Users can't access internet

  • Thread starter Thread starter StarChild
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StarChild

I have 2 pc's, both running WindowsXP - Media Centre Edition SP2 , I am the
administrater on both. One is wired to a Netgear router, the other, a
Netgear wireless adapter. The wireless pc has myself and 3 user accounts.

Problem is; I can access the internet but the 3 users can't! If I log on,
then log off or switch users, they are able to access the internet. If they
try without me having logged on first, they can't, everything else works
fine.

Simple file sharing disabled, Windows Firewall disabled, Zone Alarm Pro and
NAV are installed and enabled. Netgear folder is shared. Any ideas? Thanks

Regards

Steve
 
I have 2 pc's, both running WindowsXP - Media Centre Edition SP2 , I am the
administrater on both. One is wired to a Netgear router, the other, a
Netgear wireless adapter. The wireless pc has myself and 3 user accounts.

Problem is; I can access the internet but the 3 users can't! If I log on,
then log off or switch users, they are able to access the internet. If they
try without me having logged on first, they can't, everything else works
fine.

Simple file sharing disabled, Windows Firewall disabled, Zone Alarm Pro and
NAV are installed and enabled. Netgear folder is shared. Any ideas? Thanks

Regards

Steve
Click to expand...

Steve,

What type of Internet service do you have? Does it require a dialer or extra
software on the computer? Maybe Dialup Networking? If your service is PPPoE,
you should set the router up for PPPoE, and connect thru the router as the
default gateway.
 
My internet connection is ADSL. No, it doesn't require a dialer or extra
software, and my router is set up for PPPoE.

Regards

Steve
 
Can anyone help? This is real frustrating, any advice would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

Steve,

The question is, what do you do (automatically maybe) when you log on, versus
what do they do? Did you install any software that only runs under your
account?

Try Autoruns, or MSConfig, and identify each process that's automatically
started. You may have to compare what you do, versus what the users do.

What are the symptoms of "the 3 users can't" (access the Internet)? Is it a DNS
problem maybe? Can the users successfully ping the router when they can't
access the Internet? I know Zone Alarm has an Internet Off switch. Check the
ZA documentation.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/background-information-useful-in.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/background-information-useful-in.html
 
Thanks for the advice Chuck, but I think a little progress has been made
which may help you to help me further! I noticed that the Netgear WG311
configuration utility, which normally launches when I've logged on as the
"Administrator", doesn't load under "user" accounts. So, whilst logged on a
"user" account, I ran the utility's executable as "Administrator"
and...Shazam! The Netgear WG311 configuration utility loads and the "user"
account is given internet access.

I think this points to user access rights/ file sharing issues, what do you
think? I've already disabled simple file sharing, the Netgear software
folder is shared. Maybe I haven't done this correctly, my networking skills
aren't much good! ZA, NAV appears to be correctly configured for all "users"
because everything works fine IF, I log on and off first, the users has no
problems getting online.

Cheers
 
Thanks for the advice Chuck, but I think a little progress has been made
which may help you to help me further! I noticed that the Netgear WG311
configuration utility, which normally launches when I've logged on as the
"Administrator", doesn't load under "user" accounts. So, whilst logged on a
"user" account, I ran the utility's executable as "Administrator"
and...Shazam! The Netgear WG311 configuration utility loads and the "user"
account is given internet access.

I think this points to user access rights/ file sharing issues, what do you
think? I've already disabled simple file sharing, the Netgear software
folder is shared. Maybe I haven't done this correctly, my networking skills
aren't much good! ZA, NAV appears to be correctly configured for all "users"
because everything works fine IF, I log on and off first, the users has no
problems getting online.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you got it. I just wonder why a configuration utility has to run
each time you want Internet access. In your case, if you move the shortcut from
Administrator to All Users, I would think it should run, and your problem should
be resolved.

For a NAT router, I would think you'd configure it once, thru your browser, and
you'd be done. If this works for you, though, enjoy. If not, let us know, and
we'll dig further.
 
Chuck said:
Sounds like you got it. I just wonder why a configuration utility has to run
each time you want Internet access. In your case, if you move the shortcut from
Administrator to All Users, I would think it should run, and your problem should
be resolved.

For a NAT router, I would think you'd configure it once, thru your browser, and
you'd be done. If this works for you, though, enjoy. If not, let us know, and
we'll dig further.
Click to expand...

If I understand correctly, it's not the ROUTER configuration utility,
but the wireless access point utility that is only starting when the OP
logs in as an administrator. If moving the shortcut to All
Users/Startup as Chuck suggested doesn't work (or if there is no
shortcut in the startup folder because the utility is starting through
one of the other WinXP startup mechanisms) perhaps
disabling/uninstalling the Netgear utility and allowing WZC to manage
your wireless connection would work better. [on the "Wireless networks"
tab of the "wireless network connection properties" dialog, check the
box to "Use windows to configure my wireless network settings"]
 
The netgear config util runs at start-up to configure the wireless adapter,
not the router. It places an icon on the taskbar, however, this icon
normally only shows up on the administrator's taskbar - never on a user's
taskbar - but this does not prevent them from accessing the internet. This
is the curious thing - all users can access the internet, provided that I
log on first i.e user A starts the pc, logs on, starts IE, browser opens,
that's it! I log on, log off, user a logs on...Bingo!

The icon allows me to manually configure the wg311 wireless adapter i.e.
WEP/WAP settings, network SSID, encryption keys etc. Netgear themselves
recommend that you use this util and disable the windows equivalent.

The netgear config util shortcut is already in the program list of all
users. As suggested, I put a copy of the shortcut in the start up folder of
all users and also in each individual user's start-up folder but this made
no difference!

this is giving me a headache, in fact, my wall now has a lovely concave
impression exactly the shape and size of my forehead!
 
The netgear config util runs at start-up to configure the wireless adapter,
not the router. It places an icon on the taskbar, however, this icon
normally only shows up on the administrator's taskbar - never on a user's
taskbar - but this does not prevent them from accessing the internet. This
is the curious thing - all users can access the internet, provided that I
log on first i.e user A starts the pc, logs on, starts IE, browser opens,
that's it! I log on, log off, user a logs on...Bingo!

The icon allows me to manually configure the wg311 wireless adapter i.e.
WEP/WAP settings, network SSID, encryption keys etc. Netgear themselves
recommend that you use this util and disable the windows equivalent.

The netgear config util shortcut is already in the program list of all
users. As suggested, I put a copy of the shortcut in the start up folder of
all users and also in each individual user's start-up folder but this made
no difference!

this is giving me a headache, in fact, my wall now has a lovely concave
impression exactly the shape and size of my forehead!
Click to expand...

OK, that's the connection manager. On some computers, you could have up to 3 -
Windows XP WZC, one by the computer vendor, and one by the WiFi adapter vendor.
You have to have one, but more than one will cause problems. Most people have
one running all the time.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/01/stabilise-your-wifi-use-only-one-wifi.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/01/stabilise-your-wifi-use-only-one-wifi.html

The connection manager will involve other processes. You may want to run both
Autoruns and Process Explorer, from the administrator account, to see what it
involves. Then do the same under a user account. Just starting the manager
itself won't suffice.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/04/watching-what-your-computer-is-doing.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/04/watching-what-your-computer-is-doing.html
 
Eureka!!! Going on the premise that the netgear config is the problem,
specifically access rights; I thought about Lem's comment on placing the
config util in the start up folder. I created a scheduled task for the
config util to run at system start up using my administrator's credentials.
Problem solved! Phew!

What a pain that was. I'm pretty sure that my solution is pretty unorthodox,
but hey, the end justifies the means and my headache has gone. Thank you,
and Lem for your help and perseverance.

Regards

Steve
 
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