Workgroup No Longer Recognized
I support a peer-to-peer network. File server is Windows 7 Pro, one workstation is Win 7 Pro, three other workstations are Windows XP Home. Power went out, server and all computers down (server on UPS, controlled shutdown). All PCs come back up, the file server, Win 7 client and one of the XP clients all work fine. Other 2 XP clients work fine except they cannot access the server or other computers on the network. When I attempt to go to shared files on server I get the message in My Network Places pop-up box: [Workgroup name] is not accessible. You might not have permissions to use this network resource. Contact the admin of this server to find out if you have access permissions." The workgroup name is the correct workgroup name of the network and on the computers that are working fine.Everything was working the day before, and the two other client computers are both on the same workgroup name and work fine. The computers that cannot access the file server both have Internet connections and send/receive mail in Outlook and can IP ping the router and each other so the wiring and routers are OK. I have rebooted both computers several times (reboots and full boots) and get the same error. I have verified access rights on the server are correct (they were the same when I checked them the previous week). The access is the same for all the computers, both the ones that are working and the ones that are not.I would like any suggestions on how to resolve the network access issue on the XP computers that cannot connect. Thank you for any assistance.1 person needs an answerI do too
June 29th, 2010 9:28pm

HiMany things can happen from Network hardware that does not work well because of the power issue. To IPs that changed when all the system Rebooted again.The way to deal with is go over Network system and make sure that everything is still configured correctly and id if needed redo some of the sharing’s.Check every thing, do not assume that if something worked before than you do not have to look at it.Maybe this can Help.Win7 when configured on peer-to-peer Network has three types of Sharing configurations.HomeGroup Network = Works only between Win 7 computers. This type of configuration makes it very easy to Entry Level Users to start Network sharing. Work Network = Basically similar to the previous methods of sharing that let you control what, how, and to whom folders would be shared with. Public Sharing = Public Network (like Internet cafe) to reduce security risks. For best results log to each computer's System Screen and set all the computers to be on a Network with the same name while each computer has its own unique name.http://www.ezlan.net/Win7/net_name.jpgMake sure that the Software Firewall on each computer allows free local traffic. If you use 3rd party Firewall On, Vista/XP Native Firewall should be Off, and the active Firewall has to adjusted to your Network IP numbers on what is some time called the Trusted Zone (consult your 3rd Party Firewall instructionsGeneral example, http://www.ezlan.net/faq#trustedPlease Note that some 3rd party Software Firewalls keep blocking aspects of Local Traffic even it they are turned Off (disabled). If possible configure the Firewall correctly, or totally uninstall it to allow clean flow of local network traffic. If the 3rd party software is uninstalled or disables, make sure that Windows native Firewall is On .Since you have a Network with Win 7 and other version of Windows you need to configure Win 7 as Work Network.In the Network Center, clicking on the Network type opens the window to the right.Choose your type of Network. Notice the check mark at the bottom, and check/uncheck it according to your needs.http://www.ezlan.net/Win7/net_type.jpgWin 7 - http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Networking-home-computers-running-different-versions-of-WindowsWin 7 Work Network specific folder sharing - http://www.onecomputerguy.com/windows7/windows7_sharing.htm Vista File and Printer Sharing- http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727037.aspx Windows XP File Sharing - http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304040Printer Sharing XP - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/honeycutt_july2.mspxWindows Native Firewall setting for Sharing XP - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875357Windows XP patch for Sharing with Vista (Not need for XP-SP3) - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922120 When finished with the setting of the system it is advisable to Reboot all the hardware including the Router and all computers involved.*Note. Some of the processes described above are done Not for Windows sake but to compensate for different Routers and the way their firmware works and stores the info about the computers that are Networked. Jack MVP-Networking. EZLAN.NET
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June 29th, 2010 11:29pm

I support a peer-to-peer network. File server is Windows 7 Pro, one workstation is Win 7 Pro, three other workstations are Windows XP Home. Power went out, server and all computers down (server on UPS, controlled shutdown). All PCs come back up, the file server, Win 7 client and one of the XP clients all work fine. Other 2 XP clients work fine except they cannot access the server or other computers on the network. When I attempt to go to shared files on server I get the message in My Network Places pop-up box: [Workgroup name] is not accessible. You might not have permissions to use this network resource. Contact the admin of this server to find out if you have access permissions." The workgroup name is the correct workgroup name of the network and on the computers that are working fine.Everything was working the day before, and the two other client computers are both on the same workgroup name and work fine. The computers that cannot access the file server both have Internet connections and send/receive mail in Outlook and can IP ping the router and each other so the wiring and routers are OK. I have rebooted both computers several times (reboots and full boots) and get the same error. I have verified access rights on the server are correct (they were the same when I checked them the previous week). The access is the same for all the computers, both the ones that are working and the ones that are not.I would like any suggestions on how to resolve the network access issue on the XP computers that cannot connect. Thank you for any assistance.Make sure the File and Printer Sharing on the Network Adapter is Enabled and also the service for Browser service is started.Also, you can Turn the Firewall on those two machine temporary to see if the Firewall interfering. nass -- http://www.nasstec.co.uk
June 29th, 2010 11:30pm

Thank you for all the suggestions. I had already gone through several of your suggestions during my first round of trouble-shooting. I understand the fickleness of networks after power outages having worked through dozens of them at various sites over the last 10 years.This particular issue resolved itself. I returned the day after the problems started and everything was working fine without any further action on my part. My clients claim they did nothing, which I believe because, and I don't mean this in a bad way, they are not very computer literate and know almost nothing about networks. They did not reboot any computers, routers, change any wires, etc. It just started working. This has happened to me twice in the past when many functions on a network were not working after a power outage one day and everything is fine the next. I have no idea what changed (the ISP said they did nothing) and certainly don't like the uncertainty, but I have learned to accept what happens without question if everything is working as expected on a network. If they wanted to pay for my time to reseearch further I would but they do not so the ticket is closed.
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July 2nd, 2010 5:19pm

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