Trying to Get My Home Network Back Up

[Guest]

Hi. I was wondering if I could get some help with my home network. I have 3
PCs connected to a Linksys BEFSX41, through a Motorala Surfboard cable modem.
One work PC has Windows ME and two personal PCs with XP on them. The PC
that's next to the router had ME but I upgraded to XP.

I've been able to get to the internet through all 3 PCs, but I haven't been
able to get from any PC to any other PC. I did a bit when the upstairs PC
had ME. I figured by upgrading to XP the wizard would walk me through
connecting them.

However, after running the netowrk wizard a number of times I can't see any
of the other PCs. I get a message saying you do not have admin priviledges
to see these folders, even though I am the admin.

Well, I tried to install the wizard one more time and now I can't get my
network to access the internet. If I just connect my upstairs PC I can get
there (as you can se by this email). If I connect any of the other 2 PCs
alone I can't get on.

What is going on? Is there any way to fix this so I can have access to the
internet from all 3 PCs again? Can the network information be reset?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Greg

 

[Guest]

Steve,

Thanks for all of the great info.

I remember tring to use the wizard in various formats. I believe I set it up
as a residential gateway.

However, I can't check because when I add the router back into the
connections my upstairs PC (the one I do most of the internet setup stuff on)
says I have lost my connection. I've replaced the router and the wires, and
had the cable modem checked. So I can't use the networking wizard until I
can get the PC to see the connection. Any thoughts?

Thanks again.

Greg

PS Some other info, I am running McAfee AntiVirus Suite on this machine as
well.

 

[Guest]

Steve,

Well, I looked at all of the points you mentioned and they are fine for the
PCs:

1) The wizard is set up for residential gateway on one and a MAC Bridgeport
on the other.
2) The ICF is disabled
3) There is only one protocol for File and Pritner Sharing (TCP/IP)
4) NetBIOS is enabled via the default
5) The Node Type says "unknown" for both PCs, not "Peer-to-Peer" or
"Point-to-Point."
6) I didn't change the registry editor for Node Type.

I still am not able to access the internet through the router and cable
modem from upstairs. I get a green light on both sides of the cable from the
modem to the router to the PC, but the PC can't connect. I have to swap
cables to connect the PC directly to the modem.

I would appreciate any other ideas you may have.

Thanks for all your help so far!

Take care.

Greg

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Hi. I was wondering if I could get some help with my home network. I have 3
PCs connected to a Linksys BEFSX41, through a Motorala Surfboard cable modem.
One work PC has Windows ME and two personal PCs with XP on them. The PC
that's next to the router had ME but I upgraded to XP.

I've been able to get to the internet through all 3 PCs, but I haven't been
able to get from any PC to any other PC. I did a bit when the upstairs PC
had ME. I figured by upgrading to XP the wizard would walk me through
connecting them.

However, after running the netowrk wizard a number of times I can't see any
of the other PCs. I get a message saying you do not have admin priviledges
to see these folders, even though I am the admin.

Well, I tried to install the wizard one more time and now I can't get my
network to access the internet. If I just connect my upstairs PC I can get
there (as you can se by this email). If I connect any of the other 2 PCs
alone I can't get on.

What is going on? Is there any way to fix this so I can have access to the
internet from all 3 PCs again? Can the network information be reset?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Greg

When you run the Wizard, tell it that the computer connects to the
Internet through a residential gateway (your Linksys router). Other
connection options can block file sharing.

If that doesn't solve the problem, these tips should help get
everything working:

1. If the computers run the original or SP1 versions of Windows XP,
disable XP's built-in Internet Connection Firewall on local area
network connections -- it's for use only on a direct modem connection
to the Internet. If they run SP2, enable the exception for file and
printer sharing in the Windows Firewall. Disable and un-install all
other firewall programs while troubleshooting. When un-installing a
firewall program, use the un-install procedure provided by the
manufacturer . Don't use Control Panel | Add or Remove Programs,
which might not completely un-install it.

For more information, see:

Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/ic_firewall.htm

2. Use only one protocol for File and Printer Sharing. If the network
needs more than one protocol, unbind File and Printer Sharing from all
but one of them. Details here:

Windows XP Network Protocols
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/network_protocols.htm

3. Make sure that NetBIOS over TCP/IP is enabled on all computers.
Details here:

Enable NetBIOS Over TCP/IP (NetBT)
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/troubleshoot/netbt.htm

4. Run "ipconfig /all" on XP and look at the "Node Type" at the
beginning of the output. If it says "Peer-to-Peer" (which should
actually be "Point-to-Point") that's the problem. It means that the
computer only uses a WINS server, which isn't available on a
peer-to-peer network, for NetBIOS name resolution.

If that's the case, run the registry editor, open this key:

HLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Netbt\Parameters

and delete these values if they're present:

NodeType
DhcpNodeType

Reboot, then try network access again.

If that doesn't fix it, open that registry key again, create a DWORD
value called "NodeType", and set it to 1 for "Broadcast" or 4 for
"Mixed".

For details, see these Microsoft Knowledge Base articles:

Default Node Type for Microsoft Clients
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;160177

TCP/IP and NBT Configuration Parameters for Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314053

--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Guest]

Steve,
Thanks for geting back to me. I changed the NetBIOS from Default to "Always
Use for TCP/IP" for both PCs.

The info for the upstairs PC:
IP Address: 69.141.87.188
Subnet Mask: 255.255.254.0
Default Gateway: 69.141.86.1
DNS Servers: 68.87.64.196, 68.39.224.5, 68.39.224.6

The info for the downstairs PC is completely different. The only thing that
comes close is the subnet mask.

It's strange about the MAC bridge. I had never seen it before. However,
yesterday when I ran the Wizard again and chose residential gateway, this is
what popped up. So I have three network connections, Dial-up, LAN and MAC
Bridge Miniport. There is no info associated with the LAN, like there is
with the upstairs PC. But the info is shown under the properties of the MAC
bridge. The LAN connection says it is enabled and bridged. It also looks
like packets are being sent but none received (from both the upstairs and
downstairs PCs).

Where do I turn next?

Thanks again for your help.

Take care.

Greg

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Steve,

Well, I looked at all of the points you mentioned and they are fine for the
PCs:

1) The wizard is set up for residential gateway on one and a MAC Bridgeport
on the other.
2) The ICF is disabled
3) There is only one protocol for File and Pritner Sharing (TCP/IP)
4) NetBIOS is enabled via the default
5) The Node Type says "unknown" for both PCs, not "Peer-to-Peer" or
"Point-to-Point."
6) I didn't change the registry editor for Node Type.

I still am not able to access the internet through the router and cable
modem from upstairs. I get a green light on both sides of the cable from the
modem to the router to the PC, but the PC can't connect. I have to swap
cables to connect the PC directly to the modem.

I would appreciate any other ideas you may have.

Thanks for all your help so far!

Take care.
Greg

You're welcome, Greg. Here are some comments:

1) I don't know what you mean by "MAC Bridgeport on the other". What
is a MAC Bridgeport? You should select the "residential gateway"
Wizard option on all computers.

4) Set NetBIOS over TCP/IP to "Enabled". Setting it to "Default"
doesn't always work right.

What does the upstairs computer show for its IP address, subnet mask,
default gateway, and DNS server? How do those values compare to the
same ones on the other computer?
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Steve,
Thanks for geting back to me. I changed the NetBIOS from Default to "Always
Use for TCP/IP" for both PCs.

The info for the upstairs PC:
IP Address: 69.141.87.188
Subnet Mask: 255.255.254.0
Default Gateway: 69.141.86.1
DNS Servers: 68.87.64.196, 68.39.224.5, 68.39.224.6

The info for the downstairs PC is completely different. The only thing that
comes close is the subnet mask.

It's strange about the MAC bridge. I had never seen it before. However,
yesterday when I ran the Wizard again and chose residential gateway, this is
what popped up. So I have three network connections, Dial-up, LAN and MAC
Bridge Miniport. There is no info associated with the LAN, like there is
with the upstairs PC. But the info is shown under the properties of the MAC
bridge. The LAN connection says it is enabled and bridged. It also looks
like packets are being sent but none received (from both the upstairs and
downstairs PCs).

Where do I turn next?

Thanks again for your help.

Take care.

Greg

Right-click and delete the Network Bridge that the Wizard created.

The IP address that you list is a public IP address assigned by
Comcast. It's not one that would be assigned by a router (residential
gateway).

If the device that connects to your cable modem is a router, it's not
set up correctly. Connect the cable modem to the router's WAN or
Internet port. Connect the computers to the router's LAN ports.
Don't connect the cable modem to a LAN port.

If the device that connects to your cable modem is a hub or switch,
you need a different Wizard option and a completely different network
setup.

What is the make and model of the device?

If it's a hub or switch, the simplest solution is to replace it with a
router.

I've written a web page showing how to have Internet access and file
sharing on all of your computers through a hub or switch:

Windows XP Network Protocols
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/network_protocols.htm

The essential steps are:

1. Install the NWLink IPX/SPX protocol for file sharing.
2. Disable file sharing on TCP/IP.
3. Enable a firewall to block access by other Internet users.

There are two reasons to use NWLink IPX/SPX instead of TCP/IP for file
sharing with a hub or switch:

1. If Comcast assigns IP addresses in different subnets to your
computers, it isn't possible for them to communicate with each other
using TCP/IP.

2. Your computers receive public IP addresses that are accessible by
everyone on the Internet. Using TCP/IP for file sharing could let
other people access your computers.

Are you paying an extra monthly fee to Comcast for more than one IP
address? That's necessary if your network uses a hub or switch. It
isn't necessary if it uses a router, and you could save money by
canceling the extra IP addresses.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Guest]

Steve,

Thanks again.

However, my router is configured correctly. I have the cable modem
connected to the Internet port and the 3 PC cables connected to slots one two
and three.

The device is a Linksys Broadband Firewall Router with 4-Port switch and VPN
Endpoint. It is model BEFSX41.

I am not paying more money for a second IP address, so that is not a concern.

I've removed the MAC bridge from the downstairs PC, but since that can't
connect it hasn't made much of a difference.

Thanks for sticking with me here.

Take care.

Greg

 

[Guest]

Steve,

One more thing I forgot to point out: the IP address info from the PC
upstairs was captured when the PC is directly connected to the cable modem.
When I connect it to the router then the modem I get no access to the
internet and no accompanying info.

Greg

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

One more thing I forgot to point out: the IP address info from the PC
upstairs was captured when the PC is directly connected to the cable modem.
When I connect it to the router then the modem I get no access to the
internet and no accompanying info.

Greg

That little detail (that the IP address was from a direct cable modem
connection) makes everything that I said in my last reply invalid.

It's not clear to me that the NetBIOS over TCP/IP setting is right.
You said that you set it to "Always Use for TCP/IP", but I'm not aware
of any setting by that name. Please follow these steps exactly on
each XP computer:

1. Open the Network Connections folder.
2. Right click the local area network connection. Make sure that it's
the connection to your router.
3. Click Properties.
4. Click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).
5. Click Properties.
6. Click Advanced.
7. Click WINS.
8. Click the "Enable NetBIOS Over TCP/IP" button.
9. Click OK to exit.

Have you checked firewalls? Disable XP's built-in firewall.
Un-install (don't just disable) all other firewall programs
(ZoneAlarm, Norton Internet Security, etc) while troubleshooting.
Don't re-install a firewall until everything is working. Your Linksys
router acts as a firewall, so your computers are safe from Internet
hackers without running any firewall programs.

To help you solve the problem at this point, I need to see each
computer's detailed TCP/IP configuration. Pleased follow these steps:

1. Connect each computer to the router.

2. On each computer, open a command prompt window (Start | Run | Cmd),
and type this command:

ipconfig /all >ipconfig.txt

3. Copy and paste the "ipconfig.txt" file from each computer into a
news group reply.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Guest]

Steve,

Thanks again.

I did set all PCs to Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP. Sorry I used the word
"Always."
The firewalls are down, both McAfee and XP upstairs and NOrton and XP
downstairs.

The ipconfig info for the upstairs pc is:



Windows IP Configuration



Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : TVDOWNSTAIRS

Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :

Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown

IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No



Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:



Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139/810X Family PCI
Fast Ethernet NIC

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-40-2B-64-95-61

Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes

Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.100

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, November 09, 2004
11:04:22 AM

Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, November 11, 2004
11:04:22 AM


The problem with the upstairs pc is that when I connect it to the router the
pc wants to always start up my dial up connection setup. It is assuming that
I am offline (or it can't see it). But if I take out the cable from the PC to
the router the PC says the LAN connection is broken. How can that be?

Thanks again for all your help.

Take care.

Greg



Windows IP Configuration



Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : p4pulz

Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :

Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown

IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No



Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:



Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Linksys LNE100TX Fast Ethernet
Adapter(LNE100TX v4)

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-04-5A-8D-D0-9D

Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes

Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.101

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, November 09, 2004
10:55:25 AM

Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, November 11, 2004
10:55:25 AM


The ipconfig info for the downstairs pc is:

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Steve,

Thanks again.

I did set all PCs to Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP. Sorry I used the word
"Always."
The firewalls are down, both McAfee and XP upstairs and NOrton and XP
downstairs.

The ipconfig info for the upstairs pc is:>

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : TVDOWNSTAIRS
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139/810X Family PCI Fast Ethernet NIC
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-40-2B-64-95-61
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.100
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, November 09, 2004 11:04:22 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, November 11, 2004 11:04:22 AM

The ipconfig info for the downstairs pc is:

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : p4pulz
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Linksys LNE100TX Fast Ethernet Adapter(LNE100TX v4)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-04-5A-8D-D0-9D
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.101
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, November 09, 2004 10:55:25 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, November 11, 2004 10:55:25 AM

The problem with the upstairs pc is that when I connect it to the router the
pc wants to always start up my dial up connection setup. It is assuming that
I am offline (or it can't see it). But if I take out the cable from the PC to
the router the PC says the LAN connection is broken. How can that be?

Thanks again for all your help.

Take care.

Greg

Thanks for posting the ipconfig output, Greg.

On the upstairs PC, run Internet Explorer, click Tools | Internet
Options | Connections, and configure it to never dial a connection.

Everything in the ipconfig output for both computers looks normal to
me. Assuming that the Windows XP firewall is disabled and that all
other firewall program are un-installed (not just disabled), I'm not
sure what the problem is. One thing to check: on both computers, go
to Start | Run | Msconfig | Startup and look for any remnants of
ZoneAlarm or Norton Internet Security. If you find any, un-check the
boxes, click Apply and OK, reboot, and try the network again.

If that doesn't solve the problem, my only suggestion would be to go
to Device Manager on each computer, un-install the network adapter,
reboot, and let the system re-install the network adapter.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com