For the Love of Pete...Can't Get on The Network

[site4sure]

Hello.

I am almost fed up with this computer. They moved offices and we hooked everything back up and we got a new switch and the walls wired etc. This computer I am working on will not get on the network and see everyone else. It is a P2P network, no server. We are trying to see another computer on the network to use Quickbooks from. All the other computers are working fine and this one gets an address from the router fine and surfs the net fine. By the way.. this a Win98 comp and the other one that we are trying to access is a Win98 one. I have reinstalled TCP/IP and been through all that. I get to NN and get the Unable to Browse network box. I have checked workgroups and all that. All the same. Any ideas? Need help asap.

 

[mattjurado]

Since its a small lan, install NETBEUI on your machines, won't slow them down.

Let me know, have a few other fixes possible.

Matt J.

 

[site4sure]

Hi,

If at all possible.. we would like to not install NetBEUI. It used to work with straight TCP/IP. Any other ideas?

-Chris

 

[mattjurado]

What if you go start>find>computer, and search for the computer name? The IP browsing on 95/98 is very poor using just IP. You could create an lmhosts file to put on every computer, that might help.

Matt J.

 

[mattjurado]

Open a dos prompt, type
cd c:\windows
edit lmhosts

*enter the following lines, substitute your ips and names for the ones i type*
192.168.0.1 computer1 #PRE
192.168.0.2 computer3 #PRE
192.168.0.3 computer3 #PRE
192.168.0.4 computer4 #PRE

Then hit alt + F + X, and save it.
Do this on all 4 PCs, and reboot.

If you can do start>find>computer, you can create a shortcut to the computer you want to browse, and put it on the desktop.

Matt J.

 

[mainegeek]

Do you have "Client for Microsoft Networks" set as your primary network logon?

 

[site4sure]

Hi,

I do have Client for MS Networks set as the default and primary network logon. Anything else I might check. Since it use to work before we moved. Also, there was static IP's before we put in the router. Might this have something to do with it?

 

[Bigpom1]

My knowledge of Netwokrs could be written on the back of a postage stamp in block capitals with a felt pen, but do you have an active firewall on your terminal?

 

[site4sure]

Hi,

We do not have an internal firewall. Just the one on the router that protects us from outside traffic. Any other ideas?

 

[mattjurado]

Ah, didn't get that part. I was under the impression the only thing that changed was location, and we're looking at 95/98's weak browsing. Now I here a router is involved. Reassign static IPs.

If you make a change and bad stuff happens, undo the change. You took out the static ips.

Matt J.

 

[mainegeek]

Do you have "File Sharing" enabled on the problem machine?
If not, you need to enable it and restart the computer.
Also make sure the PC with the Quickbooks is set to share.

 

[site4sure]

Hi,

I do have it shared and all the other computers except this one can see the other comps and the share except this one. Also, I have the file sharing enabled.

-Chris

 

[mattjurado]

Did you reassing IPs? Try the lmhosts solution?

Matt J.

 

[site4sure]

Hi,

Did the renew of IP addy's on all of them. This computer works fine for that and gets on the Internet.. but doesnt want to play nice on the network with the other computers. Should I try the LMHOST's next?

 

[Jomama46]

Go to properties of NN, Properties of TCP/IP and check off "obtain IP address automatically" restart comp.
As you said that you used to have static IPs and now the router is handing them out, this needs to be changed.

Jomama

 

[site4sure]

Hi,

Already did that. First thing I did when I was troubleshooting it.

 

[smah]

Time to step back a little. Are all the machines in the same Workgroup?

Can each machine ping all the others by ip address? by name?

 

[site4sure]

Hi,

All machines in same wkgp, and can ping via IP, but not by name.. Say Judy to Front - No can Do.

 

[ITschoolGuy]

In order for computer browsing through Network Neighborhood to work correctly, a number of things have to happen...one of which is that NetBT (NetBIOS over TCP/IP) must be enabled and working properly so that computer names can be resolved. These names are broadcast over the network and stored in the local machine's name cache.

Unfortunately, many factors can prevent NetBIOS name broadcasts from reaching every station on the LAN. Having gone to a new location with a new switch and new cabling, it is possible that you have a physical issue with this particular station. You can certainly try troubleshooting along those lines.

You could also try using the nbtstat command from a DOS prompt to view (and ultimately reset) the local name table. However, if that doesn't work and NetBIOS broadcasts still aren't resulting in proper name resolution, you might be able to correct the problem by adjusting the properties of your "File & Printer Sharing" service on the troublesome machine. Try setting the "LMAnnounce" value to YES. This may help the station that's acting as the master browser to better update the network browse list.

Otherwise, I agree with mattjurado it's time to try some LMHOSTS entries. Once the IP addresses and NetBIOS names of all the stations are saved in the LMHOSTS file, you may find that you can browse.

Sorry this is so long winded. Hope it helps, though.

Chris

 

[Techview]

Check to see if it's a hardware problem using the device manager.