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Kajinku
July 1st, 2004, 12:48 PM
Hello all,

First of all, I'm going nuts. I have tried 1001 things and nothing seems to work. Ladies and gentlemen, here's my problem:

I have 3 computers: 2 deskops and a laptop, all connected through one switch. One of the desktops has an ADSL modem inside, which allows the other 2 computers to have an internet connection as well. Basically, it's like this:
1) Desktop 1 (host)
2) Desktop 2 (client)
3) Laptop (client)
All of them are running Windows XP Professional and everything worked fine.
Until now.

About a week ago the internet connection on the 2 client computers started to slow down or not work. When pinging the host computer I had a 25%, 50%, 75% or total loss. Weird. So I decided to format all the computers, since the last time I did this was 2 years ago. I did this today.

Internet sharing doesn't work. Pinging the host computer works now and then, sometimes with 25% or 75% loss, sometimes not at all. Same thing when I try to ping the client PCs via the host computer. I check the cables, the switch, the problem persists. I check the workgroup, nothing. I manually configure the IP addresses, nothing. The Microsoft File & Printer sharing thingy is enabled on every computer, but still... nothing. I run the wizard for Home Networks on the host computer and MSN Messenger on the laptop starts to log in. I smile. MSN keeps doing this for 5 minutes and nothing. I cry. I don't see the other computers on the network when I click "view workgroup computers". I enabled the NetBIOS over TCP/IP etc... etc... etc...

What the hell am I doing wrong?! I don't know what to do anymore. I'm accessing the internet via the host computer now. So that works fine. It's something with the network, obviously.

Please, I beg you, HELP ME! ;)

thoriphes
July 1st, 2004, 01:04 PM
have you tried updating the firmware on your switch?

Kajinku
July 1st, 2004, 01:15 PM
have you tried updating the firmware on your switch?No, and I can't... it's not a router. But it worked fine before. I tried to connect 2 computers using a cross-over cable, but it's the same thing.

prstudio
July 1st, 2004, 03:06 PM
sounds like a power surge or something happened inside the router for this to happen out of nowhere - especially with the packet loss you are experiencing - any storms lately? or power problems?

and you tried a direct connection between 2 computers, on their own without the switch involved, and it did the same thing?

Kajinku
July 1st, 2004, 06:34 PM
sounds like a power surge or something happened inside the router for this to happen out of nowhere - especially with the packet loss you are experiencing - any storms lately? or power problems?

and you tried a direct connection between 2 computers, on their own without the switch involved, and it did the same thing?No big storms or anything... and I did try a direct connection between 2 computers. They weren't even able to ping each other. At all! And yes, it was a cross-over cable. ;)

I found out something really weird: on the laptop, I checked if the file & printer sharing, TCP/IP, etc. were enabled for the 58th time. They were all disabled! So I enabled them again, but the "OK" button was replaced by "Close" (?!!?). So I clicked "Close" and it asked me "Are you sure you want to unable file & printer sharing?" - WHAT THE F***?! I just enabled it!! This is getting über weird. I re-formatted the laptop, same thing. I'm beginning to think there's a curse on that portable computer. *sigh*

prstudio
July 1st, 2004, 07:56 PM
go to the start menu
choose "run"
type "cmd"
click "ok"

black DOS box comes up...at the prompt type -

nbtstat -R

^case-sensitive

then type

ping 127.0.0.1

and tell me if it goes through on 127.0.0.1

i can't see the machines, so I'm just running this through the paces...

Kajinku
July 2nd, 2004, 09:54 AM
go to the start menu
choose "run"
type "cmd"
click "ok"

black DOS box comes up...at the prompt type -

nbtstat -R

^case-sensitive

then type

ping 127.0.0.1

and tell me if it goes through on 127.0.0.1

i can't see the machines, so I'm just running this through the paces...I get 4 fast replies, 0% loss, same thing on every computer. Please tell me you're a genious at this. I'll be thankful for the rest of my life. ;)

Kajinku
July 2nd, 2004, 01:41 PM
After 2 days, the problem is finally solved. Hooray. My host computer's network card is replaced by a new one. Yes, it was a pure hardware problem. Ugh...

Anyway, thanks to everyone that tried to help me out! :)