Calling Windows Home Server Experts

[tdawg]

Hi All,

I just got an Acer EasyStore home server that so far has not worked like it should. My network is arranged as this: Verizon DSL coming into Verizon modem/router. Wireless functionality of Verizon modem/router turned off. Linksys 802.11g wireless router connected as gateway to Verizon device (dd-wrt installed on Linksys router).

I can connect to my server via remote desktop and thru the http address thru the web browser. However, I can never complete the install of the Windows Home Connector software, nor can I reinstall the home server software because neither software can locate the server when it needs to. Installation of the connector software can see my server and locates it, but I can never get past the "Enter the Home Server Password" screen, as it repeatedly tells me the operation cannot be completed. Up to that point, no problem locating the server.

Anybody have any advice? I've looked everywhere and read various threads, but nothing works.

I've tried installing the connector software on both my desktop running Win7 RC and laptop running Vista Business. Both are connected to the network wirelessly, and all devices are on the same subnet, as they are all connected to the same router.

Thanks in advance,
Trevor

 

[RebateMonger]

If your client PCs aren't on a wired network for the software install, I suggest you put them on a wire (server and clients) for those steps. I'd also make the first backup of each client with a wired connection to the server.

 

[alevasseur14]

Do you have DHCP turned off on the linksys with the DD-WRT? Is the server connected to the Linksys or the Verizon router?

 

[notposting]

Have you run the Home Server Toolkit Troubleshooter? I was having some similar issues (I could download the connector software off the server, but the setup would crap out, etc).
Lots of DHCP issues when the troubleshooter ran--easy fix though! Hopefully you just set up your server with a static-IP, if not do so, and then just put a reference in your HOSTS file...

so for mine it was:
192.168.10.2 HOMESERVER

and that resolved everything. Hope that helps!

 

[tdawg]

Originally posted by: alevasseur14
Do you have DHCP turned off on the linksys with the DD-WRT? Is the server connected to the Linksys or the Verizon router?

Server is connected to the linksys. I believe DHCP is turned on, on the linksys. What happens if I turn it off? Will various wi-fi devices still be able to connect as normal?

 

[alevasseur14]

As long as the server is connected to the Linksys and your wireless clients connect to the Linksys, having DHCP on or off shouldn't make a difference. Having two DHCP servers on your network basically breaks it up into two segments and won't allow computers on one segment to see those on the other segment.

That said, I'd probably turn off the DHCP server in the Linksys just to rule out double-NAT issues for certain. I had an issue with my WHS when I switched the built in DNS servers to OpenDNS instead of leaving it automatic. The connector software would see the server but not connect to it, like you're saying. I also couldn't access my computers from outside my network. That's something that's also worth checking.

 

[tdawg]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
If your client PCs aren't on a wired network for the software install, I suggest you put them on a wire (server and clients) for those steps. I'd also make the first backup of each client with a wired connection to the server.

I tried connecting my laptop by wire to the same router the server is on, connected successfully to http://[myserver]:5500 and downloaded the connector software setup, but get hung up at the same problem.

I have since removed the linksys router from the equation and connected everything directly to the verizon wireless router (4 wired ports as well). Still no dice. 🙁

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: tdawg
I can connect to my server via remote desktop and thru the http address thru the web browser. However, I can never complete the install of the Windows Home Connector software, nor can I reinstall the home server software because neither software can locate the server when it needs to.

So, how is your name resolution? If you go to a PC and type "ping <homeservername>", does the PC know the IP address of the Windows Home Server? Do you have any firewall softwarer running on the desktops or Windows Home Server besides the built-in ones? Any specific error messages that you get when the installation fails?

I've connected pretty much every version of Windows and Windows Server from XP on up to Server 2008 in about seven offices and five homes and haven't had this problem, so it's definitely solveable.

 

[tdawg]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

Originally posted by: tdawg
I can connect to my server via remote desktop and thru the http address thru the web browser. However, I can never complete the install of the Windows Home Connector software, nor can I reinstall the home server software because neither software can locate the server when it needs to.

So, how is your name resolution? If you go to a PC and type "ping <homeservername>", does the PC know the IP address of the Windows Home Server? Do you have any firewall softwarer running on the desktops or Windows Home Server besides the built-in ones? Any specific error messages that you get when the installation fails?

I've connected pretty much every version of Windows and Windows Server from XP on up to Server 2008 in about seven offices and five homes and haven't had this problem, so it's definitely solveable.

Yep, I can ping my server successfully with "ping [homeservername]". No additional firewall software installed, just windows default firewall, which I've tried turning off to no avail.

I can download the connector software from the server and it installs correctly, but when it locates my server and then asks for the server password, I enter the password and receive "this operation cannot be completed at this time" or something similar. I've searched online everywhere with nothing working. The diagnostic tool only returns errors that are more like warnings when I read the results.

I've just finished installing Windows 7, so I'm going to see if it works on a fresh install tomorrow evening.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: tdawg
I can download the connector software from the server and it installs correctly, but when it locates my server and then asks for the server password, I enter the password and receive "this operation cannot be completed at this time" or something similar. I've searched online everywhere with nothing working. The diagnostic tool only returns errors that are more like warnings when I read the results.

The first thing I look for when I get a "this operation cannot be completed at this time" is to make sure the WHS server isn't busy doing something. When it's doing Backups or Restores, for instance, it'll refuse a connection from the WHS Management Console with a message similar to that.

 

[tdawg]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

Originally posted by: tdawg
I can download the connector software from the server and it installs correctly, but when it locates my server and then asks for the server password, I enter the password and receive "this operation cannot be completed at this time" or something similar. I've searched online everywhere with nothing working. The diagnostic tool only returns errors that are more like warnings when I read the results.

The first thing I look for when I get a "this operation cannot be completed at this time" is to make sure the WHS server isn't busy doing something. When it's doing Backups or Restores, for instance, it'll refuse a connection from the WHS Management Console with a message similar to that.

Currently, no other machine in the house is setup to try to backup anything to the server, because none of them can download the software. I've used the laptop to manually copy music and documents to the server successfully, but nothing automatic works.

It doesn't wake on lan at all either. Partly I think that's because of the rudamentry software on the verizon router that so far hasn't shown me a place to designate IP addresses that will wake on lan. So, my server kind of goes into a standby state where the power light just blinks on and off and I have to physically hit the power button to wake it back up. I've also noticed that the "i" on the front of the case glows red, and I'm not sure what that means. The documentation that Acer provides is pretty weak.

 

[RebateMonger]

Running out of fresh ideas. If you have't run MS' Home Server Toolkit Troubleshooter, then definitely do so. Also, there's lots of WHS experts at http://wegotserved.com . There's a separate section on various pre-built servers, including a section on the Acer.