Win7x64 pro - Network slow or hangs

Hello.
I have been running the various testversions of Win7, finally the RC-build, on a number of PCs. The first installations were all 32 bit. All of them working fine on the different machines.
Then I bought Win 7 pro 64 bit, installing it on a newly formatted partition, on my home computer - the same machine as before, with no hardware-alterations.
I immediately began having problems. Windows Explorer (WE) would work fine for a while, but freeze up after a period, typically a few hours. Logging off was also impossible if WE had ceased functioning. Also, computers on the network were no longer visible in My Computer, and could not be pinged. Resetting the computer was the only way forward.
I spent a lot of quality time with GOOGLE trying to find a solution, and I found that many were having similar issues on their Win7 64 bit computers.
In the end I found a posting referring to mapping of network-folders and drives being the culprit.
I had mapped several network folders, and after un-mapping them I have had no more problems logging off, nor with Windows Explorer freezing.
BUT I still have problems!
I fire up my computer in the morning, and all is well for a while. I can access resources on all available computers on my network. They are all visible in My Computer. Then, sometimes only after a short time, typically within the hour, when I open My Computer and try to find a network resource, I only see “Myself” and very often only one other computer. The strange thing is that the other one can easily be at the “other” end of the network, through a switch, over a wireless network-bridge and through yet two more switches, whereas the NAS and Windows Home server which are copper-connected to the same network switch as my computer are are not visible nor accessible.
This is the situation just now. I have a network-scanner installed – Languard and I have just scanned my network with it, and all computers are detected. I can also ping all computers on the network with no lost packages and at <7ms.
But I can still not see them in Windows Explorer.
Windows Firewall is off, Zone alarm Firewall is on (Zone Alarm Extreme Security with the last updaqtes)
Windows Update is also activated and I have verified that it is doing its job.

Is there anyone out there that can help me?

Kind regards from Nils Langeland

Did you build this computer yourself or is it one off the market?

NLangela said:

Hello.

Windows Firewall is off, Zone alarm Firewall is on (Zone Alarm Extreme Security with the last updaqtes)
Windows Update is also activated and I have verified that it is doing its job.

Is there anyone out there that can help me?

Kind regards from Nils Langeland

Did you say ....Zone Alarm? Gulp, the absolute worst culprit of all time for making machines invisible on your network. If you want things to work correctly start by uninstalling Zone Alarm and the ZA firewall then renable the Windows firewall which works perfectly well, then test again.

If you have a mixed Op system network then don't use Homegroups, set up a Workgroup instead.

If you have XP machines in your network try going to SP3 then install the LLTD hotfix which should make them show up on the network and in the network map more consistantly.
XP Computers in the Windows 7 Network Map

Thanks, chev65, for tip on ZoneAlarm.
I uninstalled it, and all is well.
Shopping around for a good AV/firewall to substitute ZA.
Any suggestions?
Nils

Here's a useful thread for you
What's the Best Anti-virus?

I'm sure once the recommendations start, this thread could hit ten pages and you'll be nowhere closer to an answer. You could try a few trials (most offer 30 days free). Only you can truly decide what works best for you.

NLangela said:

Thanks, chev65, for tip on ZoneAlarm.
I uninstalled it, and all is well.
Shopping around for a good AV/firewall to substitute ZA.
Any suggestions?
Nils

Thanks for reporting back in NLangela. :)

I have used ESET Smart Security for many years now and it has saved my bacon many times. Fairly easy GUI interface and not too big a footprint.