How do I stop new computer from disappearing from the network?

[Guest]

We have a new desktop computer that has been added to a workgroup LAN (peer
to peer) which does not stay visible to the other computers. The original 5
units on the LAN have been functioning normally with all appropriate network
places always accessible. The new unit will become visible in the workgroup
(or in "net view") only after rebooting it or after virtually unplugging &
reconnecting the network card such as by running diagnostics on the card. The
computer will usually disappear from the workgroup after 1/2 hr. - 2hrs,
although it stayed visible once for several days.The shares on this server
stay visible to the network longer but will eventually disappear also. The
new unit functions otherwise normally on the network in that it sees and can
access all other network places that are available on the network.
The new unit, once it disappears, does not see itself on the network,
either. It is not counted as a server in 'browstat status'. It is not visible
to 'net view' but the shares from it show to the 'net view \\Computername'
command.
All six computers have Windows XP Pro. The 5 original computers have SP1
and the new unit has SP2.
The energy saving settings have been turned off on the new unit's network
card.
The missing computer can always be found using "Search" from the Start menu
or windows explorer and searching for it by the computer name.
No error messages have been displayed and no errors have appeared in the
event viewer of the new unit relating to this problem.
The Windows firewall and the McAffee firewall on the new unit have both
been disabled.

We need to solve this problem and and additional background information on
the problem will be cheerfully provided.

 

[Guest]

We have a new desktop computer that has been added to a workgroup LAN (peer
to peer) which does not stay visible to the other computers. The original 5
units on the LAN have been functioning normally with all appropriate network
places always accessible. The new unit will become visible in the workgroup
(or in "net view") only after rebooting it or after virtually unplugging &
reconnecting the network card such as by running diagnostics on the card. The
computer will usually disappear from the workgroup after 1/2 hr. - 2hrs,
although it stayed visible once for several days.The shares on this server
stay visible to the network longer but will eventually disappear also. The
new unit functions otherwise normally on the network in that it sees and can
access all other network places that are available on the network.
The new unit, once it disappears, does not see itself on the network,
either. It is not counted as a server in 'browstat status'. It is not visible
to 'net view' but the shares from it show to the 'net view \\Computername'
command.
All six computers have Windows XP Pro. The 5 original computers have SP1
and the new unit has SP2.
The energy saving settings have been turned off on the new unit's network
card.
The missing computer can always be found using "Search" from the Start menu
or windows explorer and searching for it by the computer name.
No error messages have been displayed and no errors have appeared in the
event viewer of the new unit relating to this problem.
The Windows firewall and the McAffee firewall on the new unit have both
been disabled.

We need to solve this problem and and additional background information on
the problem will be cheerfully provided.

 

[Guest]

BKTMX,
i can see one possible solution to your reoccuring problem. That the NIC may
possible be bad. Although it may be new it can still be bad. You can try to
install another NIC to see if that corrects the problem.
Good luck.

 

[Guest]

I agree. I had a client who had a computer with similar symptoms. It seemed
to me that the network card was overheating and failing. Well, the computer
was under a hot light in a small enclosed space. I put it in a open space
with space under it, and it stopped failing. It seems so obvious now.

 

[Guest]

New information on this problem:
1. The network card (in this case, the motherboard) of the problem computer
has been replaced with a new one. This did not solve the problem.
2. Windows XP SP2 was downloaded and installed on another computer in the
workgroup and now this unit also is afflicted with the same problem as the
new computer. This development tends to suggest that there is a problem with
SP2.
Any suggestions?