Local Network Connection Frustrations

S

Scott Williams

My Computer Name is SCOTTSMAN
My DNS Host Name is Scottsman
Our workgroup name is WILLIAMSNET

I connect to the network using a DSL router (D-Link DI-
704) and also use this router for my internet connection.
My internet connection is working fine for all three
computers in my network. Two of these computers run Win2k,
the third runs Win98SE. Everything worked fine until one
day, after a power-outtage.

The other two computers on my local area network (one is
Win2k and the other is Win98SE) are able to see my
computer and access my shared folders. My computer is not
able to see the other computers. Here is a list of what
problems I have been able to uncover on my own so far:

- Clicking on 'Computers Near Me' in 'My Network Places'
returns this message:

Williamsnet (the name of my workgroup) is not accessible.
The network path was not found.

- "Net View" returns this message:

System error 53 has occurred.
The network path was not found.

- Under the heading for 'NetBT name test' (Per interface
results) in the netdiag command, I receive this message:

[WARNING] At least one of the <00> "Workstation Service',
<03> 'Messenger Service', <20> 'WINS' names is missing. No
remote names have been found.

- Under the heading for 'NetBT name test' (Global results)
in the netdiag command, I receive this message:

[WARNING] You don't have a single interface with the
<00> 'Workstation Service', <03> 'Messenger Service',
<20> 'WINS' names defined.

- Under the heading for 'DNS Test' in the netdiag command,
I receive this message:

[WARNING] Cannot find a primary authoritative DNS server
for the 'scottsman.Humphries.'. [RCODE_SERVER_FAILURE] The
name 'scottsman.Humphries.' may not be registered in DNS.

- Here is the 'ipconfig /all' for my machine:

Windows 2000 IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : scottsman
Primary DNS Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcast
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : Humphries

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : Humphries
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : NETGEAR
FA310TX Fast Ethernet Adapter (NGRPCI)

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-A0-CC-52-ED-
3E
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.124
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 208.45.228.3
208.45.228.4
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Monday,
October 20, 2003 1:44:05 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Monday,
December 01, 2003 4:44:05 AM

- Here is the 'ipconfig /all' from the other Win2k Machine:

Windows 2000 IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : lanet
Primary DNS Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcast
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : Humphries

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : Humphries
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : NETGEAR
FA310TX Fast Ethernet
Adapte
r (NGRPCI)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-A0-CC-59-14-
75
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.171
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 208.45.228.3
208.45.228.4
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Monday,
October 20, 2003 8:08:09 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Sunday,
November 30, 2003 11:08:09 PM

- Here is the 'ipconfig /all' from the Win98SE Machine:

Windows 98 IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . : MUFFIN.Humphries
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . : 208.45.228.3
208.45.228.4
Node Type . . . . . . . . . : Broadcast
NetBIOS Scope ID. . . . . . :
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . : No
NetBIOS Resolution Uses DNS : No

0 Ethernet adapter :

Description . . . . . . . . : NETGEAR FA310TX Fast
Ethernet PCI Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . : 00-A0-CC-52-ED-3D
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.123
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
Primary WINS Server . . . . :
Secondary WINS Server . . . :
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . : 10 20 03 1:51:57 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . : 12 01 03 5:51:57 AM


- There is no doubt that the [WARNING] statements have
something to do with the problem. MY concern is that I
have NO idea how to fix this "glitch." I've tried cursing
at my machine, I tried threatening it, I even dangled it
out a second-story window at my house. Nothing has worked.
How do I fix these problems? HELP!

Scott
 
M

Mahmood Ali

Sounds like your network entries have been 'orphaned' from the network card,
for the lack of a better word.

As a start, try removing Client for MS Networks, File & Print Sharing. Do
these one at a time and reboot the computer each time you make a change,
even though it does not ask you to.


Scott Williams said:
My Computer Name is SCOTTSMAN
My DNS Host Name is Scottsman
Our workgroup name is WILLIAMSNET

I connect to the network using a DSL router (D-Link DI-
704) and also use this router for my internet connection.
My internet connection is working fine for all three
computers in my network. Two of these computers run Win2k,
the third runs Win98SE. Everything worked fine until one
day, after a power-outtage.

The other two computers on my local area network (one is
Win2k and the other is Win98SE) are able to see my
computer and access my shared folders. My computer is not
able to see the other computers. Here is a list of what
problems I have been able to uncover on my own so far:

- Clicking on 'Computers Near Me' in 'My Network Places'
returns this message:

Williamsnet (the name of my workgroup) is not accessible.
The network path was not found.

- "Net View" returns this message:

System error 53 has occurred.
The network path was not found.

- Under the heading for 'NetBT name test' (Per interface
results) in the netdiag command, I receive this message:

[WARNING] At least one of the <00> "Workstation Service',
<03> 'Messenger Service', <20> 'WINS' names is missing. No
remote names have been found.

- Under the heading for 'NetBT name test' (Global results)
in the netdiag command, I receive this message:

[WARNING] You don't have a single interface with the
<00> 'Workstation Service', <03> 'Messenger Service',
<20> 'WINS' names defined.

- Under the heading for 'DNS Test' in the netdiag command,
I receive this message:

[WARNING] Cannot find a primary authoritative DNS server
for the 'scottsman.Humphries.'. [RCODE_SERVER_FAILURE] The
name 'scottsman.Humphries.' may not be registered in DNS.

- Here is the 'ipconfig /all' for my machine:

Windows 2000 IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : scottsman
Primary DNS Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcast
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : Humphries

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : Humphries
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : NETGEAR
FA310TX Fast Ethernet Adapter (NGRPCI)

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-A0-CC-52-ED-
3E
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.124
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 208.45.228.3
208.45.228.4
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Monday,
October 20, 2003 1:44:05 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Monday,
December 01, 2003 4:44:05 AM

- Here is the 'ipconfig /all' from the other Win2k Machine:

Windows 2000 IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : lanet
Primary DNS Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcast
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : Humphries

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : Humphries
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : NETGEAR
FA310TX Fast Ethernet
Adapte
r (NGRPCI)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-A0-CC-59-14-
75
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.171
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 208.45.228.3
208.45.228.4
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Monday,
October 20, 2003 8:08:09 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Sunday,
November 30, 2003 11:08:09 PM

- Here is the 'ipconfig /all' from the Win98SE Machine:

Windows 98 IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . : MUFFIN.Humphries
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . : 208.45.228.3
208.45.228.4
Node Type . . . . . . . . . : Broadcast
NetBIOS Scope ID. . . . . . :
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . : No
NetBIOS Resolution Uses DNS : No

0 Ethernet adapter :

Description . . . . . . . . : NETGEAR FA310TX Fast
Ethernet PCI Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . : 00-A0-CC-52-ED-3D
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.123
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
Primary WINS Server . . . . :
Secondary WINS Server . . . :
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . : 10 20 03 1:51:57 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . : 12 01 03 5:51:57 AM


- There is no doubt that the [WARNING] statements have
something to do with the problem. MY concern is that I
have NO idea how to fix this "glitch." I've tried cursing
at my machine, I tried threatening it, I even dangled it
out a second-story window at my house. Nothing has worked.
How do I fix these problems? HELP!

Scott
 
S

Scott Williams

First I'd like to say thank you for your reply, Mahmood. I
tried what you suggested.

- The NetBT name test warnings in the 'netdiag' command
have been cleared up! Great! Progress! I've now lowered
the hammer on the shotgun pointing at the computer, but my
finger is still on the trigger! (jk)

- Although the NetBT name test now passes, I am still
getting the warning message with the 'DNS test' under the
Global results.

[WARNING] Cannot find a primary authoritative DNS server
for the name
'scottsman.Humphries.'. [RCODE_SERVER_FAILURE]
The name 'scottsman.Humphries.' may not be registered
in DNS.

- I am also still receiving the System error 53 when I try
the 'net view' command, and Williamsnet is still not
accessible from the 'Computers Near Me' icon.

- Any suggestions as to how to fix this? And remember, I
only speak Stupidian english. Thanks again!

Scott
 
M

Mahmood Ali

Well, thats a good start..We are definately getting somewhere...

Look up this article for the System Error 53 problem..

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;259878

You will also find further resources for troubleshoooting from there...For
the problem with DNS, go to the TCP/IP properties, click on the advanced
button and go to the DNS tab. You will find a check box there at the bottom
which says "register this connection's suffix with DNS". Make sure that it
is unchecked. In fact if you have a domain name listed in the suffix box,
remove it and then reboot the PC.

If all else fails, remove and reinstall TCP/IP
 
S

Scott Williams

Sorry Mahmood...no luck

- uninstalling and reinstalling (separately, with reboots
in between) 'File and Print Sharing', 'Client for
Microsoft Networks', and 'TCP/IP' (and installing a
different protocol as a placeholder) had no effect. One
thing I did notice was that the other machines can see my
machine, but actually they can't access my shared folders.
Nor can they ping me.

- Something else I noticed, from reading the article you
recommended (which also did not help, but appreciate the
effort!) was that my 'nbtstat -n' has two less names than
the computer 'Lanet.' I'm missing ADMINISTRATOR and
something about MS BROWSER or something.

Local Area Connection:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.0.124] Scope Id: []

NetBIOS Local Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
SCOTTSMAN <00> UNIQUE Registered
WILLIAMSNET <00> GROUP Registered
SCOTTSMAN <20> UNIQUE Registered
WILLIAMSNET <1E> GROUP Registered
SCOTTSMAN <03> UNIQUE Registered

- Here is 'Lanet.'

Local Area Connection:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.0.124] Scope Id: []

NetBIOS Remote Machine Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
LANET <00> UNIQUE Registered
WILLIAMSNET <00> GROUP Registered
LANET <20> UNIQUE Registered
LANET <03> UNIQUE Registered
WILLIAMSNET <1E> GROUP Registered
ADMINISTRATOR <03> UNIQUE Registered
WILLIAMSNET <1D> UNIQUE Registered
..__MSBROWSE__.<01> GROUP Registered

MAC Address = 00-A0-CC-59-14-75

- Also, dunno if this helps, but 'browstat status' returns
the following for my computer, named 'scottsman.'

Status for domain WILLIAMSNET on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{031671BA-F8E0-4231-9172-7C
C29B1BD72F}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: LANET
Could not connect to registry, error = 53 Unable to
determine build of browser mast
er: 53
Unable to determine server information for browser
master: 53
1 backup servers retrieved from master LANET
\\LANET
Unable to retrieve server list from LANET: 53
 
M

Mahmood Ali

Hmmm...Ok. Try this. Remove the network card from the PC . If you have any
other hardware that uses any other protocols, remove those also. Boot up the
PC a couple of times to make sure it removes all entries about the Network
card/drivers.

Put the card back in and see what happens when W2K installs the drivers
again. Hopefully, it will re-register all the information again.

Its weird how other computers can see lanet but cannot actually ping it. I
hope you have tested the network cable! :)
 
S

Scott Williams

Ok, Mahmood... it didn't work. I unplugged the NIC and
rebooted a bunch of times and then re-installed the NIC.
Everything is the same; still no path found for the
workgroup. All of the other problems I mentioned
previously still apply.

Any other ideas?? Your help so far, although you've
achieved no results, has been greatly appreciated!

Scott
 
B

BJ

millions of reasons .... unfortunatelly :(
let start from the beginning ..
which OS ? cables are OK ? permissions etc ...
 
S

Scott Williams

Hello BJ,

If you get a chance to go through my previous posts with
this subject, it would save me some lengthy explaining. :)

Basically everything points to a properly working local
network, save for one small exception- my computer! The
network used to work fine; all three machines could see
each other and share whatever folders/files they wished.
Then, quite suddenly, MY computer stopped "seeing" the
other computers and could no longer share. This has become
grossly frustrating. Please, if you think you might have
an idea as to what to do, take a look at my previous posts
and see what you think of the problem so far. To me, it
looks like it's something in the software of my machine.
I'm just not sure what. Thanks for the post.

Scott
 
S

Scott Williams

Marina,

I'll have to check that. I think the Win98SE machine is up
to date, but I'm not sure about the other Win2k one.

S
 

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