all of a sudden no Windows Network

[FKlassen]

Hello,

I have a small office with about 20 networked computers.
Some Win 98 - some Vista - mostly XP.
Strangest thing has happened - almost none of the PCs can see any other PCs
on the network.
In Windows Explorer if I click "My Network Places" - then "Entire Network" -
then "Microsoft Windows Network" it takes a long time for Windows to
discover the name of our network - although it always does. Then if I click
on our workgroup I get a message "Workgroup is not accessable..you might not
have permission to use this network resource" and "The network path was
not found"

This happens on every XP and Win98 PC I have tested so far.

I have two Vista PCs that I use in my office and the main one can see all of
the other Vista PCs in the office but none of the XP or Win98. The other
Vista PC can see all PCs on the Network.

I thought maybe it was a recent security update so I reinstalled Win XP on a
test PC that I have here - and then ugraded to SP2 - it can't see any other
PCs on the network either and acts as described above.

I have rebooted the router / firewall (DHCP server) and re-booted the two
network switches. No change.

Strangely enough all PCs and shared folders are still accessable by
enteriung the PC name as \\ken (for example).

Internet works and email is still working.

Now the oither odd thing is I have a few PCs networked at home and the same
thing has happened - the Vista PC will not recognize the Win XP PC - this is
a very recent occurance and the Win XP PC can still be accessed by enetering
its name as \\PC_Name

And help would certainly be appreciated.

F. Klassen

 

[Chuck [MVP]]

Hello,

I have a small office with about 20 networked computers.
Some Win 98 - some Vista - mostly XP.
Strangest thing has happened - almost none of the PCs can see any other PCs
on the network.
In Windows Explorer if I click "My Network Places" - then "Entire Network" -
then "Microsoft Windows Network" it takes a long time for Windows to
discover the name of our network - although it always does. Then if I click
on our workgroup I get a message "Workgroup is not accessable..you might not
have permission to use this network resource" and "The network path was
not found"

This happens on every XP and Win98 PC I have tested so far.

I have two Vista PCs that I use in my office and the main one can see all of
the other Vista PCs in the office but none of the XP or Win98. The other
Vista PC can see all PCs on the Network.

I thought maybe it was a recent security update so I reinstalled Win XP on a
test PC that I have here - and then ugraded to SP2 - it can't see any other
PCs on the network either and acts as described above.

I have rebooted the router / firewall (DHCP server) and re-booted the two
network switches. No change.

Strangely enough all PCs and shared folders are still accessable by
enteriung the PC name as \\ken (for example).

Internet works and email is still working.

Now the oither odd thing is I have a few PCs networked at home and the same
thing has happened - the Vista PC will not recognize the Win XP PC - this is
a very recent occurance and the Win XP PC can still be accessed by enetering
its name as \\PC_Name

And help would certainly be appreciated.

F. Klassen

Ability to see all the computers from each other starts with consistent NetBT
settings, and properly setup personal firewalls and antivirus protection.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/07/advanced-windows-networking-using.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/07/advanced-windows-networking-using.html

With Windows 9x and Windows NT (NT, 2000, XP, Vista) mixed on the LAN, you have
special challenges.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/windows-9x-9598me-and-browser.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/windows-9x-9598me-and-browser.html

And, read about challenges presented with Windows Vista.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/12/windows-xp-and-vista-on-lan-together.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/12/windows-xp-and-vista-on-lan-together.html

Start with all computers explicitly in the same workgroup. Then diagnose the
problem, using logs from "browstat status", "ipconfig /all", "net config
server", and "net config workstation", from each computer running Vista or XP.
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

Then take the workgroup name from one of the computers running Windows XP /
Vista, and plug it into "browstat listwfw workgroup" where YOU change
"workgroup" to workgroup name. Run "browstat listwfw workgroup" from each
computer running Vista or XP also.

--
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.

 

[Fklassen]

Hello,

I have a small office with about 20 networked computers.
Some Win 98 - some Vista - mostly XP.
Strangest thing has happened - almost none of the PCs can see any other
PCs
on the network.
In Windows Explorer if I click "My Network Places" - then "Entire
Network" -
then "Microsoft Windows Network" it takes a long time for Windows to
discover the name of our network - although it always does. Then if I
click
on our workgroup I get a message "Workgroup is not accessable..you might
not
have permission to use this network resource" and "The network path was
not found"

This happens on every XP and Win98 PC I have tested so far.

I have two Vista PCs that I use in my office and the main one can see all
of
the other Vista PCs in the office but none of the XP or Win98. The other
Vista PC can see all PCs on the Network.

I thought maybe it was a recent security update so I reinstalled Win XP on
a
test PC that I have here - and then ugraded to SP2 - it can't see any
other
PCs on the network either and acts as described above.

I have rebooted the router / firewall (DHCP server) and re-booted the two
network switches. No change.

Strangely enough all PCs and shared folders are still accessable by
enteriung the PC name as \\ken (for example).

Internet works and email is still working.

Now the oither odd thing is I have a few PCs networked at home and the
same
thing has happened - the Vista PC will not recognize the Win XP PC - this
is
a very recent occurance and the Win XP PC can still be accessed by
enetering
its name as \\PC_Name

And help would certainly be appreciated.

F. Klassen

Ability to see all the computers from each other starts with consistent
NetBT
settings, and properly setup personal firewalls and antivirus protection.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/07/advanced-windows-networking-using.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/07/advanced-windows-networking-using.html

With Windows 9x and Windows NT (NT, 2000, XP, Vista) mixed on the LAN, you
have
special challenges.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/windows-9x-9598me-and-browser.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/windows-9x-9598me-and-browser.html

And, read about challenges presented with Windows Vista.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/12/windows-xp-and-vista-on-lan-together.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/12/windows-xp-and-vista-on-lan-together.html

Start with all computers explicitly in the same workgroup. Then diagnose
the
problem, using logs from "browstat status", "ipconfig /all", "net config
server", and "net config workstation", from each computer running Vista or
XP.
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

Then take the workgroup name from one of the computers running Windows XP
/
Vista, and plug it into "browstat listwfw workgroup" where YOU change
"workgroup" to workgroup name. Run "browstat listwfw workgroup" from each
computer running Vista or XP also.

--
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.

Thanks - I will look into your suggestions but what stymies me is why after
many years of having a stable XP + Win98 network and after months and months
of having a stable XP + 98 +Vista network it all-of-a-sudden wants to start
acting goofy. J*sus I hate these f*ck*ng computers.

I'm sending this response from home PC. Turned off Symantec Endpoint
protection (which I am testing here) - now I can see the XP PC on the
network.
Can't see my self though ( the Vista PC). Turned Endpoint back on - I can
see both PCs - then I try it again - can't see anything on the network - not
even me!!!

Start up my XP laptop - can see the Vista PC, can see the other XP PC and
can see my self (the laptop). Can access all shared files on XP PC but
can`t even see the shared printer on the Vista PC.

Unreal.

 

[Chuck [MVP]]

Thanks - I will look into your suggestions but what stymies me is why after
many years of having a stable XP + Win98 network and after months and months
of having a stable XP + 98 +Vista network it all-of-a-sudden wants to start
acting goofy. J*sus I hate these f*ck*ng computers.

I'm sending this response from home PC. Turned off Symantec Endpoint
protection (which I am testing here) - now I can see the XP PC on the
network.
Can't see my self though ( the Vista PC). Turned Endpoint back on - I can
see both PCs - then I try it again - can't see anything on the network - not
even me!!!

Start up my XP laptop - can see the Vista PC, can see the other XP PC and
can see my self (the laptop). Can access all shared files on XP PC but
can`t even see the shared printer on the Vista PC.

Unreal.

Not familiar with "Symantec Endpoint", but if it has a switch, and if using the
switch changes what you see, I'd bet strongly that it's at the core of the
problem. When did you start "testing" it? Anything by Symantec probably has
the capability to interfere with SMBs, and SMBs are the core of Windows
Networking.

Read about the browser - what I cited above, plus my main article.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/04/nt-browser-or-why-cant-i-always-see.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/04/nt-browser-or-why-cant-i-always-see.html

--
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.

 

[FKlassen]

Thanks - I will look into your suggestions but what stymies me is why
after
many years of having a stable XP + Win98 network and after months and
months
of having a stable XP + 98 +Vista network it all-of-a-sudden wants to
start
acting goofy. J*sus I hate these f*ck*ng computers.

I'm sending this response from home PC. Turned off Symantec Endpoint
protection (which I am testing here) - now I can see the XP PC on the
network.
Can't see my self though ( the Vista PC). Turned Endpoint back on - I can
see both PCs - then I try it again - can't see anything on the network -
not
even me!!!

Start up my XP laptop - can see the Vista PC, can see the other XP PC
and
can see my self (the laptop). Can access all shared files on XP PC but
can`t even see the shared printer on the Vista PC.

Unreal.

Not familiar with "Symantec Endpoint", but if it has a switch, and if
using the
switch changes what you see, I'd bet strongly that it's at the core of the
problem. When did you start "testing" it? Anything by Symantec probably
has
the capability to interfere with SMBs, and SMBs are the core of Windows
Networking.

Read about the browser - what I cited above, plus my main article.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/04/nt-browser-or-why-cant-i-always-see.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/04/nt-browser-or-why-cant-i-always-see.html

--
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.

Symantec Endpoint is their NEW Anti-virus / firewall / anti-phishing thing
that is taking over from Symantec Anti-Virus.
I have it on two PCs: my home PC and my second office PC - which is the
only PC in the office that can see all the other PCs.
Very strange.

 

[Chuck [MVP]]

Symantec Endpoint is their NEW Anti-virus / firewall / anti-phishing thing
that is taking over from Symantec Anti-Virus.
I have it on two PCs: my home PC and my second office PC - which is the
only PC in the office that can see all the other PCs.
Very strange.

Take a few minutes, if you will, and do some searches on "Norton" and "Symantec"
in this forum. You'll find a few discussions like yours. Symantec software is
known for its tendency to interfere with SMBs, which is the root of your
problem. Not at all very strange.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/07/advanced-windows-networking-using.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/07/advanced-windows-networking-using.html

--
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.