OT: Lost network

Spot|DSE wrote on 7/6/2005, 9:06 PM
Anyone ever had this happen? If so, how do you recover?

Took 2 laptops to NYC. Hotel had weird connection issues, so had to change dynamic IP to static IP in hotel.

When done, put 'puters back to dynamic.

Got home, connected to office network, I can connect both to internet.
Neither will connect to system network.
Both are seen on system network, both can see the system network.
When I attempt to access either from network to laptops, or from laptop to network, I get a message that says "Network not accessible, you may not have permission, etc, etc."

If I access the ipconfig of whatever machine on the network I want to access, and use that IP in my command prompt of the laptop, I can get on the network via that method, but I need to access several different computers and printers at one time and can't access this way.
Mapping to a specific computer won't work, because as soon as that computer is rebooted, the dynamic address shifts of both the laptops and/or the desktop.

I've run LSPFix, I've run every network utility I can think of, I've rejoined the network on both laptops.

I know it's not the server or switch, or DSL modem, as there are laptops and desktops that didn't travel that all access the network just fine. Both Mac's and PC's are connected, and as mentioned, desktops and laptops can see these two laptops that traveled. And the two laptops can see the other desktops and laptops. The network is a mix of wired and wireless. The two laptops have been tried both wired and wireless as to trying to access.

This is incredibly frustrating. Any good IT guys out there?

Comments

TheHappyFriar wrote on 7/6/2005, 9:23 PM
So just windows networking won't work, right? you can still ftp, ping, etc. to & from the laptops?

If that's true, did you change your username/password on eigther of the laptops while in NYC? I've had issues with Windows machines (2k & XP) where if the name/password used wasn't on every computer windows networking wouldn't work. They'd go in the i-net, ftp, ping, show up in the routers, but windows networking didn't like it.
Spot|DSE wrote on 7/6/2005, 9:46 PM
No changes to user names, passwords, nada.
Exactly right tho, Windows Networking just doesn't like whatever happened.
Seems to be WINS related.
dreamlx wrote on 7/6/2005, 9:51 PM
Can you please post the output of ipconfig /all ? As a sidenode, didn't you receive my mails or didn't I receive you replys ?
typo wrote on 7/7/2005, 10:31 AM
Spot,


I'm assuming you didn't join to a domain on those? TCP/IP wasn't accidentally removed & NetBEUI added, right?
(=>To see if you're a workgroup:
Windows Key+Pause/Break Key->Computer Name->Change->(shows) Member of (Workgroup). That's the place where you'll be changing DNS suffix when domain membership changes as well.)

1. To see other PCs in a workgroup: DEFAULT: DHCP server -- ENABLE NetBIOS over TCP/IP

Right click on adapter in Network Connections-> Properties->Under General tab->click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)->Properties->Advanced
->WINS tab->Check "DEFAULT: DHCP server -- ENABLE NetBIOS over TCP/IP".

----

additional ideas:

2. Temporarily disable the XP firewall if it's running simultaneously w/the other f/w: eg Norton f/w might be blocking them, even tho it might appear NOT to be set.

3. If you originally set the RULES for the workgroup computers, - check which permissions might have been accidentally changed.

4. In the Network Adapter Properties->CONFIGURE->YES (to proceed)->Advanced->& make sure the Value is on AUTO!

5. Check the Event Viewer error log:
Windows Key+R(un)->eventvwr->System/Application
and google the error event ID's.

6. Since the rest of the network is functioning except for those two laptops, - did you try recreating the network settings from the 'working' hosts onto these two laptops?
---


Mapping the Network drive: My Computer->rightclick->Map Network Drive



TIP: accessing the Network Connections:

a) Windows Key+R(un)->ncpa.cpl

b) Rightclick your Network Adapter->Properties->Show icon...
(to appear in the systray: and then eg choose "always hide" in the Taskbar & Start Menu Properties)

c) Rightclick the taskbar->Properties->Start Menu->Customize->Advanced->Put a check mark against:
->Control Panel (Display as a menu);
->My Network Places;
->Network Connections (Display as Connect to menu)->OK->Apply->OK


HTH,
Tai Poe

GlennChan wrote on 7/7/2005, 8:31 PM
Hey Spot,
possible solution:
http://www.experts-exchange.com/Networking/Microsoft_Network/Q_20847982.html

Problem Solved !!

Easy fix:
I put up two .reg files that will make the registry changes for you.
http://glennchan.info/Proofs/Spot/
Download and double-click on them.

WIth the keys in place, try:
start
run
type in "cmd" without quotes, hit enter
type in "ipconfig /renew" (enter)
This should give you a new DHCP address thing.

2- Something else you can try:
Whatever computer you want to connect to, give it a static IP. EXAMPLE: 192.168.1.200 (dlink routers would be 192.168.0.200 or something like that)
Create a shared folder with a name that's easy to type. EXAMPLE: foldershare

Connect to the computer through mapping a network share.
In explorer:
Tools
Map Network Drive
Under folder, type in \\192.168.1.200\foldershare
*Avoid the server name. Using the IP gets around certain restrictions.
In the folder is password protected, click on login using a different user name and type the appropriate information in.
Hit finish

Conversely, you can setup your laptop with a static IP and push files onto it.

3- Try enabling printer and file sharing. In Network connections, get properties on your LAN connection and click the check box. (It's likely already enabled though.)
Try disabling fire wall??

For troubleshooting, you can type in "net view" from command prompt (the start --> run --> cmd thing) to see if your computer can see other computers in your workground.

Try changing your workgroup to whatever every other computer is. Its usually MSHOME or WORKGROUP.

4- Workaround: If you're really stuck, you can try installing a FTP server. There are some free ones out there, and some with trials (i.e. bulletproof FTP... easy to setup).

5- Try running whatever error message you get through Google.

Hope something above fixes your problem.
typo wrote on 7/8/2005, 1:48 AM


Spot,


There might be a very easy way out after all...

Check out this nifty new wizard in XP:

Network ID Wizard will just add those two laptops back to the network and overwrite all of the previous settings without any more manual tweaks.

Windows Key+Pause/Break Key->Computer Name->Network ID launches this totally self-explanatory wizard:

a) select Option 1 (computer is part of a network...)
b) select Option (b): My Co. uses a network without a domain.
-->this will allow you to configure as a workgroup member and you'll type the name of the workgroup.


HTH,
Tai Poe