New system disappears from the home network after a while
I recently upgraded an XP machine to W7 (did a fresh install). I was able to get file sharing working between this new machine and other machines (XP, Vista, W7) using matching user accounts and passwords on all (not homegroup) but after a while access to/from the new machine stops working. A reboot fixes things but only for a while. What have I missed? BTW, the system is set to never sleep or hibernate, so it isn't that.
December 18th, 2011 9:01am

is the lack of response because the question/answer is so basic (and has been answered many times before) or is it because there are too many variables and it's a where-do-I-start type of answer? if the former, please suggest keywords to search on because I don't seem to be putting in the right ones... if it's the latter, I'd be happy with some suggested reading...
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December 19th, 2011 9:46pm

Hi, Please try to boot into Clean Boot mode to check if this issue persists. If this issue persists, try to turn off the autodisconnect feature, open a privileged command prompt, type the following line, and then press ENTER: net config server /autodisconnect:-1Alex Zhao TechNet Community Support
December 20th, 2011 12:26am

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll try the clean boot but the system is brand spanking new (OS, Office 2010, not much else). Wouldn't this be a permission or other related setting? (I did turn off "allow NIC to save power" or whatever that setting is in the NIC config but it didn't fix the problem) Also, when I checked a related KB article about the autodisconnect option it gave me the message: "This article applies to a different version of Windows than the one you are using. Content in this article may not be relevant to you. Visit the Windows 7 Solution Center"
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December 20th, 2011 4:45pm

Hi, To make this issue clear, I would like to know if you get any error message when you cannot access the share folder. You may update NIC card driver to the latest for a test. Meanwhile, this command should work in Windows 7 client, you could also add KeepConn key in the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Service\lanmanworkstation\parameters Value: KeepConn Data type: REG_DWORD Range: 1 to 65535 (sec) Alex Zhao TechNet Community Support
December 20th, 2011 8:53pm

error message when I try to browse through windows explorer is: "<system name> is not accessible. you might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact administrator..." I've been able to fix the problem with my (local) Windows 7 machine by, I assume, running "net config server /autodisconnect:-1" so the problem is now limited to my (local) XP machine. It works after a reboot of the remote machine but then stops working a few hours later - even, by the way, while I'm using the share, e.g. mid way through a backup the share is lost. I'll track down the latest driver for the remote machine and see if that helps but wouldn't Windows Update offer a driver update if that was a known problem (it's a common Intel motherboard NIC.) Thanks.
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December 21st, 2011 5:21pm

Hi, In fact, the driver is developed by device manufacturer, to get the latest driver, it is recommended to go to the computer or device manufacturer websites to download it.Alex Zhao TechNet Community Support
December 22nd, 2011 12:43am

NIC driver update appears to have fixed the problem. I've seen several driver updates (by the manufacturers) delivered through Windows Update. In fact I explicitly remember selecting an update for the sound card and the monitor when I did the W7 install this time. Strange that the NIC driver wasn't on the list given the problem it causes. Thanks.
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December 22nd, 2011 7:43am

Hi, In fact, the driver is developed by device manufacturer, to get the latest driver, it is recommended to go to the computer or device manufacturer websites to download it.Alex Zhao TechNet Community Support
December 22nd, 2011 8:42am

Problem has occurred again. it just took a little longer to show up this time, namely a couple of days instead of a few hours. One change that occured last night (that didn't occur yesterday) is that my local router IP address changed. I usually have my PPPoE router set to reset it's connection nightly but had turned that off a couple of nights ago. Reseting the IP address causes the VPN to have to re-establish to the remote machine. This never caused a problem when the remote machine was running XP but is there something to consider on that front with respect to W7? Edit: it continues not to be a problem for my local W7 machine to access shares (and RDP) on my remote machine
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December 23rd, 2011 6:59am

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