection and if you redo the map on the Win7 desktop, you should now have 2 computer names connected to the 2wire with solid double lines. If you have shared folders, you will need to redo the shares to recognize the new names. Then you can go through the same process with the two laptops. When you are finished, the map should show all four computer names connected to the 2wire, two with solid double lines (wired) and two dashed double lines (wireless). If you have the printers connected to one machine and shared, those shares will have to be redone.

The last step should be to mouse over every connected device in the map (all devices need to be on) to make sure there are no conflicts in the IP number.

This post has been edited by rgreen4: 27 September 2010 - 07:18 AM

[PCbasics]

Are you sure that renaming all the computers are the solution? I remember the last time i fixed the network i never had to do something that significant....and ill tell you now im not a computer "expert"

[rgreen4]

Well, something serious is wrong. You have a device with no image and a big question mark over it, and you point out that an XP computer is not listed by name.

You have displayed computers named -2 and PC.

You have a PC image with no name.

The map indicates that the gateway connects to the internet through a PC with no name instead of directly as it should.

You can check the PC's and see what the names really are vs. what is displayed. But I would be surprised if they are displayed incorrectly.

I simply do not believe this is going to be an easy fix. I will PM a few of the more experienced members to look in and give their opinion.

[PCbasics]

Ohhhh....opps i think there is a tiny misunderstanding here maybe this will solve 1 of the problems:
http://i52.tinypic.com/dbse3a.png
*i should have said that i had erased the names sorry.....(i don't feel comfortable sharing family members names....confidential)

[rgreen4]

OK, that resolves some of the problems. One of the reasons I use location, function or model names for mine. I don't know if it is a problem, but you still have hypens in the names, which in my mind is not good.

That does not change the fact that the map simply does not make sense. I did get a PM from one of the people I PM'd and he took a quick look at your map but has not had time to read the whole discussion. (Long day yesterday). He expressed the opinion the ? device may be the built in switch on the 2Wire router. I know when I googled 2wire there were a lot of help questions listed.

Since you have explained the names, lets go ahead and reset the network. turn everything off. Disconnect the wired computers either at the computer or the router. Turn off (unplug) the router. Let it sit for a few minutes and plug the router back in. Let it go through it's boot cycle. Then reconnect the Windows 7 wired desktop and reboot. Check that you have access to the internet and also regenerate the map. It should look like this one (I unplugged this machine from the switch and plugged directly into the router and everything else is off).

Then reconnect the other wired PC and make sure it shows up correctly. The restart each individual laptop and check the map each and every time before you go to the next on. There may be a problem with one machine. When you get through, each machine should go to the 2wire, either with a solid double line for the wired machines, or a dashed double line for the wireless.

[PCbasics]

I'm sorry i havent had much time to fix this but i will sure try it.....just a little question will todays GOTD help my problem...?

Quote

Home Network Manager takes care of your home network with the following features:

* Printer sharing, file sharing and more
* Securing your network
* Discovering and managing files in your network
* Getting solutions for network problems

http://www.giveawayo...me-net-manager/

[Derrick1234]

You might want to check and see if all of the computers are in the same workgroup. I have had this problem many of times. To see what workgroup they are in go to START and right click MY COMPUTER or COMPUTER (depending on your verison of windows)then click PROPERTIES and go to the COMPUTER NAME tab. From there you should see the workgroup name. Make sure all of them are on the same workgroup and if not change them by clicking CHANGE and restarting.

[PCbasics]

Yes, i am sure they are i the same workgroup because that was the problem before and that fixed it....but now thats not the problem.

[rgreen4]

PCbasics, on 30 September 2010 - 05:50 PM, said:

Yes, i am sure they are i the same workgroup because that was the problem before and that fixed it....but now thats not the problem.

Somehow, I find a "Giveaway Of The Day' of a software package that "fixes everything" too good to be true. And if something is too good to be true, it usually is.

Again - turn off all the computers except the Windows 7 desktop. Generate the map again and it should be a simple straight line. PC to Gateway to Internet. If it is, then turn on a second computer. Again, regenerate the map. It again should show two computers connected to the gateway and then to the internet.

Keep at this until all machines are on. If you get a machine that when turned on, generates a screwed up map you have found your culprit.

Bottom line - the map indicates you have a severely distorted network, and that is not from software.You either have a defective router/modem combo, or an address conflict. Until you find the source of the problem, it will not be fixed, and it will not fix itself, nor will any "magic" program fix it. You are going to have to do some hands on diagnostics.

[PCbasics]

http://i52.tinypic.com/5165uf.png
This is with my both win 7 computers......

[rgreen4]

Now that map looks better. I am still concerned about the ? device which the Win7 desktop is "connected to". If that PC is plugged directly into the router, then it is something inside the router.

Next question, can the two machines see each other and exchange files?

If they can, then turn on the wired XP machine which I will assume is wired directly to the router as well. Then re-generate the map and see what it looks like. If it appears similar to the wired Win7 desktop with a solid double line to the ? device, then turn on the XP laptop and again re-generate the map. Somewhere in this when you add a PC, the map may go haywire again. If it does, you have found your culprit. This is kind of trying to find the bad light bulb in a string of christmas lights, except instead of dealing with 200 identical bulbs, you have 4 dissimilar PCs.