Computer no longer visible in My Network Places

[Lew]

For a year and a half, the three computers on my home network worked
fine. I have an HP and Gateway wired to a Netgear WGT624 router
upstairs, and a Dell notebook operating wirelessly downstairs. Each
computer could see the other two computers in My Network Places, and
they could all access the folders I named Dell Shared Docs, HP Shared
Docs, and Gateway Shared Docs. It is real handy being able to have
all three computers able to access any of those folders.

Upstream of the router is a cable modem.

A week or so ago, the Gateway disappeared. Its "My Network Places"
only shows Gateway Shared Docs. The HP Shared Docs and the Dell
Shared Docs are not there anymore. The Gateway is still working with
the router and cable modem okay because it works the internet just
fine. It just can't put anything in the folders of the other two
computers, nor can it read anything in those folders.

The HP and Dell computers can see each other, and work each others'
folders as always. Neither can see the Gateway computer or its
Gateway Shared Docs folder.

The windows firewalls are all off. I recently installed updates for
Zone Alarm Internet Security Suite on all computers.

Any ideas?

Thanks for any info,

Lew

 

[Robert L. \(MS-MVP\)]

It could be the computer browser issue. Any errors in the Event Viewer?
Computer Browser
The computer browser is to display a directory of all known computers
or domains that the computer can reach. The purpose of the browser service
is to ...
www.chicagotech.net/browser.htm - Similar pages

Troubleshooting computer browsing issues
The Computer Browser service on local computer started and stopped ·
The Computer Browser service terminated with the following error: This
operation ...
www.chicagotech.net/computerbrowsingissues.htm


--
Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
http://www.HowToNetworking.com

 

[Chuck [MVP]]

For a year and a half, the three computers on my home network worked
fine. I have an HP and Gateway wired to a Netgear WGT624 router
upstairs, and a Dell notebook operating wirelessly downstairs. Each
computer could see the other two computers in My Network Places, and
they could all access the folders I named Dell Shared Docs, HP Shared
Docs, and Gateway Shared Docs. It is real handy being able to have
all three computers able to access any of those folders.

Upstream of the router is a cable modem.

A week or so ago, the Gateway disappeared. Its "My Network Places"
only shows Gateway Shared Docs. The HP Shared Docs and the Dell
Shared Docs are not there anymore. The Gateway is still working with
the router and cable modem okay because it works the internet just
fine. It just can't put anything in the folders of the other two
computers, nor can it read anything in those folders.

The HP and Dell computers can see each other, and work each others'
folders as always. Neither can see the Gateway computer or its
Gateway Shared Docs folder.

The windows firewalls are all off. I recently installed updates for
Zone Alarm Internet Security Suite on all computers.

Any ideas?

Thanks for any info,

Lew

Lew,

Problems with visibility in My Network Places are almost always caused by
misconfigured or overlooked personal firewalls. If you just updated Zone Alarm,
I'd bet excellent odds that your problem started there.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html

If you want to diagnose the problem, look at logs from "browstat status" and
"ipconfig /all", from each computer. Read this article, and linked articles,
and follow instructions precisely (download browstat!):
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.