XPS410 -- suddenly I can't see

I am having the weirdest problem. I have an XPS410 running XP. Boot
the machine, it works fine. Internet access works. File shares on
other machines work. Other machines can see file shares on this
machine.

After awhile, from minutes to days, other machines can no longer see the
file shares on this machine and RealVNC can't connect. This machine can
still connect to other machines, both RealVNC and file shares.
Rebooting fixes the problem.

Figuring it was a typical 'been running this install awhile' problem, I
formatted the machine and did a fresh XP install.

Worked great.

For two weeks.

The then symptom returned. I have three other, almost identical,
machines and they work just fine. No problems at all.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Tom

Hi!

Worked great.

For two weeks.

Can you still ping the machine when this happens?

I'd start by getting the latest release of the Ethernet drivers
straight from the chipset manufacturer.

If that fails, a test with an Ethernet adapter built around a chipset
other than what's on the motherboard might shed some light on what is
happening.

(Oh, and also check your switch. I found a very few computers on my
network that were misbehaving one day, and when I looked at my switch,
I found that the main filter capacitors inside it had blown out.)

William

"Tom Scales" wrote in message
news:FB962DDC773F473A959F3477A33EDA9B@M2010...
I am having the weirdest problem. I have an XPS410 running XP. Boot
the machine, it works fine. Internet access works. File shares on
other machines work. Other machines can see file shares on this
machine.

After awhile, from minutes to days, other machines can no longer see the
file shares on this machine and RealVNC can't connect. This machine can
still connect to other machines, both RealVNC and file shares.
Rebooting fixes the problem.

Figuring it was a typical 'been running this install awhile' problem, I
formatted the machine and did a fresh XP install.

Worked great.

For two weeks.

The then symptom returned. I have three other, almost identical,
machines and they work just fine. No problems at all.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Tom



Overlooked power management setting for the network adapter? Intermittent
failure on the NIC?

Have a PCI NIC lying around for giggles?

Nothing but guesses.

"S.Lewis" wrote in message
. ..

"Tom Scales" wrote in message
news:FB962DDC773F473A959F3477A33EDA9B@M2010...
I am having the weirdest problem. I have an XPS410 running XP. Boot
the machine, it works fine. Internet access works. File shares on
other machines work. Other machines can see file shares on this
machine.

After awhile, from minutes to days, other machines can no longer see the
file shares on this machine and RealVNC can't connect. This machine can
still connect to other machines, both RealVNC and file shares.
Rebooting fixes the problem.

Figuring it was a typical 'been running this install awhile' problem, I
formatted the machine and did a fresh XP install.

Worked great.

For two weeks.

The then symptom returned. I have three other, almost identical,
machines and they work just fine. No problems at all.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Tom



Overlooked power management setting for the network adapter?
Intermittent failure on the NIC?

Have a PCI NIC lying around for giggles?

Nothing but guesses.


my thoughts are the same as stew's plus i would also consider checking to
the port on the network hub or perhaps just use another port to see if that
makes the problem goes away (some 'smart' switches shut down a port that
generates lots of errors, restarting the pc would reinitiate this cycle of
it initially working but later being shut down). also, might be suspect of
the 'security' (firewall) software that might be in use on this system vs
that used on the others.

On Thu, 9 Oct 2008 10:42:07 -0400, "Christopher Muto"
wrote:

"S.Lewis" wrote in message
...

"Tom Scales" wrote in message
news:FB962DDC773F473A959F3477A33EDA9B@M2010...
I am having the weirdest problem. I have an XPS410 running XP. Boot
the machine, it works fine. Internet access works. File shares on
other machines work. Other machines can see file shares on this
machine.

After awhile, from minutes to days, other machines can no longer see the
file shares on this machine and RealVNC can't connect. This machine can
still connect to other machines, both RealVNC and file shares.
Rebooting fixes the problem.

Figuring it was a typical 'been running this install awhile' problem, I
formatted the machine and did a fresh XP install.

Worked great.

For two weeks.

The then symptom returned. I have three other, almost identical,
machines and they work just fine. No problems at all.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Tom



Overlooked power management setting for the network adapter?
Intermittent failure on the NIC?

Have a PCI NIC lying around for giggles?

Nothing but guesses.


my thoughts are the same as stew's plus i would also consider checking to
the port on the network hub or perhaps just use another port to see if that
makes the problem goes away (some 'smart' switches shut down a port that
generates lots of errors, restarting the pc would reinitiate this cycle of
it initially working but later being shut down). also, might be suspect of
the 'security' (firewall) software that might be in use on this system vs
that used on the others.


To repeat what Christopher said, you might try uninstalling your
anti-virus/firewall program(s) to see if that makes a difference. I
had a similar problem once caused by my anti-virus program. Pausing
protection didn't fix the problem, but when I uninstalled the program
and rebooted, the shared folders on the machine suddenly became
visible to the other machines on the network.

On Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:21:20 GMT, "Tom Scales"
wrote:

I am having the weirdest problem. I have an XPS410 running XP. Boot
the machine, it works fine. Internet access works. File shares on
other machines work. Other machines can see file shares on this
machine.

After awhile, from minutes to days, other machines can no longer see the
file shares on this machine and RealVNC can't connect. This machine can
still connect to other machines, both RealVNC and file shares.
Rebooting fixes the problem.

Figuring it was a typical 'been running this install awhile' problem, I
formatted the machine and did a fresh XP install.

Worked great.

For two weeks.

The then symptom returned. I have three other, almost identical,
machines and they work just fine. No problems at all.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Tom


How long have you noticed this? Change any settings or software?
Any chance of using a restore point or backup? My first instinct is
to check the firewall settings. Will the problem disappear if you
take down the firewall temporarily? Any chance of some malware or
virus on this pc?

Please let us know if you determine the cause.

-----Original Message-----
From: William R. Walsh ]
Posted At: Thursday, October 09, 2008 8:26 AM
Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
Conversation: XPS410 -- suddenly I can't see
Subject: XPS410 -- suddenly I can't see

Hi!

Worked great.

For two weeks.

Can you still ping the machine when this happens?

I'd start by getting the latest release of the Ethernet drivers
straight from the chipset manufacturer.

If that fails, a test with an Ethernet adapter built around a chipset
other than what's on the motherboard might shed some light on what is
happening.

(Oh, and also check your switch. I found a very few computers on my
network that were misbehaving one day, and when I looked at my switch,
I found that the main filter capacitors inside it had blown out.)

William

- already tried various drivers (but the base ones work on the other
three machines)
- Can't ping it once this has happened.
- Have tried it on three different ports on the switch
- Restarted the switch, router and cable modem.

is the bios revision the same on all the systems, the security software
(firewall, antivirus), the version of windows (home, pro, mce)?

"Tom Scales" wrote in message
news128FA84A8654E5595A7E60A27616786@M2010...


-----Original Message-----
From: William R. Walsh ]
Posted At: Thursday, October 09, 2008 8:26 AM
Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
Conversation: XPS410 -- suddenly I can't see
Subject: XPS410 -- suddenly I can't see

Hi!

Worked great.

For two weeks.

Can you still ping the machine when this happens?

I'd start by getting the latest release of the Ethernet drivers
straight from the chipset manufacturer.

If that fails, a test with an Ethernet adapter built around a chipset
other than what's on the motherboard might shed some light on what is
happening.

(Oh, and also check your switch. I found a very few computers on my
network that were misbehaving one day, and when I looked at my switch,
I found that the main filter capacitors inside it had blown out.)

William

- already tried various drivers (but the base ones work on the other
three machines)
- Can't ping it once this has happened.
- Have tried it on three different ports on the switch
- Restarted the switch, router and cable modem.

ps. if this is your mce machine, are you using the wireless remote with it?

"Christopher Muto" wrote in message
m...
is the bios revision the same on all the systems, the security software
(firewall, antivirus), the version of windows (home, pro, mce)?

"Tom Scales" wrote in message
news128FA84A8654E5595A7E60A27616786@M2010...


-----Original Message-----
From: William R. Walsh ]
Posted At: Thursday, October 09, 2008 8:26 AM
Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
Conversation: XPS410 -- suddenly I can't see
Subject: XPS410 -- suddenly I can't see

Hi!

Worked great.

For two weeks.

Can you still ping the machine when this happens?

I'd start by getting the latest release of the Ethernet drivers
straight from the chipset manufacturer.

If that fails, a test with an Ethernet adapter built around a chipset
other than what's on the motherboard might shed some light on what is
happening.

(Oh, and also check your switch. I found a very few computers on my
network that were misbehaving one day, and when I looked at my switch,
I found that the main filter capacitors inside it had blown out.)

William

- already tried various drivers (but the base ones work on the other
three machines)
- Can't ping it once this has happened.
- Have tried it on three different ports on the switch
- Restarted the switch, router and cable modem.

Yes, Yes and Yes.

I'm guessing an intermittent problem with the internal NIC, but it is
weird that it can always see 'out'. I'll try a gigabit PCI card one of
these days.

Tom



-----Original Message-----
From: Christopher Muto ]
Posted At: Thursday, October 09, 2008 8:22 PM
Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
Conversation: XPS410 -- suddenly I can't see
Subject: XPS410 -- suddenly I can't see

is the bios revision the same on all the systems, the security
software
(firewall, antivirus), the version of windows (home, pro, mce)?