LAN quit entirely

[Ken Knecht]

Stupid LAN. Stupid XP Home!

This time it only stayed up a few days. Yesterday morning it all of a
sudden died. Neither machine can see the other's drive icons or files. I
suspect maybe the Netgear EN104 Ethernet hub but the lights seem to be
blinking normally when I try a net connection. I can't think of how to
test it, short of replacing it which I'd rather not do.

I didn't change anything.

Suggestions?

TIA

 

[Malke]

Stupid LAN. Stupid XP Home!

This time it only stayed up a few days. Yesterday morning it all of a
sudden died. Neither machine can see the other's drive icons or files.
I suspect maybe the Netgear EN104 Ethernet hub but the lights seem to
be blinking normally when I try a net connection. I can't think of how
to test it, short of replacing it which I'd rather not do.

I didn't change anything.

If you suspect hardware, you will need to swap out the suspected
hardware with known-working components. Sorry, but that's just life.
Here are some other troubleshooting suggestions. As in all
troubleshooting, make one change at a time and test after each.

1. First ensure that all computers are 100% spyware and virus-free. Post
back if you need help in doing this.

2. You didn't say what flavor of connection you have, but I'm assuming
broadband. So directly connect one computer to the cable/dsl modem. Any
problems? If not, set that machine aside and try with another one. You
also didn't say how many computers you have, but I assume just a few
since you have XP Home.

3. If you do have problems connecting with a computer directly to the
cable/dsl modem, try:

a. Swapping out the ethernet cables
b. Swapping out the NIC for a known-working one

4. If #3 doesn't help, your cable/dsl modem is bad. If it does work,
then suspicion falls on the hub/router.

Malke

 

[Ken Knecht]

1. First ensure that all computers are 100% spyware and virus-free. Post
back if you need help in doing this.

AVG anti-virus and Ad-Aware didn't find anything.

2. You didn't say what flavor of connection you have, but I'm assuming
broadband.

I use dial-up internet connection through a modem in each machine, not
through the LAN. Works fine.

So directly connect one computer to the cable/dsl modem. Any
problems? If not, set that machine aside and try with another one. You
also didn't say how many computers you have, but I assume just a few
since you have XP Home.

Two currently on the LAN.

3. If you do have problems connecting with a computer directly to the
cable/dsl modem, try:

a. Swapping out the ethernet cables
b. Swapping out the NIC for a known-working one

4. If #3 doesn't help, your cable/dsl modem is bad. If it does work,
then suspicion falls on the hub/router.

Looks like I'll have to buy a new router.

Note, my problems are with the LAN connections, not my internet
connections.

 

[Malke]

AVG anti-virus and Ad-Aware didn't find anything.


I use dial-up internet connection through a modem in each machine, not
through the LAN. Works fine.


Two currently on the LAN.


Looks like I'll have to buy a new router.

Note, my problems are with the LAN connections, not my internet
connections.

Thanks for clarifying your setup. Since the Internet connection is good,
you know it isn't the modems. You can try swapping out the ethernet
cables and if available, change to a different port on the hub/router
(you first said "hub" and then "router" - they are different). If that
doesn't work, yes you probably need a new hub.

Malke

 

[Ken Knecht]

Thanks for clarifying your setup. Since the Internet connection is good,
you know it isn't the modems. You can try swapping out the ethernet
cables and if available, change to a different port on the hub/router
(you first said "hub" and then "router" - they are different). If that
doesn't work, yes you probably need a new hub.

Malke

It fixed itself.<sigh> For how long I don't know.

This XP Home LAN is driving me nuts. Is there another option besides
switching to Linux?

 

[Malke]

It fixed itself.<sigh> For how long I don't know.

This XP Home LAN is driving me nuts. Is there another option besides
switching to Linux?

I don't think switching to Linux will help with hardware issues. If you
really feel you want to expend the time necessary to learn a new
operating system, you can do that. However, I don't think this will be
any easier than working with Windows networking.

Malke