can't access network shares

[zalmanpeak]

My desktop computer (Asus Pundit) P4 3.0GHz 2GB RAM, built-in VGA
MS windows XP Pro SP2. suddenly lost the connection to the network shares connected to my NAS boxes ( I have 2 of them). Even if I type in the NAS box name and share it states: check the connection or the spelling of the name. (\\computech-nas\backup). I have full internet access. I reset the IP address and winsock, rebooted the computer and still nothing.
could any one help?
Thank you.

[johnwill]

Can you access the NAS boxes from other computers on the network?

For a working computer and for this one, please post this.

Hold the Windows key and press R, then type CMD to open a command prompt:

Type the following two commands:

NBTSTAT -n

IPCONFIG /ALL

Right click in the command window and choose Select All, then hit Enter.
Paste the results in a message here.

If you are on a machine with no network connection, use a floppy, USB disk, or a CD-RW disk to transfer a text file with the information to allow pasting it here.

[zalmanpeak]

I flushed the IP and the winsock, rebooted the PC and still nothing. I just didn't want to spend too much time on this PC. I re-imaged the drive, but the BAD part is that I am using Eudora as my e-mail client and can't export the email before I trash the windows. I tried system restore to several points, but every time I received an answer, "your system could NOT be restore to the selected date, try another date in tha past". I suspect that Windows update had something to do with it. I tried removing the updates, restart the computer and this didn't work either. I started the computer with windows XP SP2 to the second point where it states "if you want to repair windows, press R" it screwed up the windows even more. I couldn't use IE or get any network. The NIC was configuered in the system, but no dice.

[zalmanpeak]

Hi Johnwill.
I figured to give it another try, JUST INCASE.
I have another PC (same brand and config) with the same problem.
I am pasting the requested info, here is the copy.
Thanks for your reply and ALL THE HELP for now and in the future.
zalmanpeak

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\admin>nbtstat -n

Local Area Connection 2:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.123.13] Scope Id: []

NetBIOS Local Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
BRONZE-ASUS <00> UNIQUE Registered
COMPUTECH <00> GROUP Registered
BRONZE-ASUS <1F> UNIQUE Registered
BRONZE-ASUS <20> UNIQUE Registered
COMPUTECH <1E> GROUP Registered
COMPUTECH <1D> UNIQUE Registered
..__MSBROWSE__.<01> GROUP Registered

C:\Documents and Settings\admin>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : BRONZE-ASUS
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : WRVS4400N
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : 3Com 3C920B-EMB-WNM Integrated Fast
Ethernet Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-11-D8-97-4B-D2
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.123.13
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.123.254
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.123.254
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 167.206.254.1
167.206.254.2
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, February 03, 2008 10:49:42 A
M
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Monday, February 04, 2008 10:49:42 A
M

C:\Documents and Settings\admin>

[johnwill]

This line from the NBTSTAT indicates this machine is the master browser:

..__MSBROWSE__.<01> GROUP Registered

Do any other machines show the same indication using NBTSTAT -n ? You should only have one master browser.

[zalmanpeak]

Thanks again.
I am pasting a copy from a different PC.

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

I:\Documents and Settings\admin>nbstat -n
'nbstat' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

I:\Documents and Settings\admin>nbtstat -n

Local Area Connection:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.123.10] Scope Id: []

NetBIOS Local Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
COMPUTECH-MANUE<00> UNIQUE Registered
COMPUTECH <00> GROUP Registered
COMPUTECH-MANUE<01> UNIQUE Registered

I:\Documents and Settings\admin>nbstat -n
'nbstat' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

I:\Documents and Settings\admin>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : computech-manue
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : WRVS4400N

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : WRVS4400N
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) 82566DC-2 Gigabit Network C
onnection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1C-C0-21-62-EF
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.123.10
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.123.254
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.123.254
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 167.206.254.1
167.206.254.2
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Saturday, February 09, 2008 1:44:51
PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, February 10, 2008 1:44:51 PM


I:\Documents and Settings\admin>

[zalmanpeak]

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

I:\Documents and Settings\admin>nbtstat -n

Local Area Connection:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.123.10] Scope Id: []

NetBIOS Local Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
COMPUTECH-MANUE<00> UNIQUE Registered
COMPUTECH <00> GROUP Registered
COMPUTECH-MANUE<01> UNIQUE Registered

I:\Documents and Settings\admin>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : computech-manue
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : WRVS4400N

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : WRVS4400N
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) 82566DC-2 Gigabit Network C
onnection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1C-C0-21-62-EF
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.123.10
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.123.254
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.123.254
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 167.206.254.1
167.206.254.2
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Saturday, February 09, 2008 1:44:51
PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, February 10, 2008 1:44:51 PM


I:\Documents and Settings\admin>
I:\Documents and Settings\admin>

[johnwill]

Originally Posted by zalmanpeak

I re-imaged the drive, but the BAD part is that I am using Eudora as my e-mail client and can't export the email before I trash the windows.

Next time this issue comes up, note that you can simply copy the email files and .INI files from the old Eudora setup and move all the mail to the new system.

I used to use Eudora, and I had a separate data folder, and to move it to my laptop for a trip, I just copied the whole folder to the laptop and away I went with all my email and saved messages. When I got back, I'd copy the folder back to my desktop machine.

I use Thunderbird now, but that works fine for Eudora.



As far as the NAS, do you have to have special software installed to access it? The ones I use are standard SMB interfaced devices, and I don't have any special software installed on the systems that access them.

[zalmanpeak]

Thanks JOHNWILL.

The NAS has no software. It should show up in the Network Neighborhood, BUT IT DOESN'T. You don't even have to map the drives if you don't want to.What do you think the problem is, that's preventing me to access the shares based on my setup? I hate to re-image the drives every time. This PC only does backups on a weekly basis. I use Acronis True Image. This way "I AM SAFE" How could I be able to get on the internet and not on my local SMB?
Thanks
zalmanpeak

[johnwill]

Can you ping the NAS by name from the affected machines?

Check your Services are Started on all PCs:

• Computer Browser
• DHCP Client
• DNS Client
• Network Connections
• Network Location Awareness
• Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
• Server
• TCP/IP Netbios helper
• Workstation

Note: You can check the services in Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Services.

All of these services should be started, and their startup type should be automatic (or perhaps manual).

[zalmanpeak]

No,
I can't ping it by name, and yes, I checked all the enumerated services, there are running. Still no dice.
I just want to mention one more thing. I re-imaged the computer sinse and no longer can perform anymore testing. It will run foe some time now, until Microsoft screws it up again.

[johnwill]

OK, we'll consider this one resolved until you have a new issue.