Cannot PING gateway in LAN, cannot browse files

[soum.paul]

Hi,

I have grown half bald in trying to figure out this problem.

My home network consists of an XP-SP2 machine, which works as the
internet gateway (running DHCP). This then also connects to a hub,
which in turn has an:

iBook,
a Windows XP-SP1,
2 Windows XP Laptops

All the computers can surf the internet. Sometimes I also connect a
wireless router with the hub, to be able to use Airport Extreme. I have
disabled the DHCP in the router.

There are two problems that I am facing:

1. Cannot browse Files and Folders from XP-SP1 (need it badly)

The iBook and other XP laptops can see and browse the files on the
gateway server (which serves as a backup server with huge disk space as
well...), BUT they cannot browse using the hostname, but only the IP
(192.168.0.1). The XP-SP1 desktop, however, cannot even browse using
IP. Its files and folders are not visible to the gateway comp, or any
other computers in the network.

2. Cannot ping anything from XP-SP1 (though other computers can ping
it)

The ping works between all computers except the XP-SP1. Other computers
can ping the XP-SP1 (which has a DHCP assigned IP). XP-SP1 cannot ping
ANYONE... neither gateway or any of the computers. Not even yahoo or
google.

There is no firewall running. The only anti-virus software is AVG, and
that, I believe, doesn't have an internet security component like
Norton.

I have used Browstat.exe

Both on Gateway and XP-SP1, it gives the following message: "Browsing
is NOT active on domain"

I am close to running out of disk space on the XP-SP1 and I need to
backup the folders on the server. Unfortunately, its an editing
machine, and without that functionality, I am kinda screwed.

Can someone help me?

Thanks,
Soum

 

[AmericanTechie]

Hi,

I have grown half bald in trying to figure out this problem.

My home network consists of an XP-SP2 machine, which works as the
internet gateway (running DHCP). This then also connects to a hub,
which in turn has an:

iBook,
a Windows XP-SP1,
2 Windows XP Laptops

All the computers can surf the internet. Sometimes I also connect a
wireless router with the hub, to be able to use Airport Extreme. I have
disabled the DHCP in the router.

There are two problems that I am facing:

1. Cannot browse Files and Folders from XP-SP1 (need it badly)

The iBook and other XP laptops can see and browse the files on the
gateway server (which serves as a backup server with huge disk space as
well...), BUT they cannot browse using the hostname, but only the IP
(192.168.0.1). The XP-SP1 desktop, however, cannot even browse using
IP. Its files and folders are not visible to the gateway comp, or any
other computers in the network.

2. Cannot ping anything from XP-SP1 (though other computers can ping
it)

The ping works between all computers except the XP-SP1. Other computers
can ping the XP-SP1 (which has a DHCP assigned IP). XP-SP1 cannot ping
ANYONE... neither gateway or any of the computers. Not even yahoo or
google.

There is no firewall running. The only anti-virus software is AVG, and
that, I believe, doesn't have an internet security component like
Norton.

I have used Browstat.exe

Both on Gateway and XP-SP1, it gives the following message: "Browsing
is NOT active on domain"

I am close to running out of disk space on the XP-SP1 and I need to
backup the folders on the server. Unfortunately, its an editing
machine, and without that functionality, I am kinda screwed.

Can someone help me?

Thanks,
Soum

The strange thing here is that "XP-SP1" can browse the internet but
cannot ping the gateway. So essentially this computer is connecting to
the gateway to get an IP address and browse, but ping is not getting
through. It doesn't seem right. There is not anything blocking ping on
the gateway because other computers are able to ping the gateway. Can
this computer ping an address outside the network such as yahoo.com?

The first thing I would do is reboot "XP-SP1" into safemode with
networking support and try everything again. If you get good results
that might indicate something installed on XP-SP1 is causing a problem.

 

[soum.paul]

OK. So I tried the Safe Mode with Networking way (writing this email
through that)... but doesn't help. Still can't ping ANYONE at all! I
don't get it. Firewall is off. Everyone else can ping everyone else.

And, to add on the this weird issue - I tried transferring my files
(from XP-SP1) through a ftp server-client setup. The speeds I got were
around 4KBps-8KBps. Whereas, I can happily upload files from my iBook
in seconds with extremely high LAN-like speeds.

Whats happening?!!!

 

[soum.paul]

I cannot ping any sites outside as well. I am sure some setting is
blocking outgoing ICMP packets... but even that doesn't tell me why I
cannot join MSHOME and get slow FTP transfer speeds.

 

[AmericanTechie]

I cannot ping any sites outside as well. I am sure some setting is
blocking outgoing ICMP packets... but even that doesn't tell me why I
cannot join MSHOME and get slow FTP transfer speeds.

The first thing I would be concerned about is ping. Ping is one of the
most basic network functionalities and if this does not work then who
knows what else might be going on. Because the problem is so weird I
would try doing a whole bunch of tests such as the following...

*Connect XP-SP1 directly to the internet connection and see if it still
has a problem pinging outside sites. See if outside FTP access is slow.

*Try making some changes to the network. Unplug all computers except
XP-SP1 and the gateway computer. Try plugging XP-SP1 into different
ports of the network device, try a different cable, if possible try a
different networking device (not sure if you are using a hub, switch, or
router here but if you have something else handy give it a shot.)

*You tried safemode with networking. Put the gateway computer into
safemode with networking support at the same time.

*If all else fails you could try other network protocols such as Netbeui
or IPX/SPX.

Try to brainstorm more simple tests. The more poking and prodding you
do the more you will find out about the network.

I hate Windows networking. I did tech support for Microsoft when
support was still handled in America and it was always the worst type of
call to take. Today I am using a Linux box that has an FTP server to
store my files. I also store important files at strongspace.com and
sync the folders. File sharing is just a pain and I never use it.

By the way, how long has this been a problem? Has it ever worked right?

 

[AmericanTechie]

I cannot ping any sites outside as well. I am sure some setting is
blocking outgoing ICMP packets... but even that doesn't tell me why I
cannot join MSHOME and get slow FTP transfer speeds.

By the way, I would suggest not posting from Google Groups. Your email
address is displayed and it will get harvested by the spammers. Better
to use a news reader or go to Microsoft.com and use the web based system
there. In any scenario don't list your real email address.