I have a network problem nobody can solve.?

Question

I have three computer on a network. Two are hardlined and one is connected to my wireless linksys router. The wireless computer is able to get onto the internet but since this morning for whatever reason it cannot communicate with the other hardlined computers. The two hardlined computer can comunicate with each other but not with the wireless computer. I check the router settings, and even set them back to the default settings. I also checked to make sure the shared folders were actually shared and apparently they are.

Note: I just checked the network with a different wireless laptop and the network works and the laptop communicates with both hardlined desktops. The wireless desktop however does not show up in My Network Places. This is very bothersome and I would appreciate any help that can be offered to my complicated question.

Thank you.

could a network bridge help, it's the one thing my laptop has and my wireless desktop does not. However, my desktop worked yesterday without a network bridge. Very strange.

Answer 1

You didn't mention it, but I assume all your machines are Windows based. It also sounds as if you've effectively identified the wireless machine as the problem, rather than your network, by attaching a second wireless device.

With that in mind, focus on the laptop rather than the router:

Are you running a firewall, or is Windows firewall turned on? It can block computer-to-computer communications.

Are you assigning addresses based on DHCP? Or is the original wireless device hard-set and conflicting?

Can you ping the addresses of the other machines rather than just see them from a GUI perspective?

Edit 1: I'm not sure why you would have a network bridge set up locally unless a VPN installation changed the network setup.

Answer 2

r all computers running the same OS? like XP? there is some slight variations for mixing OS, but in general is should not be impossible.

if ur connecting to the internet, that a least says the hardware is running ok. try following.

- reset ur wireless modem (hard reset or unplug wait 10sec then plug it back in)
- from your computer got the command prompt START>RUN from the window that opens type "ipconfig ?", this will show u a menu of available options. we are interested in the renew option, so type in "ipconfig /renew". This will renew ur ip connection.

- no joy? try disable ur firewall setting and try renewing ur ip address again (ipconfig /renew)

- no joy? run through the "wireless setup wizzard", make sure set "automatically assign ip address" (or something to that nature). in other words, let the PC obtain the ip address.

Answer 3

First we need to look at a few things. One what is the workgroup name of the three PC's are they the same or different. Are they all running the same Operating system ( Windows XP, Windows 2000, Mac OS/X, Linux), Thrid what are the IP addresses being assigned to each PC. You can check this in windows by click start -> run -> type in "cmd" -> click OK -> then type in "ipconfig /all". The first three sets of numbers need to be the same, the fourth number must be different. Feel free to drop me an e-mail at [e-mail] and I can finnish helping you troubleshoot.

Answer 4

My son had a similar problem with his laptop via my computer, it was connected through a router, what we did was to change the IP address and this resolved our problem, hope this works for you. I see you have a Linksys setup, have you by any chance changed your set up on the computers ie have you restored to a previous date and time? if so you must reset your Linksys settings again and reboot

Answer 5

I have exactly the same issue with my Hardwired PCs and the Wireless Units.
You will have to define the Unit in, probably using the Mac filter address. Alternatively your best next bet is to call Linksys support, they will fix it for sure

Answer 6

Verify the wireless adapter settings on your wireless desktop.
The router should be ok.
Does the ipconfig command shows an IP address like 192.168.x.x in the command line ?

Answer 7

Not sure exactly why thats happening but I would do the Network connection wizard on all the computers and make sure theyre all the same workgroup.

Answer 8

Try resetting your router. If it still doesn't work review and re-install your network and network-interface device drivers. Then set your whole network again. That's very very cumbersome though, but worth a try if nothing else works. Good Luck...

Answer 9

i know a way to fix it but you have to fallow it exactly.read ALL of this before you do any thing.first open your window and take all of the wires and cords off of the computers and pick them up now hold your arms out of the window.you should have a hold of the computer still now let go.there doesn't that solve that.LOL