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Windows Network Question (sorta complex)

Australis

Australis

Writer - Australis
Admiral
We had a power outage a few days ago.

Windows (XP) wouldn't come up, it was on an endless loop on the bootup window. Put in CD, did a repair, got it going, no data lost, all good.

But I couldn't network to the other PCs on the home net. The internet is available on a router, I can see that (obviously), but I can't see the drives/PCs I could before.

Going to the MyComputer icon, right-clicking, selecting Properties, selecting the Computer Name tab, shows the Network ID button is greyed out - can't be selected.

I've tried several things. Running the Network wizard - it keeps asking for the network name, always showing the default (MSHOME), no matter how many times I enter the correct name. Went to Add/Remoce Sware. added some networking components, stuff like that.

It's still the same.

Even my networky guru kid is stumped.

What the hell's gone wrong?

All help appreciated, any further info required or screencaps, just let me know.
 
Click on the button 'change' under the button 'Network ID', perhaps it's set to a workgroup instead of a domain? (Just a wild guess; in order for the 'Network ID' button to work, you'd have to set a domain, not a workgroup).
 
DiSiLLUSiON said:
Click on the button 'change' under the button 'Network ID', perhaps it's set to a workgroup instead of a domain? (Just a wild guess; in order for the 'Network ID' button to work, you'd have to set a domain, not a workgroup).
Click to expand...


No he's only going to have a domain if running XP Pro and tied to a Windows Server.

Having the button greyed out means that's it not available which can often be due to privileges.

Australis are logged in using an account with admin privileges?

Have you tried booting to safe mode to see if you can change it there in case something running is blocking access?

Are all computers getting their IP address from the router?

can you ping the other comptuers on the network both with an IP address and by name?
 
Make sure that the network adapter has the clent for microsoft networks set up.

Maks sure the network adapter has IP settings that matches the rest of your network.

Disillusion, it's probably not a domain issue as it looks like a home setup from his description. I don't even have a PDC running at my house. :)
 
Yes, you are right, it's not likely he's connected to a domain.

Perhaps his computer browsing service isn't on? That greys out the button as well.

If that's the case. Start -> Run -> services.msc -> find 'Computer Browser' or 'Workstation' or something like that (can't check it at the moment, sorry), double click it, select 'automatic' from the dropdown, click 'Start' and click 'Ok'.
 
DiSiLLUSION - when I hit that button, the PC name and workgroup are correct, bu the workgroup section is greyed out. In the apst, that has been editable.

Marc - a/c has admin privileges. Will try safe mode. IP addresses are all manually set (192.168.etc). When I use Angry IP Scanner, I can see the PCs, and can ping them from the command window, by name and IP.

Alpha Geek, the network adapter probabaly isn't the issue. The other PCs are online and can see each other, and mine.

And back to DiSiLLUSION - went to services.msc, Workstation, tried to start the service, got an error message, raising 'services-specific error code 2250', which I'm now off to investigate.

I think the power cut corrupted some files, but the Windows repair didn't fix whatever it was.

Thanks for your help, one and all. I'll get back to you after the message check and a safe mode reboot.

EDIT: well, I think I did all the things suggested. One suggestion I found online was that the registry was screwed up, so I downloaded and ran Ccleaner. Didn't seem to make a difference. Went to the registry and had a look at the external drive info, which is all correct - drive names, that kind of thing.

Now, I went back and tried to map a network drive, as you do. Normally the network name (eg, MS Windows Network) appears and the drives (eg, FredPC (L:)) listed under that. Instead:

screencap.jpg


Nothing. Note, no + box beside any network icon.

Sooo, anything else I can try? I'm pretty stumped.
 
Last edited:
Australis said:
And back to DiSiLLUSION - went to services.msc, Workstation, tried to start the service, got an error message, raising 'services-specific error code 2250', which I'm now off to investigate.
Click to expand...

Even if starting the service doesn't help (it's not a guarantee, just a reasonable guess on my part), it couldn't hurt to try. However, you aren't supposed to get that error code, as far as I know.

I found a Knowledge Base article describing how to fix that error:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;841570

If you fix it and starting Workstation doesn't do anything, at least we can rule out that.
 
^ Well, I tried the sfc and the expand stuff, ande no difference, see the above pic, still the same.

Dammit! I turned System Restore on, I'm sure of it, but there's no damn reset points! Bugger bugger bugger! Very annoying! :klingon:
 
Can you reinstall TCP/IP? The stack might be corrupted.

When you restored, did it turn on the Windows Firewall? If that is on, it could cause some screwups.

Any other firewalls installed? Can you ping other machines from the bad one? Can you ping the bad one from the other PC's?

Can you do a tracert to www.yahoo.com and see where the hops fail. It might be getting blocked at your router.

Did you reboot the entire home network set up? Turn off all pc's, then cycle the power on the router by removing the power cord, let it sit for a minute, then put the power back on? That cycle might refresh something.
 
Luckyflux, yeah, tried all that in one configuration or another. It's not the router, as I can see the Internet no problem, it's the fact I can't see the other PCs on the home network. The firewall was turned on but I turned it off again, as the router has a firewall and antivirus running. I think you're pretty much right in that something's screwed up and I will probably have to, as noname said, re-install (mentioned on some of the forums I checked out), one of my least favourite things,as it'll probably screw up the WinReg, and that means re-installing all the s/ware as well. :(

Ah well, I have a few other CPUs around the place, so I might see if I have a faster one and installt aht as well.

Thanks guys, the advice is appreciated. :techman:
 
Australis said:
Luckyflux, yeah, tried all that in one configuration or another. It's not the router, as I can see the Internet no problem, it's the fact I can't see the other PCs on the home network. The firewall was turned on but I turned it off again, as the router has a firewall and antivirus running. I think you're pretty much right in that something's screwed up and I will probably have to, as noname said, re-install (mentioned on some of the forums I checked out), one of my least favourite things,as it'll probably screw up the WinReg, and that means re-installing all the s/ware as well. :(

Ah well, I have a few other CPUs around the place, so I might see if I have a faster one and installt aht as well.

Thanks guys, the advice is appreciated. :techman:
Click to expand...

Were you able to ping the other computers on the network by both name and IP address?
 
So where are we again? You have the internet (is your IP address in the same range as the others?). You can access the router. But you cannot see other pcs on your home network? Is that it?

So what about the pings? Can you communicate to and fro on your home network? If you can communicate then the OS is screwy, if you can't then the network is screwy.

Maybe there is a domain/workgroup issue? Are they all in the same workgroup? Can you join a domain? Can you change all pc's to a new workgroup? Is simple file sharing turned on? It is off on domains, so your home workgroup might be limiting communication.

Tough one, but we can do it!
 
Marc said:
Were you able to ping the other computers on the network by both name and IP address?
Click to expand...

Luckyflux said:
So where are we again? You have the internet (is your IP address in the same range as the others?). You can access the router. But you cannot see other pcs on your home network? Is that it?
Click to expand...
Yep.

So what about the pings? Can you communicate to and fro on your home network? If you can communicate then the OS is screwy, if you can't then the network is screwy.
Click to expand...
Pinging by name and IP both work.

Maybe there is a domain/workgroup issue? Are they all in the same workgroup? Can you join a domain? Can you change all pc's to a new workgroup? Is simple file sharing turned on? It is off on domains, so your home workgroup might be limiting communication.
Click to expand...
All PCs in the same workgroup. Under MyComputer->Properties-> Naem tab, Network ID is greyed out. Can see correct name though.

Tough one, but we can do it!
Click to expand...
I dunno, it's a tricky one! :) Check the pic above. When you click on one of the network icons, it should show the PCs on the same workgroup/ network as you. Nothing's coming up.

SO re-install may have to be the way to go. :(
 
^ True.

One quick one before I do re-install.

I went in via XP CD Windows Repair Console, and found that NetDDE was disabled. Hmm. Might be the problem, but I couldn't find where to restart it. Any suggestions?
 
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