The case of the disappearing LAN

traveler · 07-12-2003, 03:39 AM

When I look in Network Neighborhood, any Network Neighborhood on the network, it's empty. But the network is running. The mapped drives show up and work. And the printers on the network print server work. But still all the Network Neighborhoods remains empty. I do try pressing F5.

What happened? The only clue I can give is that they all worked perfectly until about the time I took an empty hard drive and plugged it into my primary IDE channel on one computer and installed win2000 advanced server trial copy. Just installed it never configured it. Unplugged the hd and put back the original 'c' drive when I was through playing. Did win2000 advanced server do something to my network? Just coincidental?

traveler · 07-12-2003, 04:03 AM

Update-

Computer 1 - Empty Network Neighborhood. No "Entire Network" icon. No icon for itself. Can print to the printserver even though the print server does not show.

Computer 2 - Network Neighborhood has all icons. Can access Computer 1 through Network Neighborhood or mapped drives no problems.

Tinker · 07-12-2003, 04:12 AM

We know that win2000 ADV. was the test O.S... What are the O.S. on computer 1 and 2 now?

traveler · 07-12-2003, 04:18 AM

Only win98se.

The win98se network has been running flawlessly for two years. (had been)

traveler · 07-12-2003, 08:11 PM

D@mn gremblins !

I didn't do anything but the network now shows up.

traveler · 07-15-2003, 01:37 PM

The network is gone again!

Last night, anytime I went to Network Neighborhood, all of the network would show up each time. Today, nothing. Not even the "Entire Network" icon. Again I didn't do anything. And again, the network works, the mapped drives work.

What is happening here? I never had this problem before. I don't want to map all the partitions. I do need to transfer files from time to time to unmapped drives.

:confuse2:

**SKI** · 07-15-2003, 02:29 PM

Is your prob on the PC that you tried 2k advanced server with, the other PC, or on both of them? At one point you said that it was just one, but which one?

traveler · 07-15-2003, 05:35 PM

Hey SKI! How you doin'? Thanks for the response.

It's very perplexing here.

The story is:
I removed the hd's on Computer 2. Then put in one empty hd. Then installed win98se. Then installed win2kas. I never configured the server stuff. All I did was load Descent III just to see if the native win2k drivers supported the SW3d Pro joystick in win2k since win98se does not on a cpu faster than 600. The SW3dPro worked fine with 2k so I shut down the system, removed the win2kas hd, then put back the original win98se hd's and fired it up. No more working SW3dPro joystick. Oh well. Test over.

It could just be a coincidence.

Just a few moments ago, Computer 2 would show the network fine. I rebooted Computer 2 and now nothing in Network neighborhood. Not even the "Entire Network" icon. Just the searching flashlight when you push 'F5'. Mapped drives work.

Computer 1 does not show anything in Network Neighborhood at the moment. But last night Network Neighborhood was fine.

All mapped drives work on both computers. The network print server works and will print on demand.

One other thing. Lately I'm getting the following Error Message on both computers more often then usual:

______________________________________
EXPLORER

This program has performed an illegal operation
and will be shut down
______________________________________

and then the icons all disappear from the Tray except for ZoneAlarm.

:confuse2: :confuse2: :confuse2:

**pointreyes** · 07-15-2003, 05:40 PM

Is it possible that ESD might have occurred during the switching of hardware? I find it very odd that w2k would cause a problem-I have been using w2k Server OSes ever since it was a beta3 and have never experienced this oddity.

traveler · 07-15-2003, 11:44 PM

Thanks for the response pointreyes.

Win2kas was deleted a week ago. It's all win98se now.

More gremblins.

Update (upon returning home) -

Computer 2 now has Network Nieghborhood working (unexpected surprise). All icons show. Rebooted twice and Network Nieghborhood continues to work.

Computer 1 did not have Network Nieghborhood working at all. Rebooted. Network Neighborhood started to work. Feeling brave I rebooted twice more for the heck of it. Network Neighborhood is still working with all icons showing.

Conclusion - Network Neighborhood only works after the sun goes down sometimes.

ESD is electro-static discharge ??? All harddrives were bolted into the harddrive cages when cables were pulled or connected.

**SKI** · 07-16-2003, 12:07 AM

Post full details of your LAN connection "components in use" for both rigs (mostly all the "advanced" stuff under TCP/IP Properties). Also, is your Internet access stable and consistent throughout these glitches? (I suspect it is, but it doesn't hurt to ask. It might also be useful to know what "ipconfig /all" looks like for both boxes.

traveler · 07-16-2003, 03:18 PM

Update -

Everything was fine for about six hours. Then Computer 1 stopped showing NN. Only the waving flashlight showed. Shut down Computer 2 since I couldn't get to it on the network. On the next NN try on Computer 1, everything instantly showed (that is: "Entire Network" icon, the print server, and Computer 1 all showed).

TCP/IP for Computer 1 has nothing in it: "Allow binding to ATM": "Value No".

I'll get the ipconfig output when I find the direct to text file syntax. I forgot what it is.

**pointreyes** · 07-16-2003, 03:23 PM

The print direction method:
ipconfig /all >ip.txt

With Windows XP - you can type 'more ip.txt' to see the result; otherwise use 'type ip.txt'. I like using 'more' because it is a Unix command so I'm apt to use a command across the platforms.

Plus, more scrolls through the text file.

traveler · 07-17-2003, 03:29 AM

EUREKA !!!

PROGRESS !!!

I hope this is it! -----> ZoneAlarm

I was on Computer 2 (which is "never" on the internet). I just finished typing "ipconfig /all > ip2.txt" (thanks pointreyes). There it was in the tray blinking at me. Why would ZoneAlarm be getting Alerts? Well, opening up the Alert section revealed that my LAN was attacking Computer 2.

I had added ZoneAlarm to the Computer 2 startup a couple of weeks ago.

So I had Computer 1 trying to make the connection and ZoneAlarm trying to prevent the connection.

I shut down ZoneAlarm on Computer 2 and all was well. Then, I added the submask to the advanced security settings in ZoneAlarm on Computer 2 and all is well.

I hope it stays this way.

Sheesh !!!

switch_abx · 07-17-2003, 03:37 AM

traveler, I was reading your thread and I was to comment on a Software Firewall, when I read that ZoneAlarm was the culprit.

I experienced the same things some weeks ago: I found out it was Norton Internet Security 2003 (which I just had installed). I manually allowed IP Addresses 192.186.1.2-192.186.1.32 (IP Address Range) to be trusted. My Home Network is in that range. Problems resolved.

You possibly can do so as well in ZoneAlarm?

07-12-2003, 03:39 AM	#1
traveler Where to next? Join Date: May 2001 Location: South Florida Posts: 18,168	The case of the disappearing LAN When I look in Network Neighborhood, any Network Neighborhood on the network, it's empty. But the network is running. The mapped drives show up and work. And the printers on the network print server work. But still all the Network Neighborhoods remains empty. I do try pressing F5. What happened? The only clue I can give is that they all worked perfectly until about the time I took an empty hard drive and plugged it into my primary IDE channel on one computer and installed win2000 advanced server trial copy. Just installed it never configured it. Unplugged the hd and put back the original 'c' drive when I was through playing. Did win2000 advanced server do something to my network? Just coincidental?
(Offline)

07-12-2003, 04:03 AM	#2
traveler Where to next? Join Date: May 2001 Location: South Florida Posts: 18,168	Update- Computer 1 - Empty Network Neighborhood. No "Entire Network" icon. No icon for itself. Can print to the printserver even though the print server does not show. Computer 2 - Network Neighborhood has all icons. Can access Computer 1 through Network Neighborhood or mapped drives no problems.
(Offline)

07-12-2003, 04:12 AM	#3
Tinker How did they do that??? Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Indiana USA Posts: 523	We know that win2000 ADV. was the test O.S... What are the O.S. on computer 1 and 2 now? __________________
(Offline)

07-12-2003, 04:18 AM	#4
traveler Where to next? Join Date: May 2001 Location: South Florida Posts: 18,168	Only win98se. The win98se network has been running flawlessly for two years. (had been)
(Offline)

07-12-2003, 08:11 PM	#5
traveler Where to next? Join Date: May 2001 Location: South Florida Posts: 18,168	D@mn gremblins ! I didn't do anything but the network now shows up.
(Offline)

07-15-2003, 01:37 PM	#6
traveler Where to next? Join Date: May 2001 Location: South Florida Posts: 18,168	The network is gone again! Last night, anytime I went to Network Neighborhood, all of the network would show up each time. Today, nothing. Not even the "Entire Network" icon. Again I didn't do anything. And again, the network works, the mapped drives work. What is happening here? I never had this problem before. I don't want to map all the partitions. I do need to transfer files from time to time to unmapped drives. :confuse2:
(Offline)

07-15-2003, 02:29 PM	#7
SKI Comms Moderator Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Tempe, AZ (or wherever my luggage is) Posts: 8,487	Is your prob on the PC that you tried 2k advanced server with, the other PC, or on both of them? At one point you said that it was just one, but which one? __________________ Never try to teach a pig to sing... It wastes your time, and annoys the pig.
(Offline)

07-15-2003, 05:35 PM	#8
traveler Where to next? Join Date: May 2001 Location: South Florida Posts: 18,168	Hey SKI! How you doin'? Thanks for the response. It's very perplexing here. The story is: I removed the hd's on Computer 2. Then put in one empty hd. Then installed win98se. Then installed win2kas. I never configured the server stuff. All I did was load Descent III just to see if the native win2k drivers supported the SW3d Pro joystick in win2k since win98se does not on a cpu faster than 600. The SW3dPro worked fine with 2k so I shut down the system, removed the win2kas hd, then put back the original win98se hd's and fired it up. No more working SW3dPro joystick. Oh well. Test over. It could just be a coincidence. Just a few moments ago, Computer 2 would show the network fine. I rebooted Computer 2 and now nothing in Network neighborhood. Not even the "Entire Network" icon. Just the searching flashlight when you push 'F5'. Mapped drives work. Computer 1 does not show anything in Network Neighborhood at the moment. But last night Network Neighborhood was fine. All mapped drives work on both computers. The network print server works and will print on demand. One other thing. Lately I'm getting the following Error Message on both computers more often then usual: ______________________________________ EXPLORER This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down ______________________________________ and then the icons all disappear from the Tray except for ZoneAlarm. :confuse2: :confuse2: :confuse2:
(Offline)

07-15-2003, 05:40 PM	#9
pointreyes The race for quality has no finish line- so technically, it's more like a death march. Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 18,159	Is it possible that ESD might have occurred during the switching of hardware? I find it very odd that w2k would cause a problem-I have been using w2k Server OSes ever since it was a beta3 and have never experienced this oddity. __________________
(Offline)

07-15-2003, 11:44 PM	#10
traveler Where to next? Join Date: May 2001 Location: South Florida Posts: 18,168	Thanks for the response pointreyes. Win2kas was deleted a week ago. It's all win98se now. More gremblins. Update (upon returning home) - Computer 2 now has Network Nieghborhood working (unexpected surprise). All icons show. Rebooted twice and Network Nieghborhood continues to work. Computer 1 did not have Network Nieghborhood working at all. Rebooted. Network Neighborhood started to work. Feeling brave I rebooted twice more for the heck of it. Network Neighborhood is still working with all icons showing. Conclusion - Network Neighborhood only works after the sun goes down sometimes. ESD is electro-static discharge ??? All harddrives were bolted into the harddrive cages when cables were pulled or connected.
(Offline)

07-16-2003, 12:07 AM	#11
SKI Comms Moderator Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Tempe, AZ (or wherever my luggage is) Posts: 8,487	Post full details of your LAN connection "components in use" for both rigs (mostly all the "advanced" stuff under TCP/IP Properties). Also, is your Internet access stable and consistent throughout these glitches? (I suspect it is, but it doesn't hurt to ask. It might also be useful to know what "ipconfig /all" looks like for both boxes. __________________ Never try to teach a pig to sing... It wastes your time, and annoys the pig.
(Offline)

07-16-2003, 03:18 PM	#12
traveler Where to next? Join Date: May 2001 Location: South Florida Posts: 18,168	Update - Everything was fine for about six hours. Then Computer 1 stopped showing NN. Only the waving flashlight showed. Shut down Computer 2 since I couldn't get to it on the network. On the next NN try on Computer 1, everything instantly showed (that is: "Entire Network" icon, the print server, and Computer 1 all showed). TCP/IP for Computer 1 has nothing in it: "Allow binding to ATM": "Value No". I'll get the ipconfig output when I find the direct to text file syntax. I forgot what it is.
(Offline)

07-16-2003, 03:23 PM	#13
pointreyes The race for quality has no finish line- so technically, it's more like a death march. Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 18,159	The print direction method: ipconfig /all >ip.txt With Windows XP - you can type 'more ip.txt' to see the result; otherwise use 'type ip.txt'. I like using 'more' because it is a Unix command so I'm apt to use a command across the platforms. Plus, more scrolls through the text file. __________________
(Offline)

07-17-2003, 03:29 AM	#14
traveler Where to next? Join Date: May 2001 Location: South Florida Posts: 18,168	EUREKA !!! PROGRESS !!! I hope this is it! -----> ZoneAlarm I was on Computer 2 (which is "never" on the internet). I just finished typing "ipconfig /all > ip2.txt" (thanks pointreyes). There it was in the tray blinking at me. Why would ZoneAlarm be getting Alerts? Well, opening up the Alert section revealed that my LAN was attacking Computer 2. I had added ZoneAlarm to the Computer 2 startup a couple of weeks ago. So I had Computer 1 trying to make the connection and ZoneAlarm trying to prevent the connection. I shut down ZoneAlarm on Computer 2 and all was well. Then, I added the submask to the advanced security settings in ZoneAlarm on Computer 2 and all is well. I hope it stays this way. Sheesh !!!
(Offline)

07-17-2003, 03:37 AM	#15
switch_abx Xen now Citrix's Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 2,609	traveler, I was reading your thread and I was to comment on a Software Firewall, when I read that ZoneAlarm was the culprit. I experienced the same things some weeks ago: I found out it was Norton Internet Security 2003 (which I just had installed). I manually allowed IP Addresses 192.186.1.2-192.186.1.32 (IP Address Range) to be trusted. My Home Network is in that range. Problems resolved. You possibly can do so as well in ZoneAlarm?
(Offline)

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