can't find other computers sometimes 1

[edrich]

I have XP-pro and I can't seem to find my other computers and their printers all the time! I have one unit on w2k, and one on 98se. Everything was working fine until a week or so ago and now I can get to one or the other (usally) but not both. It may have started with an update, anyone else having this problem? The 98se unit can see the w2k 100%

 

[wolluf]

Your question is a little vague!

Eg, 'I can get to one or the other (usally) but not both'

what does this mean? If you try to access the 98 machine it usually works but then if you try the 2k machine it never works. And vice versa? When you say 'try to access' - what do you mean? What about physical & logical network description? (eg, are all machines connected to a switch, a hub, a router or what? Same workgroup?. Just TCP/IP? Fixed IP addresses or DHCP server?)

What happens if you just type \\2kmachine name and \\98machine name in the run box? (should open an explorer window for machine)

 

[stduc]

The only time I've seen a similar problem it turned out the NIC card on one of the machines was dying. Of course I didn't solve the problem until the NIC card died! Instead I spent a lot of time messing about with IP settings, re-installing drivers etc!

Intermittent problems are ageing!!!!!!!!!1

 

[edrich]

Ok, I was not very clear. I just rebooted and can get to my printer off of my win2k unit, but I tried to save a bachup file on to the 98 unot and it can't find the directory. If I wait a few hours, it will find the 98 unit but lose the 2k unit.
xp unit is 192.168.0.105
w2k unit/with printer is 192.168.0.147
98 unit is 192.168.0.140
other w2k unit 192.168.0.158

The problem seems that I can only see the 140 or the 147 from .105, not both, this seems to have all started after some recient xp
updates

255.255.255.0 all the same, workgroup all the same

140 can see 147 fine
but when 105 can't see 140 or 147 they they can't see 105 either.
105 is a fixed ip because of pcanywhere needed it and it is fixed in my DI804HV switch

 

[edrich]

I forgot to tell you I can ping both units from 105

 

[wolluf]

so - can you access machines using \\machine name as I asked?
or - can you access machines using \\ip address?

sounds like machines are having problems resolving names from IP addresses.

do you run anti-spyware software? (suggest a scan with at least adaware & spybot if not).

faq779-4625 might be useful

 

[edrich]

Man, I must be brain dead! It was fixed with a spy-bot and adaware scan. I know better, I just forgot the 98 unit, and that was the problem! Thanks again Wolluf!