Cant see computer on network

[CtChevy427]

For the past year or so I have been able to share files between my desk top and my wifes lap top. The other night I did a firmware up date on the WRT54GS Linksys router. Now I can no longer see the desk top on her laptop. The desk top is running XP and the laptop is running Vista. Both computers can access the Internet with no problem. I don't know what setting in the router changed to do this. Any help would be great.

 

[BoostN]

I wish I could help Bill, that's one of those things where you really have to "be there" to see what's going on. I actually haven't had good look with the Windows server option..

 

[CtChevy427]

I hear ya Jeff. I was surprised that it worked in the beginning when all I did was network share the C drive.

I did make a move in the right direction today. The laptop vista machine now sees my XP desk top. It will not access it though. When I try to let it diagnose the problem it returns a message that...Windows sent the request to the DNS server and the server responded that the name was unknown.

All this from a simple firmware update. Never again.

 

[Franko914]

I hear ya Jeff. I was surprised that it worked in the beginning when all I did was network share the C drive.

I did make a move in the right direction today. The laptop vista machine now sees my XP desk top. It will not access it though. When I try to let it diagnose the problem it returns a message that...Windows sent the request to the DNS server and the server responded that the name was unknown.

All this from a simple firmware update. Never again.

Hello Bill,

The IP requests should not be going outside the router into the WAN (wide area network) at all using DNS, but should be staying within your LAN (local area network).

A few things to try:

PING the laptop's IP address from the desktop.
PING the desktop's IP address from the laptop.
The router should let the PINGs complete successfully.

Do you have DHCP enabled on the router? If not, enable it. Reboot the router.

Do you have DHCP enabled on each computer? If not enable them, click on Start/Run type "cmd" [OK], type "IPCONFIG /release" then reboot the computer.

Because all you did was the router firmware upgrade, it could be just the DHCP server on the router got quirky. The computers still have to obtain their "new" IP configuration (including DNS) from the router, so you must get rid of the "old" configuration (with the IPCONFIG /release command above).

Let us know how it goes.

Regards,
Franko

 

[CtChevy427]

Franko, I will check those things out later and report back. Thanks for your help!!!! :thumbsup:

 

[CtChevy427]

A few things to try:

PING the laptop's IP address from the desktop.
PING the desktop's IP address from the laptop.
The router should let the PINGs complete successfully.

This was completed successfully.

Do you have DHCP enabled on the router? If not, enable it. Reboot the router.

Automatic Configuration - DHCP chosen

Do you have DHCP enabled on each computer? If not enable them, click on Start/Run type "cmd" [OK], type "IPCONFIG /release" then reboot the computer.

Checked both machines both were set to DHCP enabled . Also did the IPCONFIG /release on both machines.

Because all you did was the router firmware upgrade, it could be just the DHCP server on the router got quirky. The computers still have to obtain their "new" IP configuration (including DNS) from the router, so you must get rid of the "old" configuration (with the IPCONFIG /release command above).

Franko

No luck after so far. At the end of the firmware update the instruction said to hold the reset button for 30 seconds. I think that wiped out all previous settings. I think something on the router is still set wrong. Are there any setting that would cause this?

 

[Franko914]

If you've reset the router to factory setting by holding down the reset button for a certain length of time, you will have to reconfigure it like the first time setup.

Are the computers connected to the router via Ethernet cables? Desktop Ethernet, laptop wireless? Both wireless? You will need one computer connected via Ethernet cable to reconfigure.

The sequence for rebooting the network (after shutting down PCs, router/firewall, cable/dsl modem) is:
1. Power ON cable/dsl modem, wait for network/activity light to be stable
2. Power ON router/firewall
3. Power ON computers

If reconfiguration fails, you can try reflashing the router again.

I'll do some research on this model's issue...

 

[SfcJones]

I've been using Dlink for many years now and rarely have issues, you might want to try to use network magic, just google it try it for a few days and since it isn't expensive just purchase it and it will keep everything happy on your network for you.

 

[Franko914]

One other thing you should do is enable network sharing on both computers (desktop, hard drive or folder level--you pick and choose want you want shared).

Regards,
Franko

 

[CtChevy427]

If you've reset the router to factory setting by holding down the reset button for a certain length of time, you will have to reconfigure it like the first time setup.

Yup thats what I did. I wish I had all the settings that were in place when the sharing worked. :mad2:

Are the computers connected to the router via Ethernet cables? Desktop Ethernet, laptop wireless? Both wireless? You will need one computer connected via Ethernet cable to reconfigure.

Desktop is cabled and the laptop is wireless.

The sequence for rebooting the network (after shutting down PCs, router/firewall, cable/dsl modem) is:
1. Power ON cable/dsl modem, wait for network/activity light to be stable
2. Power ON router/firewall
3. Power ON computers

I will give this a try later. Kids are watching TV right now.

If reconfiguration fails, you can try reflashing the router again.

I'll do some research on this model's issue...

Alright I will try that as a last resort. I will report back later on today. Thanks Franko

 

[CtChevy427]

I've been using Dlink for many years now and rarely have issues, you might want to try to use network magic, just google it try it for a few days and since it isn't expensive just purchase it and it will keep everything happy on your network for you.

The Linksys router came with something similar to Network Magic. They call it EasyLink Advisor.

I am just glad my only problem right now is the the laptop cant see the desk top. I would have gone nuts with no online access.

 

[SfcJones]

EasyLink Advisor has a ways to go to compete with network magic, btw...cisco purchased network magic, cisco owns linksys. Network magic takes all the hassles out of configuration on the network, plus it will alert you if someone intrudes on your network.

 

[CtChevy427]

If you've reset the router to factory setting by holding down the reset button for a certain length of time, you will have to reconfigure it like the first time setup.

Are the computers connected to the router via Ethernet cables? Desktop Ethernet, laptop wireless? Both wireless? You will need one computer connected via Ethernet cable to reconfigure.

The sequence for rebooting the network (after shutting down PCs, router/firewall, cable/dsl modem) is:
1. Power ON cable/dsl modem, wait for network/activity light to be stable
2. Power ON router/firewall
3. Power ON computers

If reconfiguration fails, you can try reflashing the router again.

I'll do some research on this model's issue...

Well I don't have much to report. Went through all the things above and still nothing. I even tried to get the original version of the firmware Linksys said not possible. It might just be easier to get an external network storage unit then I will not have to deal with it. Anyone have a favorite spot to buy peripherals at good prices?

 

[CtChevy427]

EasyLink Advisor has a ways to go to compete with network magic, btw...cisco purchased network magic, cisco owns linksys. Network magic takes all the hassles out of configuration on the network, plus it will alert you if someone intrudes on your network.

I read today the EasyLink Advisor does not work with my firmware version. :nonod: I downloaded Network Magic. It is definitely more intense than EasyLink Advisor. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[SfcJones]

Dlink has a NAS that is pretty good. Tiger Direct has them for a good price.

 

[CtChevy427]

I have an update. I took Tim's suggestion and installed Network Magic. I put it on both machines. The lap top through Network Magic saw my desk top and let me access the My Documents file. I thought I was all set. Had a little dinner come back and it will not access the file any longer. I get an error code 0X80070035. I also sometimes see my desktop on the network of the laptop and sometimes don't. Can the router temporally block access? I can still ping in both directions and have Internet on both. I disabled the firewall on each machine but no luck. I am convinced there a setting in this router that is not right. Any more help would be great.

ON EDIT: about an hour has passed and now my wife can access the desk top again. This is driving me to drink. I think I need one. ):h

Here are the release notes. I went from the first to the latest. http://downloads.linksysbycisco.com/downloads/WRT54GSv7.2_v7.2.07_FwReleaseNotes.txt

 

[SfcJones]

when the router is renewing the lease on your laptop it may be taking a few minutes to renew it again. I wonder what time frame you are using on this. Sounds like it might have a 1 hour lease. I always use the max time the router allows...24 hours before it renews the lease. you may want to check this out. I think Linksy use 192.168.1.1 to access the settings. Open your IE and type that url in. If nothing happens let me know. I will see if I can get you to tell me what the default gateway is.

On Edit: if you open a command window and type in ipconfig this will tell you the default gateway. You can also release and renew the lease here manually....

 

[CtChevy427]

Tim, where in the router can I find this setting?

 

[Franko914]

when the router is renewing the lease on your laptop it may be taking a few minutes to renew it again. I wonder what time frame you are using on this. Sounds like it might have a 1 hour lease. I always use the max time the router allows...24 hours before it renews the lease. you may want to check this out. I think Linksy use 192.168.1.1 to access the settings. Open your IE and type that url in. If nothing happens let me know. I will see if I can get you to tell me what the default gateway is.

On Edit: if you open a command window and type in ipconfig this will tell you the default gateway. You can also release and renew the lease here manually....

Bill and Tim,

Try "ipconfig /flushdns" just in case there's a bad entry.
Then "net stop dnscache" to stop dns caching until the next reboot.

If that doesn't work, I will almost want to say, "use static IP addresses" at this point. If that "calms" the network, then we know it's the DHCP settings that needs fixing. I had this working-not-working happen to me when I was running Win98 and NT desktops many years ago but cannot remember how I resolved it... I'm thinking, thinking, thinking, and no friggin' brain cells are cooperating. One-too-many ice-cold beers when I was younger...

Also, I have a suspicion it could be settings for access rights/sharing on one or both PCs.

Hang in there, Bill. We'll fix this wascally pwobwem, soon...

Franko

 

[SfcJones]

Tim, where in the router can I find this setting?

Not sure about your router as it has been a while since I messed with a Linksy router. They change the behaviour of them with different models anyway. It should be on the wireless setting. Franko has a better solution above this reply. I was trying to keep my responses simplified and not go into alot of detail. Maybe if you were to try this out....tell network magic not to share anymore....folders or the root of C: drive on both machines, reboot both computers and tell network magic to sharewhat ever you want to share and let it take care of it.....it might undo what had happen in the first place. But Franko reply might be the fix....98 and NT was pretty nasty about this stuff and I used a different program back then.