I can't see anything on the network at my University dorms......

[MrCraphead]

I go to the University of Texas at Austin, and about all I know about the resnet here is that it uses DHCP to give out IP's.

I have my desktop and laptop hooked up to a Linksys 5 port switch, and the switch to the wall, both running Win2K.

This past Fall, I could surf the network just fine, but later on in the year, I found that I could not, and it would just say inaccessible workgroup. I couldn't even access my notebook or vice versa, let alone the "computers near me". so, neither my desktop or notebook could access the network, or was visible on it.

So fast forward to now, my roommate gets this novel idea to uninstall the TCP/IP protocal, restart, and reinstall it and see if that solves the problem. So I uninstall it on my desktop, restart, reinstall it, and what do you know, it works!!! So then I move to my laptop, and immediately try to access the network W/O uninstalling TCP/IP and doing all that stuff. And what do you know, the laptop works now too, without me doing anything to it!

Well, that was yesterday, and I've rebooted my desktop since then, and now I can't surf the network anymore, but I can on my laptop, which hasn't been restarted yet.



What's the deal here? Do I need to uninstall and install TCP/IP everytime I restart to surf the network? thanks in advance.......

 

[ScottMac]

Try doing a release/renew for the DHCP address.

Scott

 

[MrCraphead]

I released and renewed my through ipconfig at the command prompt, and still nothing......

 

[Hoober]

Call the help desk... lol.

 

[MrCraphead]

Thanks for the help.

 

[MrCraphead]

No one can help me?

 

[ScottMac]

Are you getting a link light on the port hub/switch port that connects you to the dorm/university network?

If you're getting a link on that, and all the other machines you're plugging into the hub/switch in your room, then the physical infrastructure is OK.

Can you confirm that you are getting an IP address from the DHCP server? If the address is 169.x.x.x then you're probably NOT getting an address from the DHCP server.

Is anyone else in your neighborhood (next door, down the hall) having any problems?

Uninstall/reinstall TCPIP. Check with whoever adminsiters the dorm net and find out if they've implemented some new thing that's killing your connection.

Try your laptop down the hall / some other connection...does it work? Maybe somesone screwed up your connection, or your computer must present a specific MAC address in order to be allowed on the network....have you changed the network card on the machine that used to work?

Did this happen after you loaded some new software, or added new hardware?

As far as seeing the "network neighborhood," what you see and who you see on the dorm net will depend on wha protocols everybody else is running.

Check the configuration on your machines, see that they are the same, that the protocols are bound and in the same order. Network neighborhood REALLY likes IPX/SPX...and if that's loaded, it won't use TCPIP OR NETBEUI for the NN, and you'll only see the machines that are running IPX/SPX (NETBIOS over IPX/SPX). Lose it, get rid of it. If you trim all the machines down to only one protocol (probably TCPIP) and check with someone else that's running OK...use their settings (NOT the address).

Make sure you aren't set to use a domain. Set both machines for the same workgroup (or check to see that they're set for the same workgroup).

If you haven't already, scan your system for viruses with something current.

Good Luck

Scott

 

[MrCraphead]

Well, I know for sure that all my physical equipment is running correctly, so that's not the problem.

Can you confirm that you are getting an IP address from the DHCP server? If the address is 169.x.x.x then you're probably NOT getting an address from the DHCP server.

My IP address starts with 129.116.xxx.xxx, I don't knwo if that constitutes it being from a DHCP server though.......

Is anyone else in your neighborhood (next door, down the hall) having any problems?

Not to my knowledge.

Uninstall/reinstall TCPIP.
Check with whoever adminsiters the dorm net and find out if they've implemented some new thing that's killing your connection.

Well, I uninstall, it asks me to reboot so I do, then I reinstall it, but it doesn't ask me to reboot after reinstalling it, but it doesn't matter b/c I can surf the network right after I reinstall. If I reboot after reinstalling, then I cannot surf the network. I don't think the system administrators have done anything, b/c everyone can still surf the web, and this has happened in 2 diff residence halls.

Try your laptop down the hall / some other connection...does it work? Maybe somesone screwed up your connection, or your computer must present a specific MAC address in order to be allowed on the network....have you changed the network card on the machine that used to work?

well, I don't really know anyone to try my notebook on, but I have not changed the network card on either machines.

Did this happen after you loaded some new software, or added new hardware?

I'm not sure when exactly it happened, so I dunno

Check the configuration on your machines, see that they are the same, that the protocols are bound and in the same order. Network neighborhood REALLY likes IPX/SPX...and if that's loaded, it won't use TCPIP OR NETBEUI for the NN, and you'll only see the machines that are running IPX/SPX (NETBIOS over IPX/SPX). Lose it, get rid of it. If you trim all the machines down to only one protocol (probably TCPIP) and check with someone else that's running OK...use their settings (NOT the address).

Yeah, I'm only running TCP/IP

Make sure you aren't set to use a domain. Set both machines for the same workgroup (or check to see that they're set for the same workgroup).

Yeah, both are in the same workgroup.

 

[ScottMac]

OK, let's figure that the hardware is OK. Have you gone out to windowsupdate.microsoft.com (the "Windows Update" button in the "start" menu)and downloaded all the updates/patches/service packs, etc?

Have you swept your machine(s) for viruses?

What address do you get (ipconfig /all or winipconfg) after you reboot? Do you get the same first two or three groups of numbers?

After the reboot, check START|SETTINGS|SYSTEM|DEVICE MANAGER and see if the network hardware is still enabled, or if it has an exclamation point.

Have you upgraded/updated your NIC drivers?

Good Luck

Scott

 

[MrCraphead]

OK, let's figure that the hardware is OK. Have you gone out to windowsupdate.microsoft.com (the "Windows Update" button in the "start" menu)and downloaded all the updates/patches/service packs, etc?

Yes, got Service Pack 2 for Win2K, no more critical updates.

Have you swept your machine(s) for viruses?

Yes, everything else seems to be working perfectly.

What address do you get (ipconfig /all or winipconfg) after you reboot? Do you get the same first two or three groups of numbers?

yes, I get EXACTLY the same thing, when I CAN access the network, and when I CAN'T. I've done ipconfig /all both times, and it's the same. look here

After the reboot, check START|SETTINGS|SYSTEM|DEVICE MANAGER and see if the network hardware is still enabled, or if it has an exclamation point.

network hardware is enabled, no exclamation points anywhere.......

Have you upgraded/updated your NIC drivers?

Yes




Do you think I have to install other protocols? I shouldn't have to right? at one point I can see everyone using TCP/IP, then I reboot and I can't access the network.......

 

[Rickten]

I got to UCDAVIS, and I know for a fact that they do not condone any use of a proxy server or routing technology. I think they do this so that people don't bring seperate computers and solely use it as an ftp dump site for movies and other things while they have another computer for everyday use.
So before you go and call tech support as to why your two computers can't see the network you might want to find out what they say about using routers on their network.
I don't know maybe your university doesn't care, but just a warning before you give them a call.

 

[ScottMac]

Well...that's what you get for going to Twilight Zone University.....

This is a strange one...Have you done anything with the switch? Have you tried connecting just one machine directly to the room's jack?

Try stopping & ejecting the PCMCIA/PCcard on the laptop, wait a minute, then re-insert it (give it another minute)....see if it connects or gives you an error message.

Try dropping back to 10Meg / Half duplex. Unplug the switch briefly to ensure that the autosense stuff "fer sher" switches.

See if any of your friends can ping in to your system(s); if you don't have any friends on-campus, maybe leave the system(s) on and try from the library (or wherever you may have access).

If all else fails, try reverting to a previous version of the NIC drivers.

Good Luck

Scott

 

[MrCraphead]

I got to UCDAVIS, and I know for a fact that they do not condone any use of a proxy server or routing technology. I think they do this so that people don't bring seperate computers and solely use it as an ftp dump site for movies and other things while they have another computer for everyday use.

Well, our University asks that we register with them if we intent on using a hub or osmething of that nature. We used to have a Napster block, and the nonesuch, but this year they instated a 3.5 GB bandwidth limit for all ports, so they removed the block. Bascially, from what I gather, we can do whatever we want with the 3.5 GB, dunno if we're allowed to host servers though, don't see why not........

 

[MrCraphead]

This is a strange one...Have you done anything with the switch? Have you tried connecting just one machine directly to the room's jack?

Well, I got a new switch this year, I had a 10Mbit hub last year, but I still have the same problem, regardless of the hub, or my new switch. I just tried connecting just my desktop directly to the wall, and it still didn't work......

Try stopping & ejecting the PCMCIA/PCcard on the laptop, wait a minute, then re-insert it (give it another minute)....see if it connects or gives you an error message.

Well, I stopped it, removed it, then I re-inserted it and it didn't give me any error messages, or any exclamation point next to it in the device manager. But I cannot connect to the internet, or to AIM.

Try dropping back to 10Meg / Half duplex. Unplug the switch briefly to ensure that the autosense stuff "fer sher" switches.

How would I do that?

See if any of your friends can ping in to your system(s); if you don't have any friends on-campus, maybe leave the system(s) on and try from the library (or wherever you may have access).

I usually host Counter-strike servers off my laptop, or stuff like that, and they don't have any trouble connecting to my servers.

If all else fails, try reverting to a previous version of the NIC drivers.

nothing.........

Does it matter if I have Zone Alarm running? It shouldn't, b/c I've surfed the network before with it on......

 

[spidey07]

<< Does it matter if I have Zone Alarm running? It shouldn't, b/c I've surfed the network before with it on...... >>


yes, bigtime. shutdown zone alarm (ie don't have it start up automatically) and try again.