Now you see it, now you don’t

[Captain Jack]

Now you see it, now you don’t

I am having a weird network problem after I upgraded from XP to W7. I have 3 computers, 1 desktop and 2 laptops all running W7, plus a Dlink WBR-2310 router and a networked printer. The hardware has not changed from pre-W7 to post-W7. I was not getting this problem with XP. The printer and desktop are connected to the router via ethernet cables and the 2 laptops are wireless. All three computers have no problem connecting to the internet and connecting to the printer.

The problem is the computers have trouble seeing each other most of the time. Sometimes when I open the Network folder I can only see the computer I am at (plus the printer), if I refresh a few times I might see one or both the other computers. If I then open the Network and Share Center and select See Full Map I again may or may not see the other computers. Back in the Network fold if I double click one of the other computers I may get an error message saying “Windows cannot access \\XXXXXXX” or I may connect. When I can see the computer in the Full Map I can always connect. But most times one or both of the other computers will just not show up in the Network folder or the network map. Most of the time I can ping the other computers without any errors (see note below), but I still may or may not be able to access that computer.

I am running Workgroup not Homegroup and they all have the same Workgroup name.

Each computer has a unique IP address assigned by the router.

The problem seems random, sometime it works correctly, but most of the time it does not.

I have unchecked the TCP/IPv6 check box in the Network Connections Properties dialog box on all three computers. I have not disabled IPv6 as per KB929852

I have rebooted the router.

Sometime when I ping one of the computers I get the following response:
Reply from 192.168.2.101: Destination host unreachable
(Note- The IP address of my computer is 192.168.2.101, the IP address of the computer I am pinging is 192.168.2.103)

Any suggestions?

 

[Jacee]

Do you have the same anti-virus and firewall software, or are they all different?
For instance, I could not share with my XP because ZoneAlarm was blocking my Win 7's IP address. I had to manually add the computer's address to ZA and allow.

 

[Captain Jack]

All three computers are using Microsoft's firewall. One laptop and the desktop are running Microsoft Security Essentials and the other laptop is running the Avast anti-virus.

 

[qballrail]

Are both computers running 7? If no, this sounds similar to the issue I had with file/printer sharing on my network, sharing out my Win7 PC. In Network & Sharing Center, select either Home or Work network. NOT Public. Otherwise, nothing else will work. If both are Win 7, as much as I'd hate to, I'd advise activating Homegroup.

One other option may be to try rolling back the network adapter driver and reinstalling. Make sure you have the proper version. I noticed that sometimes incompatible programs/drivers can slip by the Windows compatibility detection and it will install anyway but produce the intermittent and unwanted results you are experiencing.

Hope this helps!!

 

[Captain Jack]

All three computers are running Windows 7. All three are also set as a Home network. I have 2 computers running Windows 7 Pro and 1 running Windows 7 Home, so I cannot setup for a Work Network. I don't want to activate Homegroup because at times I have guests at the house that are running XP and Homegroup does not support XP (my understanding).

The Windows 7 is a new install so there is nothing to roll back to, the roll back option button is grayed out.

 

[chev65]

I would start by uninstalling Avast from the laptop.

I'm not sure why you can't set up a workgroup but that is usually what works best.

Did you actually upgrade from XP with the Windows 7 upgrade CD?

If so a clean install usually works better so it may be worth a try.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

 

[Captain Jack]

I still have the problem when the laptop with Avast is powered off. Because the problem is intermittent I don't understand how it could be an antivirus or firewall issue.

One laptop is new and came from the factory with Windows 7 installed, the other two computers were clean installs, I reformatted the hard drives before installing Windows 7.

 

[chev65]

Can you share files or is the network map the only problem?

Most any A/V can cause sharing problems, yes intermittent ones also strange as it may seem. Usually when you can't see other machines there is an A/V involved.

 

[Captain Jack]

When I can access another computer I can share files, but most of the time either the computer does not show up in the Network folder or if it does I cannot access it, I get a "Windows cannot access \\xxxxxxx" error.

I use the network map as a indicator, if the computer shows up on the network map I can access it, if it does not then I usually cannot access it.

 

[chev65]

Usually when I see these types of problems it's caused from A/V software or a third party firewall, the fact that it's intermittent makes it even more likely that an A/V is causing the problem.

I would start by turning IPv6 back on, that hardly ever fixes anything and if it does fix something it's only because another piece of hardware is outdated and not working properly.

It might help if you post a screen shot of your, ipconfig /all then hit enter, typed into a command prompt. This is just to insure that you are using a common default gateway.

It might also help to simply reset your router by pushing the reset button and see if things improve or not. There are quite a few complaints about your particular router at the Newegg review section. According to the posters there you should definately update the firmware on your router.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16833127073

 

[Captain Jack]

I will try to disable all three A/V programs and see it this helps, or do I need to uninstall them?

I had the same problem with IPv6 turned on and others suggested turning it off because most hardware does not support it. I know my router does not.

This is the ipconfig /all info:

---------------------------------------------------------

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : JWW-Laptop
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-18-DE-82-72-90
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.101(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, August 01, 2010 8:52:45 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, August 03, 2010 8:52:42 AM
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom NetXtreme 57xx Gigabit Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1C-23-0A-82-51
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter isatap.{1E8E3244-D372-4E5F-B567-1BB72B28AE68}:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2001:0:4137:9e76:3c81:218f:3f57:fd9a(Preferred)
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::3c81:218f:3f57:fd9a%15(Preferred)
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : ::
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

---------------------------------------------------------

I have reset the router and cable modem (to factory defaults). I am running firmware 1.04 on the router, about a year ago I tried to update the firmware 1.05 but it lock the router up so it would not work, therefore went back to 1.04 and worked fine.

Appreciate your help

 

[chev65]

Your router does support the IPv6 protocol. It's even listed as being compatible with Windows 7 which would not happen unless it was compatible. You can see the IPv6 entry at the bottom of the ipconfig where it says Terredo tunneling psuedo-interface.

The A/V's may need to be reconfigured or uninstalled in order for sharing to work properly.

The other possible problem is that your router seems to have interrmittant problems with wireless connections according to the newegg reviews so getting the latest firmware installed may help with that. That particular router has terrible reviews and is not exactly top of the line so that might be causing this problem to occur.

 

[Captain Jack]

After I do the disable the A/V test I will re-enable IPv6.

I have had the router for a couple of years and when under XP it worked fine. The only intermittent problem I had I solved by extending the lease time from 180 minutes to 48 hours. After I re-enable IPv6 I will try to upgrade the firmware again.

 

[qballrail]

First, I would get rid of Avast and install AVG Free. That's the best freeware A/V program which also includes a spyware scanner.

Before installing AVG, but after removing Avast, see if your other computer sees it.

If I understand you correctly, it appears you are using both Win7 firewall and your A/V program firewall. Win firewall SHOULD be turned off by default when you install a 3rd party firewall program. Two firewalls don't increase your security, rather it complicates matters and causes symptoms such as what you describe. SO, that said, turn OFF the Win firewall in favor of your A/V program.

Unless IPv6 is actually in use (at this point, most machines do NOT utilize it), it's okay to turn it off. You're eliminating one possible culprit.

See if your router OEM has a firmware update. Install it if there is one available. Reset your router. It also would not hurt to flash your BIOS on each machine upgraded to Win7. Most of the time, this is recommended for older machines when upgrading.

Try those steps and see... hope this works for you!

 

[Captain Jack]

I am running Windows firewall on all three systems, but that is the only firewall I have running. Two systems have MSE for A/V and the third is running Avast.

I updated the BIOS on both the older systems before I installed Windows 7.

I will update the router firmware later this week, but last time I did the router would not work at all.

Working on the systems this afternoon, if I can ping the systems I can access them.
Scenario:
1. From my laptop I cannot see either of the two other systems in the Network folder.
2. I ping one system and then refresh the Network folder that system shows up and I can log into it.
3. I then ping the other system, refresh and can see it and log into it.

This is repeatable, the problem is after a period of time (I don't know how long) I have to ping the other computers again to see them.

 

[Captain Jack]

As further example, in the 5 minutes or so it took me to write the last post I lost connection with both computers. I pinged them again and I could access them again.

 

[Jacee]

Read what chev65 is saying, he knows this 'Network' gobbledygeek business!

 

[chev65]

As further example, in the 5 minutes or so it took me to write the last post I lost connection with both computers. I pinged them again and I could access them again.

See now that is exactly the same complaint as was showing up at the Newegg review site for your router, dropped wireless connections was the main complaint. I posted a link in the previous post so you could read those reviews.

The only other option would be to make sure you aren't using a channel that is being used in your area. The program below will help you to choose an unused channel for your wireless connection. It's an easy program to figure out. You will need to reboot your machine after installing this program and it will only work on machines that have a wireless adaptor connected to the internet.
http://www.xirrus.com/library/wifitools.php

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833127073

 

[becksnyc]

Same problem as Captain Jack

Cap,
Did you resolve this problem?
I have the same issue. Two NEW computers with Win 7 installed. Network maps correct on both computers. I intermittently "lose" the other computers in Win explorer. They just disappear.
If I re-start, even when they appear in the folders, I get the "windows cannot access" and you don't have permission, although full sharing is enabled on both computers.
I've tried with both Windows firewall & my CA firewalls disabled, and later with them reconfigured.
I've tried every other suggestion on the internet, including syncing the time, making sure they were Home not Public, creating same account names & passwords & etc.
I'm using a Netgear Router, CA Security suite on two new computers with Win 7 clean installed. All drivers are updated.
Thanks

 

[Captain Jack]

Chev65,

Thanks for the advice, unfortunately I cannot afford an new router at this time so I have to make what I have work. What troubles me is I have had this router 3 or 4 years, it has never exhibited problem some people are claiming about rebooting and loosing connections (except for the lease time issue which I fixed), the router stays on 24/7. My problem now is I only lose connections with the other computers, I have always maintained connection with the internet and have always maintained connection with the network printer. Before the change to Windows 7 I did not see any of the issue I am having now. I will update the router firmware in the next couple of days to see if this helps. I live in a fairly isolated area so I have never seen any other wireless networks, but I will install the Xirrus utility maybe it will detect something I am not seeing.

Becksync

At this time I have not found a solution but I am still working through chev65's suggestions.