I’ve been having some problems with my network recently.
Usually I’m fairly good with computer tech type stuff, but
this one is tough.
The network has 3 computers which i will simply call #1, #2
and #3…
#1 can access #2 and #3 all the time #3 can access #1 and #2 all the time #3 can access #1 all the time, but will only access #2
part of the time. This causes whatever application that
is trying to access files to stop responding…It also
prevents windows from shutting down (even is I close all
applications using the ‘close program’ thingie.
I have not installed any new software or hardware on any
of the 3 computers recently. This network has ran fine for
many months…this problem started 2 weeks or so ago.
Computer #1 has win 3.11 for workgroups, #2 and #3 have
win 98. I have checked the windows network settings and
they are fine, the cables and hub are also good.
Sometimes, Windoze being Windoze, network settings just fritz out. When my network misbehaves, here’s something I try - it works more often than not:
On the computer that’s wigging go to START/RUN and type in “winipcfg” (no quotes - and you may have to type winipcfg.exe). When the IP Configuration box comes up hit “Release all”. After it does it’s thing, hit “Renew all” and reboot.
Try replacing the cable. I’ve had cable be bad, I can wriggle it and it works until the next time.
Check the IRQ for the NIC and other devices on the goofy pc.
Thanks.
I’ll try ‘winipcfg’ next time it acts up but I dont think
it’ll work because the network is not TCP/IP based. (it’s
using IPX/SPX and NetBEUI).
A reboot will usually take care of the problem for a short
while. but it tends to come back after a few accesses.
The problem tends to happen both when I’m on the 'net (via
standard 56k modem) and when the computer is offline (and
has not been online).
Also I have already tried replacing both the cable and hub,
(since I had an extra). even tried using a crossover cable
without any hub…same result sometimes the thing worked
fine, but others it wouldn’t. As a test I stuck a 4th pc on
the network…it could access all the others and all the
others could access it without any problems.
It could be that 2’s NIC just doesn’t like 3’s NIC (or got damaged by a line spike or some such). If you have an extra one, I’d try replacing the NIC in the one that can’t talk to the other one all the time. Since you can get decent 10bT NICs for $20, this would be considered a “good” problem to have.
Are you using a 100 Mbit autosensing hub and 10/100 cards? I’ve seen that type of flaky behaviour with some cards that are supposed to run at 100, but don’t. Go to Network properties (from control panel) select the card, hit properties. You can check the settings on the advanced tab. If it is set to autosense (usually the default) try setting it to 100, and if that doesn’t work set it to 10. You might also want to set the other two machines to match.
Also, are you using Win98 modem sharing? There are some known issues with file and print sharing when that is installed.
Yes, I meant Win98 internet connection sharing. And now I can’t find the Knowledgebase article on it either, but I think it mostly deals with the security issues (it’s very easy for hackers to access shares on computers using ICS).
I guess because of the security issues, ICS does not install file and print sharing by default. On my machines at home, it was occassionally unbinding file and print sharing from TCP/IP after I had added it. To solve the problem, I manually bound file and print sharing only to IPX, so TCP/IP is for ICS only. I haven’t had a problem since, and it should also make hacking shares more difficult (since IPX is not routed to the internet).
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