Home Network problems

[Guest]

We have several computers networked to this one. This one has Windows XP
home edition SP2, and a satellite internet connection that the other
computers use. I have had this network working for years like this in the
past.

Recently, because of a virus, I reinstalled windows ont his computer, but
not a clean boot. Somehow it has messed up the security settings on the
network to the other computers. [Actually, I can get the network working at
times, but then it will "disappear" in a while from this computer.] All the
other computers can see each other, but not this one when it goes bad.

If I go into safe mode, as administrator, all the other computers will be
there, but not in regular mode (even though I am an administrator user).
Also I can ping the other computers using their ip address from this one in
regular mode, but not using their name.

I am convinced it has something to do with security settings, but I do not
yet know how to fix this problem. I have downloaded the Windows Resourse Kit
Tools, and was able to fix another problem with it. Any other suggestions
or help will be greatly appreciated.

Richard
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[Steven L Umbach]

From your description I would make sure that you do not have any software
firewall or other computer protection package doing any filtering of network
traffic for that computer. Since booting into Safe Mode works that leads me
to believe such is the problem. If you are using the Windows Firewall make
sure it has the exception enabled for file and print sharing for your
network. Make sure that netbios over tcp/ip is enabled on that computer
[though it probably is if you can see the other computers in Safe Mode]. The
command ipconfig /all will show if it is disabled and if it is disabled the
command nbtstat -n will fail which normally will show at least three
registered names. Just because you can not see a computer in regular mode
does not mean that there is necessarily a problem as it can take a while for
them all to show up. Sometimes at least 15 minutes. You could try
\\xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx in the run box of another computer to try and access it
using it's actual IP address as shown via ipconfig /all. If problems
persist you may want to try and reset tcp/ip using the netsh command and try
repairing winsock with netsh and or a program like lspfix. --- Steve

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/troubleshoot/netbt.htm --- XP
netbios over tcp/ip
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;299357 --- netsh
to reset tcp/ip
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/811259 -- winsock corruption
http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm --- lspfix

 

[Guest]

From your description I would make sure that you do not have any software
firewall or other computer protection package doing any filtering of network
traffic for that computer. ....

Ahh, you were right. It was the bsafeonline firewall that was doing it.
Since we have had this firewall for almost 2 years without it causing this
problem I was not suspecting it. I have turned it off, and turned Windows
firewall on and the network is there in regular mode.

Thanks.

 

[Steven L Umbach]

Thanks for reporting back what you found and glad it was fairly easy to
resolve. --- Steve