XP Pro to server connect problem

[Josh]

I am on a windows xp pro station hooked to a wireless
network that has been working fine. I connect to a domain
which is a windows 2003 server. After i map my network
drives in about 4 or so hours the connection fails and i
get the message "domain controller unavailable" and on the
server it says "network unreachable when i click on
manage" what could be causing this. I have to restart and
reconnect my drives every 5 hours it seems. Thanks.
Oh yea we have all the latest service packs on both
machines.

 

[Chuck]

I am on a windows xp pro station hooked to a wireless
network that has been working fine. I connect to a domain
which is a windows 2003 server. After i map my network
drives in about 4 or so hours the connection fails and i
get the message "domain controller unavailable" and on the
server it says "network unreachable when i click on
manage" what could be causing this. I have to restart and
reconnect my drives every 5 hours it seems. Thanks.
Oh yea we have all the latest service packs on both
machines.

Josh,

The are a number of things that could be causing this. But from your brief
description, I'd certainly start with the server. Are both the workstation and
server connected to the same hub (router)? Are both connected wirelessly?

Wireless networks are not foolproof. WiFi (802.11a/b/g) is half duplex, as
opposed to wired switch based networks that are full duplex. Large jobs (file
copies, report printing) between two nodes connected wirelessly will be
problematic for that reason.

Besides computers interfering with each other in a wireless network, there is
also possible interference caused by telephones, microwave ovens, and numerous
other electronic devices.

In addition to network related possibilities, there's also spyware / virus
possibilities. How well protected is your server?

I can think of a few ways you can investigate this further. Provide some detail
about your network setup (what devices are on your network, how are they
connected, etc).

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[Guest]

- wireless router
- 2 computers connected by cable
- workstation/server wireless
- its wireless-g

when server wasn't wireless and workstation was, same
problem occurs

 

[Chuck]

- wireless router
- 2 computers connected by cable
- workstation/server wireless
- its wireless-g

when server wasn't wireless and workstation was, same
problem occurs

Josh,

OK, that's a start.

Anything in the server or workstation event logs?

How about Properties for the server network card - is there a Power Management
tab? Is "Allow the computer to turn this device off to save power" enabled?

Try a time record of network performance. Get Ping Plotter (free trial) from
http://www.pingplotter.com/. Install it on both the workstation and server, and
ping the router from both repeatedly. Observe its display. Ping Plotter is a
very versatile tool - you can display an entire days records, or drill down to
show a minute by minute detail.

Check the computers for spyware and viruses.

Try one or more of these free online virus scans, which should complement your
current protection that should be on both computers:
<http://www.bitdefender.com/scan/license.php>
<http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan>
<http://www.ravantivirus.com/scan/>
<http://security.symantec.com/ssc/home.asp>
<http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp>

Now check for, and learn to defend against, additional problems.

Start by downloading each of the following free tools:
AdAware <http://www.lavasoftusa.com/>
CWShredder <http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4086.html>
CoolWWWSearch.SmartSearch (v1/v2) MiniRemoval
<http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4113.html>
HijackThis <http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=3155>
LSP-Fix and WinsockLSPFix <http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm>
Spybot S&D <http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=download>
Stinger <http://us.mcafee.com/virusInfo/default.asp?id=stinger>

Install and run Stinger.
<http://us.mcafee.com/virusInfo/default.asp?id=stinger>

Create a separate folder for HijackThis, such as C:\HijackThis - copy the
downloaded file there. Spybot S&D has an install routine - run it. The other
downloaded programs can be copied into, and run from, any convenient folder.

Start by closing all Internet Explorer and Outlook windows, and running
CoolWebSearchSmartKillerMiniRemoval, then CWShredder. Have the latter fix all.

Next, run AdAware. First update it ("Check for updates now"), configure for
full scan (<http://www.lavahelp.com/howto/fullscan/>), then scan ("Start" - "Use
custom scanning options" - "Next"). When scanning finishes, select everything,
and hit Next again.

Next, run Spybot S&D. First update it ("Search for updates"), then run a scan
("Check for problems"). Trust Spybot, and delete everything ("Fix Problems")
that is displayed in Red.

Then, run HijackThis ("Scan"). Do NOT make any changes immediately. Save the
HJT Log.
<http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?showtopic=227>

Finally, have your HJT log interpreted by experts at one or more of the
following security forums (and post it, or a link to your forum posts, here):
Aumha: <http://forum.aumha.org/index.php>
Net-Integration: <http://forums.net-integration.net/>
Spyware Info: <http://forums.spywareinfo.com/>
Spyware Warrior: <http://spywarewarrior.com/index.php>
Tom Coyote: <http://forums.tomcoyote.org/>
Wilders Security<http://www.wilderssecurity.com/>

If removal of any spyware affects your ability to access the internet (some
spyware builds itself into the network software, and its removal may damage your
network), run LSP-Fix and / or WinsockXPFIx.

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.