Icons are all highlighted

[Guest]

All the icons are all highlighted on the desktop. Everything works fine
including internet access, but every other computer on the network is not
able to access the internet, unless I unplug my computer from the network.
Also I can not access their computers and they can not access mine.
I scanned for viruses and spyware, and didn't find any.

 

[Chuck]

All the icons are all highlighted on the desktop. Everything works fine
including internet access, but every other computer on the network is not
able to access the internet, unless I unplug my computer from the network.
Also I can not access their computers and they can not access mine.
I scanned for viruses and spyware, and didn't find any.

How are all computers connected? What is different about this computer?
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/background-information-useful-in.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/background-information-useful-in.html

Look at "ipconfig /all" from this computer, and from 2 others.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-internet-service.html#AskingForHelp>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-internet-service.html#AskingForHelp

What are the symptoms of "not able to access the internet"? Have you diagnosed
it any?

 

[Guest]

The computers are not on a domain, they are just a peer-to-peer workgroup,
with file sharing, all connected through a central hub which in turn is
connected to a high speed modem. We've had this running for about a year.
We connect through the Internet to a real estate server in a nearby city.
When we try and access the Internet, it gives us the "This page can not be
displayed" error, and when we try a direct link it gives us a "Server not
found" error because it can't connect to the Internet. This happens on every
computer except mine. Like I mentioned before when I unplug mine, every one
else's works fine.

As for the IP Addresses there is no conflicts. There is no static IPs,
everything is assigned by DHCP. Is this the info you were looking for?

 

[Chuck]

The computers are not on a domain, they are just a peer-to-peer workgroup,
with file sharing, all connected through a central hub which in turn is
connected to a high speed modem. We've had this running for about a year.
We connect through the Internet to a real estate server in a nearby city.
When we try and access the Internet, it gives us the "This page can not be
displayed" error, and when we try a direct link it gives us a "Server not
found" error because it can't connect to the Internet. This happens on every
computer except mine. Like I mentioned before when I unplug mine, every one
else's works fine.

As for the IP Addresses there is no conflicts. There is no static IPs,
everything is assigned by DHCP. Is this the info you were looking for?

You're the guy asking for help. Have I come up with any useful answer yet?

Since I'm not in front of the computers with you, I have to use your diagnostics
to try and tell you what to look at. So far, I don't have too much. You're
asking me how one computer interferes with the Internet connectivity of the rest
of the workgroup, without telling us anything about the physical layout, or
showing "ipconfig /all" as I asked.

I'm guessing here - when you mention Internet connection to a distant server,
and HOPING that you're using a VPN. So the question - make and model of modem
and hub, and how is the VPN setup? I'll bet the problem computer is the VPN
endpoint, and when it's in place, the tunnel grabs the Internet connection.
This is a problem with VPNs - they don't coexist well.

But we will need diagnostics to verify all of this. And I'll ask you to start
posting after my posts, which will help us both.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/how-to-post-on-usenet-and-encourage.html#TopPosting>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/how-to-post-on-usenet-and-encourage.html#TopPosting

So read the articles that I provided links for, and think about the advice. And
keep trying.

 

[Guest]

Hi Chuck
Thanks for the advice that you've given, but I really don't need the network
analyzed because everything works in this area. The problem began when all
the icons on the desktop of one computer became highlighted. I believe that
if that can be solved, the computer will work on the network again. I just
want to know if anyone can tell me how to "unhighlight" the desktop icons.
I'm thinking I might have missed a virus remnant or a tricky spyware program
of some kind.

 

[Chuck]

Hi Chuck
Thanks for the advice that you've given, but I really don't need the network
analyzed because everything works in this area. The problem began when all
the icons on the desktop of one computer became highlighted. I believe that
if that can be solved, the computer will work on the network again. I just
want to know if anyone can tell me how to "unhighlight" the desktop icons.
I'm thinking I might have missed a virus remnant or a tricky spyware program
of some kind.

Well, if you truly suspect malware, you shouldn't stop with any conventional
scanners. HijackThis and expert malware advice are the only way to go.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/interpreting-hijackthis-logs-with.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/interpreting-hijackthis-logs-with.html

But if your Internet service is being interrupted by one computer being
connected, you might want to think about the priorities.