[SOLVED] Network was Working... Now It Isn't

[BakedPotato]

I bought a new computer, and I want to transfer some 140 gigabytes or so of my current computer's files onto this new one. If anyone can recommend to me a way to do this efficiently, please do so.

Otherwise, my problem... I was transferring files via My Network Places. I connected the two to my modem via ethernet cables, and set up SharedDocs folders from which I could drag and drop copies of things from one computer to the next.

Then I restarted the new computer after finishing some files. And now it's simply not working. When I try to access the SharedDocs folder on either computer connected to the other, it slowly does nothing, unless I press enter, in which case it'll give me an error message about not having access to it or some BS. I can't reproduce this message because both SharedDocs folders are now gone.

Nothing I'm doing is changing anything to fix it. No amount of attempts to fix the network or set up a new one are producing any results. When I try to connect one to the other, it does nothing for a full five minutes or so before giving me the error message that the folder name I chose is not valid.



Can someone please help me with this problem, or else recommend to me an easier way to transfer files from one computer to another? Serial ports apparently aren't working either, or else I've done it wrong.

[johnhook]

BakedPotato,

Did you plug both of your PCs into a broadband modem or modem/router? If so, what is the make and model of this device? Do you have DSL or Cable?

It possible that after rebooting - the PC aquired an address that wasn't compatible with the address of the other PC - thus breaking apart their ability to communicate.

What are the makes/models of BOTH PCs as well as the versions of Windows/service packs you're running on both?

One solution for moving files between the two PCs would be to use some type of removable storage device (USB Flash Drive, USB External Hard drive, CDR or DVDR disks) - provided both PCs have the ability to read such devices/media.

The network connection SHOULD work. I think something got messed up with the IP address/config on one or both of those PCs.

Reply with more details and we should be able to help you.

- John

[BakedPotato]

Okay...

They're both connected to a DSL modem, a Westell model

I plan on transferring at least 100 gigabytes worth of stuff. That would be a buttload of CD+/-R's

Both PC's are Windows XP Service packs 2, one is a Dell Dimension 3000 (old one), the other is an AMD Phenom 9500 Quad-Core (new one)


I think you may have hit something on the rebooting... since this problem only occurred after rebooting the Phenom. But past that, I don't know what else to do. I have no idea how to configure or fix IP addresses

[johnwill]

Turn off any firewalls for debugging. If the firewall is the problem, you'll have to configure it to allow access to "trusted zone" addresses. Note that some firewalls must be completely uninstalled to stop them from affecting your networking.

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

In the command prompt window that opens, type type the following commands:

PING each remote computer by IP address, and if successful, PING by name. Open a command prompt as described above and type.

PING <ip address>
or
PING <computer name>

Where:
<ip address> - is the x.x.x.x IP address
<computer name> - is the computer name

A failure to PING is almost always a firewall configuration issue. Any failure to PING needs to be corrected before you go any farther.

Note: You can obtain the IP address and computer name of a computer by opening a command prompt (DOS window) and typing IPCONFIG /ALL. This should work for any Windows version. The IPCONFIG /ALL display will provide a wealth of useful information for debugging your network connection.

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.

All computers should be in the same workgroup for computer browsing to function properly. File & Print Sharing has to be enabled on any computer you wish to share files or printers from. You also need to actually share the resource in question from My Computer, right click on the drive/printer/folder, and select sharing.

If you encounter difficulties accessing computers that are visible in Network Neighborhood, make sure the computer being accessed has an account with the same name/password as the system connecting to it uses to login.

While the default NetBIOS setting is correct for normal network configurations, it's possible for it to be altered, and it costs nothing to make sure it's correct. NETBIOS over TCP/IP must be enabled for normal network browsing.

[BakedPotato]

I think I've got it...

At first they wouldn't ping one another, but disabling the firewall has enabled the old computer to ping the old. Then I enabled sharing on the hard drive, and now they can reach and read one another. All the services were started to begin with. I'm still not sure if this is working or how long it will last, so I'll try and update.

[BakedPotato]

Thank you, everyone. It turns out the firewall was the issue. I've since transferred all the files I need to, and am on the new computer now.

[johnwill]

Firewalls are frequently the cause of this issue.