Windows 7 keeps loosing other machines in the network folder
I have an ADSL modem with firewall and DHCP-server. In one of the LAN-ports there is a wireless base station (working as an access point only). None of the Windows machines has firewall enabled (I trust the ADSL modem's firewall). There is an old Windows2000 desktop connected to the ADSL via a cable (W2k-machine), a Vista desktop connected via the wireless, a Vista laptop sometimes connected via cable and sometimes via wireless, and a mini-laptop running Windows 7 basic. The W2k-machine has a lots of stuff on its disks that's shared to all other machines, so the main thing is to be able to access the W2K-machine's shared folders also from the W7 laptop. Between all, except the W7 laptop the sharing works just like it should, but the W7 laptop only sees all the other machines and shares and everything works fine for some time after boot. Within a random looking time period from 15 min to couple of hours, the other machines seem to disappear in random looking order from the W7 laptop's network folder. Sometimes only ADSL modem and W7 laptop itself is found, sometimes both ADSL modem and wireless base station together with the W7 laptop itself, sometimes ADSL modem, the W7 laptop itself and one or two of the other machines are there, and sometimes only the W7 laptop itself (I don't think the W7 laptop has ever lost itself from the network folder). If I open the windows explorer and try to open a shared directory on the Win2000 machine by typing ""\\WIN2KPC\shareddir" in the address-bar it sometimes opens (for a while after boot), sometimes just gives an error message (no chance of giving any username/password), that windows cannot access the target (sorry, poor translation from Finnish) with error code 0x80004005. Troubleshooting doesn't find any problems. All the time W7 laptop is fully connected to the internet, even when access to other machines fail. AVG and malwarebytes didn't find any suspicious stuff. Disabling UAC does not change the situation in any way. What could cause the W7 laptop loosing the other machines in my home network? Is there a way to troubleshoot what happens over time that might cause the loosing of other machines? The thing is: after W7 laptop boot (don't need to touch anything else) everything works fine for a while. Always. And only the W7 laptop has the problem.
March 11th, 2011 1:21am

Hi, OK, you may try to ping the others when the issue reoccur and post back the result. Also, temporary disable the anti-virus software for a test. If the issue still occurs, please follow the following link to determine whether the 3rd party software cause this issue. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/331796 If you want, you can also use Network Monitor to monitor the network and see what happened at that time. Download the Network Monitor at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=983b941d-06cb-4658-b7f6-3088333d062f&displaylang=en Thanks.Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.
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March 14th, 2011 5:20am

Now when it did it again, i went to the win2000n machine and checked its IP. Ping wrom W7 laptop went through OK, but trying to access the win2000 machine's shared directories gave the error again. Then I tried to access it using the IP address instead of the machine name, and it asked for user name and password for the win2000 machine using the W7 laptop local domain, but it worked, and after that, using the machine name workes too. Somehow accessing the other machine using IP address "refreshed" the W7 laptop's "memory" and ALL the machines were found again. Still haven't got the time to figure out the if the serviced etc. have something to do with it. That'll be the nest step.
March 14th, 2011 3:14pm

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March 14th, 2011 3:38pm

Hi, OK, this may be caused by the NetBIOS name can not be resolved. You may try to check whether the NetBIOS over TCP/IP is enabled. If it is not, please enable it. Also, the firewall on the router can also cause this issue, I suggest to disable it for a test in the meantime. Hope this helps.Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.
March 14th, 2011 9:24pm

Hi, OK, this may be caused by the NetBIOS name can not be resolved. You may try to check whether the NetBIOS over TCP/IP is enabled. If it is not, please enable it. Also, the firewall on the router can also cause this issue, I suggest to disable it for a test in the meantime. Hope this helps. Please remember to click “Mark as Answer” on the post that helps you, and to click “Unmark as Answer” if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread. ” How do I enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP? I didn't find it (NetBEUI) the way it's found in earlier Windows versions. I have 2 Vista-machines and this W7 mini-laptop, and none of them included any installation media. (I've never seen a post-XP machine sold in Finland with installation media included.) The Windows-help stated that it's no longer there unless specifically installed, but the W7 was pre-installed. How can the firewall be the problem? The IP addresses work. And I think the firewall is between the LAN and ADSL (Zyxel prestige 660H), and no other machine has that problem. (I'll try disabling the firewall once the other machines disappear again.)
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March 15th, 2011 2:37am

Hi, Regarding "How can the firewall be the problem", some firewalls can also block any network protocol packages whether LAN no WAN. Regarding "How do I enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP", sorry for that I have not given the steps last time. Please refer to the following link. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/313314 Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.
March 15th, 2011 3:18am

From the link: For Windows 7 Click Start, and then click Control Panel. Under Network and Internet, click View network status and tasks. Click Change adapter settings. Right-click Local Area Connection, and then click Properties. In the This connection uses the following items list, double-click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), click Advanced, and then click the WINS tab. There is no "WINS"-tab. Just "IP Settings" and "DNS". Can that be installed from the image on hard disk? And how? (Pre-installed Windows 7 Basic on Samsung N150 mini-laptop)
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March 15th, 2011 8:48am

Funny, the "wins" tab is suddenly there... In the morning I tried to check, but it wasn't there... It's set to the default: The DHCP-server NetBIOS settings are used. IfDHCP-server doesn't publish the NetBIOS settings the NetBIOS over TCP/IP is used Should it be enabled unconditionally?
March 15th, 2011 1:14pm

Hi, You may open Command Prompt and type "net config Workstation" to check the status. Thanks.Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.
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March 15th, 2011 9:38pm

Hi, According to the result, the NetBIOS over TCP/IP is already enabled on the computer. Also, use "ipconfig/all" in the Command Prompt can also check the status. Please remember to click “Mark as Answer” on the post that helps you, and to click “Unmark as Answer” if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread. ”
March 16th, 2011 2:46am

What does this tell (sorry - finnish, but probably still readable): C:\Users\kaya>net config workstation Tietokoneen nimi \\KAYA-PC Tietokoneen koko nimi kaya-PC Käyttäjänimi kaya Työasema aktiivinen toimialueella NetBT_Tcpip_{0081CFFA-0CE3-4970-AA49-210FD8183F76} (B482FE62BAF0) Sovelluksen versio Windows 7 Starter Työaseman toimialue WORKGROUP Kirjautumistoimialue kaya-PC COM-avauksen aikakatkaisu (s) 0 COM-lähetyslaskuri (tavu) 16 COM-lähetyksen aikakatkaisu (ms) 250 Komento on suoritettu.
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March 16th, 2011 4:12am

What does this tell (sorry - finnish, but probably still readable): C:\Users\kaya>net config workstation Tietokoneen nimi \\KAYA-PC Tietokoneen koko nimi kaya-PC Käyttäjänimi kaya Työasema aktiivinen toimialueella NetBT_Tcpip_{0081CFFA-0CE3-4970-AA49-210FD8183F76} (B482FE62BAF0) Sovelluksen versio Windows 7 Starter Työaseman toimialue WORKGROUP Kirjautumistoimialue kaya-PC COM-avauksen aikakatkaisu (s) 0 COM-lähetyslaskuri (tavu) 16 COM-lähetyksen aikakatkaisu (ms) 250 Komento on suoritettu.
March 16th, 2011 4:12am

What does this tell (sorry - finnish, but probably still readable): C:\Users\kaya>net config workstation Tietokoneen nimi \\KAYA-PC Tietokoneen koko nimi kaya-PC Käyttäjänimi kaya Työasema aktiivinen toimialueella NetBT_Tcpip_{0081CFFA-0CE3-4970-AA49-210FD8183F76} (B482FE62BAF0) Sovelluksen versio Windows 7 Starter Työaseman toimialue WORKGROUP Kirjautumistoimialue kaya-PC COM-avauksen aikakatkaisu (s) 0 COM-lähetyslaskuri (tavu) 16 COM-lähetyksen aikakatkaisu (ms) 250 Komento on suoritettu.
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March 16th, 2011 4:12am

Hi, According to the result, the NetBIOS over TCP/IP is already enabled on the computer. Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.
March 16th, 2011 4:25am

Hi, According to the result, the NetBIOS over TCP/IP is already enabled on the computer. Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.
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March 16th, 2011 4:25am

Hi, According to the result, the NetBIOS over TCP/IP is already enabled on the computer. Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.
March 16th, 2011 4:25am

Here's the ipconfig-output. The cable interface doesn't seem to have NetBIOS on TCP/IP in use, but the cable is not (usually) connected. C:\Users\kaya>ipconfig /all Windows IP-määritykset Isäntänimi . . . . . . . . . . . : kaya-PC Ensisijainen DNS-liite . . . . . : Solmutyyppi . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybridi IP-reititys käytössä . . . . . . : Ei WINS-välityspalvelin käytössä . . : Ei Langattoman lähiverkon sovitin Langaton verkkoyhteys 2: Laitteen tila . . . . . . . . . . : Ei kytketty Yhteyskohtainen DNS-liite . . . . : Kuvaus . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adap ter Fyysinen osoite . . . . . . . . . : B2-82-FE-62-BA-F0 DHCP käytössä . . . . . . . . . . : Kyllä Automaattinen määritys käytössä . : Kyllä Langattoman lähiverkon sovitin Langaton verkkoyhteys: Yhteyskohtainen DNS-liite . . . . : Kuvaus . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Atheros AR9285 Wireless Network Adap ter Fyysinen osoite . . . . . . . . . : B4-82-FE-62-BA-F0 DHCP käytössä . . . . . . . . . . : Kyllä Automaattinen määritys käytössä . : Kyllä Linkin paikallinen IPv6-osoite. . : fe80::68c0:bd61:e3ba:66c4%17(Ensisijainen ) IPv4-osoite . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.34(Ensisijainen) Aliverkon peite . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0 Käyttölupa myönnetty . . . . . . : 16. maaliskuuta 2011 8:32:23 Käyttölupa vanhenee . . . . . . : 20. maaliskuuta 2011 7:55:45 Oletusyhdyskäytävä. . . . . . . . : fe80::5144:bf10:2165:8dde%17 192.168.1.1 DHCP-palvelin . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1 DHCPv6-IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 431260414 DHCPv6-asiakkaan DUID-tunnus . . : 00-01-00-01-12-C2-D7-7F-00-24-54-3A-E0-29 DNS-palvelimet . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1 NetBIOS TCP/IP:n päällä . . . . . : Käytössä Ethernet-sovitin Lähiverkkoyhteys: Laitteen tila . . . . . . . . . . : Ei kytketty Yhteyskohtainen DNS-liite . . . . : Kuvaus . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Marvell Yukon 88E8040 Family PCI-E F ast Ethernet Controller Fyysinen osoite . . . . . . . . . : 00-24-54-70-89-8D DHCP käytössä . . . . . . . . . . : Kyllä Automaattinen määritys käytössä . : Kyllä Tunnelisovitin isatap.{4DDB739F-9B21-49AB-813A-4C853AEC2365}: Laitteen tila . . . . . . . . . . : Ei kytketty Yhteyskohtainen DNS-liite . . . . : Kuvaus . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP -sovitin Fyysinen osoite . . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0 DHCP käytössä . . . . . . . . . . : Ei Automaattinen määritys käytössä . : Kyllä Tunnelisovitin isatap.{0081CFFA-0CE3-4970-AA49-210FD8183F76}: Laitteen tila . . . . . . . . . . : Ei kytketty Yhteyskohtainen DNS-liite . . . . : Kuvaus . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP -sovitin #2 Fyysinen osoite . . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0 DHCP käytössä . . . . . . . . . . : Ei Automaattinen määritys käytössä . : Kyllä Tunnelisovitin isatap.{CE6825D0-B136-4A98-99EB-F780319F272C}: Laitteen tila . . . . . . . . . . : Ei kytketty Yhteyskohtainen DNS-liite . . . . : Kuvaus . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP -sovitin #3 Fyysinen osoite . . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0 DHCP käytössä . . . . . . . . . . : Ei Automaattinen määritys käytössä . : Kyllä Tunnelisovitin Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface: Yhteyskohtainen DNS-liite . . . . : Kuvaus . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface Fyysinen osoite . . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0 DHCP käytössä . . . . . . . . . . : Ei Automaattinen määritys käytössä . : Kyllä IPv6-osoite . . . . . . . . . . . : 2001:0:5ef5:73b8:2872:c8f:3f57:fedd(Ensis ijainen) Linkin paikallinen IPv6-osoite. . : fe80::2872:c8f:3f57:fedd%20(Ensisijainen) Oletusyhdyskäytävä. . . . . . . . : :: NetBIOS TCP/IP:n päällä . . . . . : Ei käytössä
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March 17th, 2011 2:02am

Hi, What is the meaning of "NetBIOS TCP/IP:n päällä . . . . . : Käytössä"? Does it mean that the NetBIOS over TCP/IP is enabled? Does the issue still occur?Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.
March 17th, 2011 2:19am

Käytössä = being used Your understanding is right. The problem has not occurred since I accessed the Win2000 machine using IP-address after installing SP1. Before SP1 the IP-address access didn't help, and the problem did occur after installing SP1. It needed installing SP1 and then accessing by IP-address. Let's consider this as solved. I'll return to this if it occurs again. Loads of thanks anyway for showing me where to start troubleshooting things like this.
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March 17th, 2011 11:16am

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