Computer disappearing from home network

C

cr48202

I am having a problem with a single computer (hard wired to router) on
my home network (workgroup) disappearing from the network. What I
mean by this is that is no longer appears in the list of computers
part of the workgroup (My Network Places -> Entire Network ->
Microsoft Windows Network -> Home). I can ping this computer without
problem from other computers. I can search for the computer name and
find it and view the resources that I have shared from other
computers. It just will not show up in the list if I go through My
Network Places -> Entire Network -> Microsoft Windows Network ->
Home. I have double checked all the IP settings and they are
correct. The computer has a hard coded IP address.

Is there a way to easily re-install the network drivers (tcpip on this
computer)? Is there an easy fix to this problem (the easier the
better)?

Thanks,
CR
 
C

Chuck [MVP]

I am having a problem with a single computer (hard wired to router) on
my home network (workgroup) disappearing from the network. What I
mean by this is that is no longer appears in the list of computers
part of the workgroup (My Network Places -> Entire Network ->
Microsoft Windows Network -> Home). I can ping this computer without
problem from other computers. I can search for the computer name and
find it and view the resources that I have shared from other
computers. It just will not show up in the list if I go through My
Network Places -> Entire Network -> Microsoft Windows Network ->
Home. I have double checked all the IP settings and they are
correct. The computer has a hard coded IP address.

Is there a way to easily re-install the network drivers (tcpip on this
computer)? Is there an easy fix to this problem (the easier the
better)?

Thanks,
CR
Click to expand...

CR,

If you're able to ping, and locate the computer manually, I'd not bet on
re-installing network drivers as a solution.

One of the most common causes of this problem would be a misconfigured or
overlooked personal firewall, or other security component.
<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

Also look at the NetBT setting for all computers.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/07/advanced-windows-networking-using.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/07/advanced-windows-networking-using.html

Look at the logs from "browstat status" and "ipconfig /all", from the problem
computer, and 2 of the others, and diagnose the problem. 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.
 
C

cr48202

I am having a problem with a single computer (hard wired to router) on
my home network (workgroup) disappearing from the network. What I
mean by this is that is no longer appears in the list of computers
part of the workgroup (My Network Places -> Entire Network ->
Microsoft Windows Network -> Home). I can ping this computer without
problem from other computers. I can search for the computer name and
find it and view the resources that I have shared from other
computers. It just will not show up in the list if I go through My
Network Places -> Entire Network -> Microsoft Windows Network ->
Home. I have double checked all the IP settings and they are
correct. The computer has a hard coded IP address.
Click to expand...
Is there a way to easily re-install the network drivers (tcpip on this
computer)? Is there an easy fix to this problem (the easier the
better)?
Click to expand...
Thanks,
CR
Click to expand...

CR,

If you're able to ping, and locate the computer manually, I'd not bet on
re-installing network drivers as a solution.

One of the most common causes of this problem would be a misconfigured or
overlooked personal firewall, or other security component.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-eith...>http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-eith...

Also look at the NetBT setting for all computers.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/07/advanced-windows-networking-usi...>http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/07/advanced-windows-networking-usi...

Look at the logs from "browstat status" and "ipconfig /all", from the problem
computer, and 2 of the others, and diagnose the problem. Read this article, and
linked articles, and follow instructions precisely (download browstat!):
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighbo...>http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighbo...

--
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.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -
Click to expand...

Chuck,

When I get home I will try these things out. One thing I forgot to
mention in the initial post is that after the computer first boots, it
is seen on the network in the workgroup. But after 5 minutes or so it
disappears. I don't believe it is the firewall causing problem as I
reinstalled the firewall (zap) from scratch (first uninstalling, clean
up the registry, then reinstall). Windows firewall is disabled.

I will post my results.

CR
 
C

cr48202

If you're able to ping, and locate thecomputermanually, I'd not bet on
re-installingnetworkdrivers as a solution.
Click to expand...
One of the most common causes of this problem would be a misconfigured or
overlooked personal firewall, or other security component.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-eith...>http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-eith...
Click to expand...
Also look at the NetBT setting for all computers.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/07/advanced-windows-networking-usi...>http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/07/advanced-windows-networking-usi...
Click to expand...
Look at the logs from "browstat status" and "ipconfig /all", from the problem
computer, and 2 of the others, and diagnose the problem. Read this article, and
linked articles, and follow instructions precisely (download browstat!):
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighbo...>http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighbo...
Click to expand...
--
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.- Hide quoted text -
Click to expand...
- Show quoted text -
Click to expand...

Chuck,

When I gethomeI will try these things out. One thing I forgot to
mention in the initial post is that after thecomputerfirst boots, it
is seen on thenetworkin the workgroup. But after 5 minutes or so itdisappears. I don't believe it is the firewall causing problem as I
reinstalled the firewall (zap) from scratch (first uninstalling, clean
up the registry, then reinstall). Windows firewall is disabled.

I will post my results.

CR
Click to expand...

I have noticed that the computer that disappears can initially see all
the computers on the network but after a few minutes can only see
itself in the HOME workgroup. I have also noticed that on the
computers that are working the the computer that disappears initially
show up but disappears within a few minutes. After it disappears, I
can go to run and enter the ip address and the shares display. But if
I enter the computer name instead it says "network path not found". I
have run the diagnostics as instructed on your webpage. The
diagnostics from the computer that disappears from the network is as
follows

IPCONFIG
========

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : sebboh
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Hamachi:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Hamachi Network Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 7A-79-05-25-48-55
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 5.37.72.85
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.0.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 5.0.0.1
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, July 31, 2007
7:20:14 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, July 31, 2007
7:20:44 PM

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/100 VE
Network Connection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-11-11-86-CD-DC
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.4
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.4
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled


Net Config
========

Server Name \\SEBBOH
Server Comment

Software version Windows 2002
Server is active on
NetbiosSmb (000000000000)
NetBT_Tcpip_{9D4D4829-D33F-41E1-A7CF-6A94F2C34C07} (7a7905254855)


Server hidden No
Maximum Logged On Users 10
Maximum open files per session 16384

Idle session time (min) 15
The command completed successfully.


Browstat
=======

Status for domain HOME on transport \Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{9D4D4829-
D33F-41E1-A7CF-6A94F2C34C07}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: SEBBOH
Master browser is running build 2600
1 backup servers retrieved from master SEBBOH
\\SEBBOH
There are 1 servers in domain HOME on transport \Device
\NetBT_Tcpip_{9D4D4829-D33F-41E1-A7CF-6A94F2C34C07}
There are 1 domains in domain HOME on transport \Device
\NetBT_Tcpip_{9D4D4829-D33F-41E1-A7CF-6A94F2C34C07}


On the working computer, the logs are as follows

Ipconfig
======

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : messedupdell
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/100 VE
Network Connection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0C-F1-8D-E3-99
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.15
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.4
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.4


Netconfig
=======

Server Name \\MESSEDUPDELL
Server Comment

Software version Windows 2002
Server is active on
NetbiosSmb (000000000000)
NetBT_Tcpip_{49A1384F-8DE4-46AA-9092-99F074426775} (000cf18de399)


Server hidden No
Maximum Logged On Users 10
Maximum open files per session 16384

Idle session time (min) 15
The command completed successfully.


Browstat
=======

Status for domain HOME on transport \Device
\NetBT_Tcpip_{49A1384F-8DE4-46AA-9092-99F074426775}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: NASLITE
Could not open key in registry, error = -1073741790 Unable to
determine build of browser master: -1073741790
\\\\NASLITE . Version:04.09 Flags: 9a03 NT SERVER
1 backup servers retrieved from master NASLITE
\\NASLITE
There are 3 servers in domain HOME on transport \Device
\NetBT_Tcpip_{49A1384F-8DE4-46AA-9092-99F074426775}
There are 1 domains in domain HOME on transport \Device
\NetBT_Tcpip_{49A1384F-8DE4-46AA-9092-99F074426775}


Thanks,
CR
 
C

Chuck [MVP]

I have noticed that the computer that disappears can initially see all
the computers on the network but after a few minutes can only see
itself in the HOME workgroup. I have also noticed that on the
computers that are working the the computer that disappears initially
show up but disappears within a few minutes. After it disappears, I
can go to run and enter the ip address and the shares display. But if
I enter the computer name instead it says "network path not found". I
have run the diagnostics as instructed on your webpage. The
diagnostics from the computer that disappears from the network is as
follows

IPCONFIG
========

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : sebboh
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Hamachi:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Hamachi Network Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 7A-79-05-25-48-55
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 5.37.72.85
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.0.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 5.0.0.1
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, July 31, 2007
7:20:14 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, July 31, 2007
7:20:44 PM

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/100 VE
Network Connection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-11-11-86-CD-DC
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.4
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.4
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled


Net Config
========

Server Name \\SEBBOH
Server Comment

Software version Windows 2002
Server is active on
NetbiosSmb (000000000000)
NetBT_Tcpip_{9D4D4829-D33F-41E1-A7CF-6A94F2C34C07} (7a7905254855)


Server hidden No
Maximum Logged On Users 10
Maximum open files per session 16384

Idle session time (min) 15
The command completed successfully.


Browstat
=======

Status for domain HOME on transport \Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{9D4D4829-
D33F-41E1-A7CF-6A94F2C34C07}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: SEBBOH
Master browser is running build 2600
1 backup servers retrieved from master SEBBOH
\\SEBBOH
There are 1 servers in domain HOME on transport \Device
\NetBT_Tcpip_{9D4D4829-D33F-41E1-A7CF-6A94F2C34C07}
There are 1 domains in domain HOME on transport \Device
\NetBT_Tcpip_{9D4D4829-D33F-41E1-A7CF-6A94F2C34C07}


On the working computer, the logs are as follows

Ipconfig
======

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : messedupdell
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/100 VE
Network Connection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0C-F1-8D-E3-99
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.15
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.4
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.4


Netconfig
=======

Server Name \\MESSEDUPDELL
Server Comment

Software version Windows 2002
Server is active on
NetbiosSmb (000000000000)
NetBT_Tcpip_{49A1384F-8DE4-46AA-9092-99F074426775} (000cf18de399)


Server hidden No
Maximum Logged On Users 10
Maximum open files per session 16384

Idle session time (min) 15
The command completed successfully.


Browstat
=======

Status for domain HOME on transport \Device
\NetBT_Tcpip_{49A1384F-8DE4-46AA-9092-99F074426775}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: NASLITE
Could not open key in registry, error = -1073741790 Unable to
determine build of browser master: -1073741790
\\\\NASLITE . Version:04.09 Flags: 9a03 NT SERVER
1 backup servers retrieved from master NASLITE
\\NASLITE
There are 3 servers in domain HOME on transport \Device
\NetBT_Tcpip_{49A1384F-8DE4-46AA-9092-99F074426775}
There are 1 domains in domain HOME on transport \Device
\NetBT_Tcpip_{49A1384F-8DE4-46AA-9092-99F074426775}


Thanks,
CR
Click to expand...

Hi CR,

The problem isn't hard to find, when you know what to look for. The solution
now may be another story.
IPCONFIG
========

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : sebboh
Click to expand...
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Hamachi Network Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 7A-79-05-25-48-55
Click to expand...
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/100 VE
Network Connection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-11-11-86-CD-DC
Click to expand...
Net Config
========

Server Name \\SEBBOH
Server Comment

Software version Windows 2002
Server is active on
NetbiosSmb (000000000000)
NetBT_Tcpip_{9D4D4829-D33F-41E1-A7CF-6A94F2C34C07} (7a7905254855)
Click to expand...
Browstat
=======

Status for domain HOME on transport \Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{9D4D4829-
D33F-41E1-A7CF-6A94F2C34C07}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: SEBBOH
Master browser is running build 2600
1 backup servers retrieved from master SEBBOH
\\SEBBOH
There are 1 servers in domain HOME on transport \Device
\NetBT_Tcpip_{9D4D4829-D33F-41E1-A7CF-6A94F2C34C07}
There are 1 domains in domain HOME on transport \Device
\NetBT_Tcpip_{9D4D4829-D33F-41E1-A7CF-6A94F2C34C07}
Click to expand...

Start with the browstat log.
Status for domain HOME on transport \Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{9D4D4829-
D33F-41E1-A7CF-6A94F2C34C07}
Click to expand...

Look at the net config log.
NetBT_Tcpip_{9D4D4829-D33F-41E1-A7CF-6A94F2C34C07} (7a7905254855)
Click to expand...

So now we look for "7a7905254855" in the ipconfig log.
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Hamachi Network Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 7A-79-05-25-48-55
Click to expand...

Dohh. Another VPN gets in the way.

My suggestion is you start by un installing the Hamachi client, then rerun the
diagnostics and see if you get better result.

You'll want the net config log to show
NetBT_Tcpip_{9D4D4829-D33F-41E1-A7CF-6A94F2C34C07} (00111186CDDC)
Click to expand...

which would point to
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/100 VE
Network Connection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-11-11-86-CD-DC
Click to expand...

--
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.
 
C

cr48202

Hi CR,

The problem isn't hard to find, when you know what to look for. The solution
now may be another story.













Start with the browstat log.


Look at the net config log.


So now we look for "7a7905254855" in the ipconfig log.


Dohh. Another VPN gets in the way.

My suggestion is you start by un installing the Hamachi client, then rerun the
diagnostics and see if you get better result.

You'll want the net config log to show


which would point to




...

read more »- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -
Click to expand...

Chuck,

Hamachi was in fact the culprit. When I uninstalled it, the computer
would remain on the local network. I have played around with the
binding order to no avail. I will keep testing though.

Thanks,
CR
 
G

Googler

Had the same problem on a subnet at my Company - a small grout of
14pcs (full network is over 100)
two of them would disappear from the 'my network places' (hereafter
call browser list) list after about 30 minutes.
It appears that windows has a background process that catalogues all
the pcs on a network and keeps this list on a pc called the master
browser (this is all done fully automatically)
Each pc in the network broadcasts it's id on startup and then every 12
minutes (ish) and the master browser uses this to maintain the list.
If the master browser doesn't see a pc for 36 minutes (3 broadcasts)
it assumes it has gane and deletes it from the list.
When you click 'my network places...', it sends a message to the
master browser and gets the curent list of pc's on the network and
displays this.
From this, it appeared that the 2 rouge pc's were broadcasting in
Click to expand...
startup but not thereafter - hence they appear for some time after a
re-boot.

As it happenned, the two pc's were new to the network and configured
differently from the rest.... hence I thought this was the problem.

After a great deal of setting and re-setting IP addresses, DNS and
WINS server id's and using a utility called browstat I finally
noticed that these two pc's were running Hamachi.

I dissabled this on one of them and hey-presto - no problem. - I will
be disabling it on the other very soon.
 
C

Chuck [MVP]

Chuck,

Hamachi was in fact the culprit. When I uninstalled it, the computer
would remain on the local network. I have played around with the
binding order to no avail. I will keep testing though.

Thanks,
CR
Click to expand...

Please let us know if you come up with a definitive answer. Hamachi isn't going
to go away, so it would be good to know how to make it play properly with the
others.

--
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.
 
C

Chuck [MVP]

Your Browstat indicates that you have more than one Master Browser which is what I suspected.

I think Windows default is that every computer is a Master Browser. From experience I have changed this setting in the Windows registry. It may be possible to change it in the Group Policy editor.

Also, it may be possible that a computer without Netbios over TCP/IP is becoming the master in which case it wouldn't share computer names.

In a correct configuration it can take a few minutes for the Master Browser to get established.
Click to expand...

George,

IN this case, the multiple master browser issue is a symptom. You have to find
the cause, and here it's the presence of the Hamachi end point. At least,
that's the most obvious problem, and we can't really tell until Hamachi is
removed, or properly configured.

--
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.
 

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