Issues setting a simple ad-hoc network

MatuX · 12-14-2008, 02:15 PM

Hey everyone,

Hope anyone can help me here.

I have a laptop that is connected to Internet via a standard ethernet card (not WiFi) which works perfectly fine.

Now, the Laptop has a standard internal WiFi card as well and I also have a Desktop computer with a standard WiFi ethernet card.

I've created an ad-hoc network which worked perfectly fine until after a few weeks it started disconnecting itself intermitently, a couple of days after it started to get disconnected more often, then after another couple of days, the Desktop computer wouldn't have access to Internet anymore, and now it just won't even ping each other's computer.

I don't know what to do anymore, I've tried it all. The configuration on both computers is perfectly fine, both computers are up to date.

The latest "symptom" is that every time the ad-hoc connection breaks, both computers freeze completely for a couple of seconds (I can't even move the mouse on both computers).

Anybody knows how it is possible that such a simple and basic thing like creating an ad-hoc is so problematic and difficult?

I don't know what kind of information do you need to help me solve this, but all configuration is as standard as it gets, and since it was working fine and started to get destroyed little by little, the configuration has to be correct too.

A hacking attempt?!

Thanks in advance

**johnwill** · 12-15-2008, 09:26 AM

Did you try changing the channels on the ad-hoc connection? Maybe something is now interfering with the link.

MatuX · 12-16-2008, 06:17 AM

Hey and thank you for your reply.

I changed the channel on both WiFi cards. Desktop computer was using channel 1, Laptop (the one with internet) was using channel 11, I changed both to 8.
I also forced both to use the 802.11g band.

Nothing happens.

They connect, but they can't even ping to each other.

I also tried removing all of the WiFi connections, restarting both computers, and re-adding the WiFi connections with different names. Same thing happens.

**johnwill** · 12-16-2008, 08:35 AM

The fact that it deteriorated like you describe would indicate you may have malware. Have you explored that possibility?

MatuX · 12-18-2008, 05:36 AM

No malware in any of the two computers.

I have removed the manual IP configuration (which was the only thing that made it work before) and now they connect but assign zeroconf IPs: 169.254.xxx.xxx and a subnet mask 255.255.0.0.

Funny thing is that now the Desktop computer can ping the Laptop computer (Laptop is the one with internet, and the one that should be the default gateway I think) using the 169.254 address.

I checked the TCP/IP configuration and DHCP Is enabled. Laptop has a crisp Internet connection.

Last time I solved this assigning a manual IP and DNS configuration, it used to work, now it doesn't work anymore.

What is going on?

**johnwill** · 12-18-2008, 12:01 PM

Here's Microsoft's page on your configuration: ICS - Making the Wireless Home Network Connection in Windows XP Without a Router

MatuX · 12-19-2008, 05:04 AM

Yes, thats the tutorial I used to begin with :)

I can't make this work, and I swear everything looks fine...

The network connection that gets internet is shared, both WiFi connections are configured according to that exact tutorial.

------------

I also tried using manual configuration, the first time I setted it up was by assigning my own TCP/IP settings:
My Laptop being:
IP: 192.168.0.2
Mask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 192.168.0.1

DNS:
My inet provider dns.

My Desktop:
IP: 192.168.0.3
Mask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 192.168.0.1

At first it didn't work, but then I changed my Laptop IP to 192.168.0.1 to match the default gateway since my laptop is the gateway and it worked like a charm.
Now it doesn't work anymore.

Tried rebooting the computers, removing all the WiFi configurations and re-adding them back again, rebooting again. Changing channels, changing the a/b/g band. Did a virus scan with AVG8 and Nod32, it didn't find anything.

Nothing works.

Can anyone help me here?

**johnwill** · 12-19-2008, 08:28 AM

Let's see this from each of the machines.

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, one at a time, followed by the Enter key:

Note that there is a space before the -n or the /ALL, but there is NOT a space after the - or / in the following commands.

NBTSTAT -n

IPCONFIG /ALL

Right click in the command window and choose Select All, then hit Enter to copy the contents to the clipboard.
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.

MatuX · 12-20-2008, 07:03 AM

Now both computers won't even connect (they could connect before but couldn't ping to each other).

I restarted the computer before doing this, same thing. They can't connect.
I did a Repair to the Laptop computer's WiFi, nothing happened.
I did a Repair on the Desktop computer's WiFi, it connected but with the zeroconf IP.
They get disconnected and reconnect every 5 to 15 minutes.

Laptop Computer (the one with Internet):

NBTSTAT -N
LAN 2:
Node IpAddress: [200.127.179.14] Scope Id: []

NetBIOS Local Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
PEDDICHO <00> UNIQUE Registered
CUCHITA <00> GROUP Registered
PEDDICHO <20> UNIQUE Registered
CUCHITA <1E> GROUP Registered
CUCHITA <1D> UNIQUE Registered
..__MSBROWSE__.<01> GROUP Registered

Wireless Network Connection 2:
Node IpAddress: [169.254.101.219] Scope Id: []

NetBIOS Local Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
PEDDICHO <00> UNIQUE Registered
CUCHITA <00> GROUP Registered
PEDDICHO <20> UNIQUE Registered
CUCHITA <1E> GROUP Registered

IPCONFIG /ALL
Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : PEDDICHO
Primary Dns Suffix. . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2 :

Connection-specific DNS Suffix. . :
Description. . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom NetLink (TM) Gigabit Ethernet
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1B-24-4C-A3-15
DHCP Enabled . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 200.127.179.14
Subnet Mask. . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 200.127.179.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 172.20.2.142
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 200.42.0.111
200.42.97.111
200.42.97.110
200.42.0.110
172.20.2.142
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Saturday, December 20, 2008 11:21:54 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Saturday, December 20, 2008 3:42:21 PM

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection :

Connection-specific DNS Suffix. . :
Description. . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-13-E8-29-2C-A5
DHCP Enabled . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration IP Address. . . : 169.254.101.219
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

Desktop Computer

NBTSTAT -N
Wireless Network Connection 2:
Node IpAddress: [169.254.132.24] Scope Id: []

NetBIOS Local Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
KALIKIAN <00> UNIQUE Registered
KALIKIAN <20> UNIQUE Registered
CUCHITA <00> GROUP Registered
CUCHITA <1E> GROUP Registered
CUCHITA <1D> UNIQUE Registered
..__MSBROWSE__.<01> GROUP Registered

IPCONFIG /ALL
Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : kalikian
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Mixed
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection 2:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8185 54M Wireless LAN Network Adapter #3
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-18-E7-4B-A7-05
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration IP Address. . . : 169.254.132.24
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

MatuX · 12-20-2008, 07:34 AM

I configured everything manually again, IP settings
Laptop: IP: 192.168.0.1, Mask: 255.255.255.0, Gateway: 192.168.0.1
Desktop: IP: 192.168.0.2, Mask: 255.255.255.0, Gateway: 192.168.0.1
And my ISP DNS settings.

Now it works fine. Both computers can ping, and Internet is correctly shared.

I really don't understand what is going on, it really seems to me that it randomly decides when to work and when not to.

Perhaps my WiFi is being "randomly" attacked? Could this happen? What can I do to prevent such thing?

Thanks a lot for all your help, johnwill!

12-14-2008, 02:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
MatuX Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 6 OS: Windows XP	Issues setting a simple ad-hoc network Hey everyone, Hope anyone can help me here. I have a laptop that is connected to Internet via a standard ethernet card (not WiFi) which works perfectly fine. Now, the Laptop has a standard internal WiFi card as well and I also have a Desktop computer with a standard WiFi ethernet card. I've created an ad-hoc network which worked perfectly fine until after a few weeks it started disconnecting itself intermitently, a couple of days after it started to get disconnected more often, then after another couple of days, the Desktop computer wouldn't have access to Internet anymore, and now it just won't even ping each other's computer. I don't know what to do anymore, I've tried it all. The configuration on both computers is perfectly fine, both computers are up to date. The latest "symptom" is that every time the ad-hoc connection breaks, both computers freeze completely for a couple of seconds (I can't even move the mouse on both computers). Anybody knows how it is possible that such a simple and basic thing like creating an ad-hoc is so problematic and difficult? I don't know what kind of information do you need to help me solve this, but all configuration is as standard as it gets, and since it was working fine and started to get destroyed little by little, the configuration has to be correct too. A hacking attempt?! Thanks in advance

12-15-2008, 09:26 AM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,711 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Issues setting a simple ad-hoc network Did you try changing the channels on the ad-hoc connection? Maybe something is now interfering with the link. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

12-16-2008, 06:17 AM	#3 (permalink)
MatuX Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 6 OS: Windows XP	Re: Issues setting a simple ad-hoc network Hey and thank you for your reply. I changed the channel on both WiFi cards. Desktop computer was using channel 1, Laptop (the one with internet) was using channel 11, I changed both to 8. I also forced both to use the 802.11g band. Nothing happens. They connect, but they can't even ping to each other. I also tried removing all of the WiFi connections, restarting both computers, and re-adding the WiFi connections with different names. Same thing happens.

12-16-2008, 08:35 AM	#4 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,711 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Issues setting a simple ad-hoc network The fact that it deteriorated like you describe would indicate you may have malware. Have you explored that possibility? __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

12-18-2008, 05:36 AM	#5 (permalink)
MatuX Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 6 OS: Windows XP	Re: Issues setting a simple ad-hoc network No malware in any of the two computers. I have removed the manual IP configuration (which was the only thing that made it work before) and now they connect but assign zeroconf IPs: 169.254.xxx.xxx and a subnet mask 255.255.0.0. Funny thing is that now the Desktop computer can ping the Laptop computer (Laptop is the one with internet, and the one that should be the default gateway I think) using the 169.254 address. I checked the TCP/IP configuration and DHCP Is enabled. Laptop has a crisp Internet connection. Last time I solved this assigning a manual IP and DNS configuration, it used to work, now it doesn't work anymore. What is going on?

12-18-2008, 12:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,711 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Issues setting a simple ad-hoc network Here's Microsoft's page on your configuration: ICS - Making the Wireless Home Network Connection in Windows XP Without a Router __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

12-19-2008, 05:04 AM	#7 (permalink)
MatuX Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 6 OS: Windows XP	Re: Issues setting a simple ad-hoc network Yes, thats the tutorial I used to begin with :) I can't make this work, and I swear everything looks fine... The network connection that gets internet is shared, both WiFi connections are configured according to that exact tutorial. ------------ I also tried using manual configuration, the first time I setted it up was by assigning my own TCP/IP settings: My Laptop being: IP: 192.168.0.2 Mask: 255.255.255.0 Gateway: 192.168.0.1 DNS: My inet provider dns. My Desktop: IP: 192.168.0.3 Mask: 255.255.255.0 Gateway: 192.168.0.1 At first it didn't work, but then I changed my Laptop IP to 192.168.0.1 to match the default gateway since my laptop is the gateway and it worked like a charm. Now it doesn't work anymore. Tried rebooting the computers, removing all the WiFi configurations and re-adding them back again, rebooting again. Changing channels, changing the a/b/g band. Did a virus scan with AVG8 and Nod32, it didn't find anything. Nothing works. Can anyone help me here?

12-19-2008, 08:28 AM	#8 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,711 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Issues setting a simple ad-hoc network Let's see this from each of the machines. 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, one at a time, followed by the Enter key: Note that there is a space before the -n or the /ALL, but there is NOT* a space after the - or / in the following commands.* NBTSTAT -n IPCONFIG /ALL Right click in the command window and choose Select All, then hit Enter to copy the contents to the clipboard. 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. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

12-20-2008, 07:03 AM	#9 (permalink)
MatuX Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 6 OS: Windows XP	Re: Issues setting a simple ad-hoc network Now both computers won't even connect (they could connect before but couldn't ping to each other). I restarted the computer before doing this, same thing. They can't connect. I did a Repair to the Laptop computer's WiFi, nothing happened. I did a Repair on the Desktop computer's WiFi, it connected but with the zeroconf IP. They get disconnected and reconnect every 5 to 15 minutes. Laptop Computer (the one with Internet): NBTSTAT -N LAN 2: Node IpAddress: [200.127.179.14] Scope Id: [] NetBIOS Local Name Table Name Type Status --------------------------------------------- PEDDICHO <00> UNIQUE Registered CUCHITA <00> GROUP Registered PEDDICHO <20> UNIQUE Registered CUCHITA <1E> GROUP Registered CUCHITA <1D> UNIQUE Registered ..__MSBROWSE__.<01> GROUP Registered Wireless Network Connection 2: Node IpAddress: [169.254.101.219] Scope Id: [] NetBIOS Local Name Table Name Type Status --------------------------------------------- PEDDICHO <00> UNIQUE Registered CUCHITA <00> GROUP Registered PEDDICHO <20> UNIQUE Registered CUCHITA <1E> GROUP Registered IPCONFIG /ALL Windows IP Configuration Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : PEDDICHO Primary Dns Suffix. . . . . . . . : Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2 : Connection-specific DNS Suffix. . : Description. . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom NetLink (TM) Gigabit Ethernet Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1B-24-4C-A3-15 DHCP Enabled . . . . . . . . . . : No Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 200.127.179.14 Subnet Mask. . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0 Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 200.127.179.1 DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 172.20.2.142 DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 200.42.0.111 200.42.97.111 200.42.97.110 200.42.0.110 172.20.2.142 Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Saturday, December 20, 2008 11:21:54 AM Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Saturday, December 20, 2008 3:42:21 PM Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection : Connection-specific DNS Suffix. . : Description. . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-13-E8-29-2C-A5 DHCP Enabled . . . . . . . . . . : No Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes Autoconfiguration IP Address. . . : 169.254.101.219 Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0 Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : Desktop Computer NBTSTAT -N Wireless Network Connection 2: Node IpAddress: [169.254.132.24] Scope Id: [] NetBIOS Local Name Table Name Type Status --------------------------------------------- KALIKIAN <00> UNIQUE Registered KALIKIAN <20> UNIQUE Registered CUCHITA <00> GROUP Registered CUCHITA <1E> GROUP Registered CUCHITA <1D> UNIQUE Registered ..__MSBROWSE__.<01> GROUP Registered IPCONFIG /ALL Windows IP Configuration Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : kalikian Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . : Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Mixed IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection 2: Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8185 54M Wireless LAN Network Adapter #3 Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-18-E7-4B-A7-05 Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes Autoconfiguration IP Address. . . : 169.254.132.24 Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0 Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

12-20-2008, 07:34 AM	#10 (permalink)
MatuX Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 6 OS: Windows XP	Re: Issues setting a simple ad-hoc network I configured everything manually again, IP settings Laptop: IP: 192.168.0.1, Mask: 255.255.255.0, Gateway: 192.168.0.1 Desktop: IP: 192.168.0.2, Mask: 255.255.255.0, Gateway: 192.168.0.1 And my ISP DNS settings. Now it works fine. Both computers can ping, and Internet is correctly shared. I really don't understand what is going on, it really seems to me that it randomly decides when to work and when not to. Perhaps my WiFi is being "randomly" attacked? Could this happen? What can I do to prevent such thing? Thanks a lot for all your help, johnwill!