cannot see printers or networked computers

**smghou** · May 6th, 2010, 10:04 AM

I have a peer to peer network of about 85 computers. All are on Win XP pro some use Norton anti virus, some Norton Internet Security, some Avg Free. Some are on windows firewall some on nortons. Problem is up until a few days ago I could see all computers in network places and under add a printer. Now I can't see any. This happens when I look at any computer on the network. Previous shares still work just can't see network so I can't share anything new. Router is Netgear FVS318 and I am using static addresses on all computers. I can't think of any changes that I have made to cause this problem.

**shamus** · May 6th, 2010, 11:43 AM

Have you reset the router?

**smghou** · May 6th, 2010, 11:50 AM

Yes

**Ferrit** · May 6th, 2010, 01:24 PM

1st stepp likely is shut off all of the firewalls and get them connection by using the \\192.168.xxx.xxx\ command
Then start turning firewalls back on slowly

**smghou** · May 6th, 2010, 01:42 PM

Do I need to shut all firewalls off or can I just try a dozen or so? Not sure what you mean by the 192.168...command. I have all computers on 10.6.xxx.xxx I have some servers and printers that I can't change IP's on without messing up my whole network.

**Ferrit** · May 6th, 2010, 01:48 PM

You can do whatever ya like all day long .
you have a multitude of different software and different firewalls.
There is nothing constant anywhere.
Your behind a router turning off the firewalls for a short time shouldn't be a big issue.
I use the 192.168.xxx.xxx as an example.
Start Run \\10.6.xxx.xxx\ is the command to connect to a computer
Find out the ip's and start trying it
Are you the admin?

**smghou** · May 6th, 2010, 05:22 PM

Yes Iam the admin. Only reason I asked about shutting all firewalls off is the time element. Computers are spread through 3 builidings. I was hoping to hear someone say Microsoft did an update or a router solution. Just being lazy. guess I'll give the firewall solution a chance.

**smghou** · May 6th, 2010, 05:25 PM

I just did a run \\10.6.x.x and was able to see and access computer I went after. I did not touch firewall befor trying. still can't see it in network places though.

**shamus** · May 6th, 2010, 06:44 PM

Originally Posted by Ferrit

There is nothing constant anywhere.

I couldn't agree more. Having 2 different AV's and firewalls on just one machine can wreak havoc, not sure what effect that would have on a network over time...and I'll admit I am not the fan of Symantec I once was, way too bloated and resource hungry for my likes. That being said ( and no, I have no immediate solution! Sorry!) I would strongly recommend creating a 'constant' on your network to simplify things and lessen the headaches down the road if the network is ever expanded to more than the 85 machines you have right now. The last network I had was 450 machines, all cloned from a Ghost image ( okay, Symantec didn't muck that app up...) and I wouldn't have had it any other way.
Look at it this way, if you owned and had to maintain a fleet of taxis wouldn't it be easier if they were all the same?

**slgrieb** · May 7th, 2010, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by smghou

I have a peer to peer network of about 85 computers. All are on Win XP pro .

smghou, since Windows XP Pro only supports 10 concurrent connections per machine, you may also have hit a point where computers on the network just won't accept incoming connection requests. Windows doesn't always recognize when a connection has been dropped. Are you getting any Error 71 messages? If so, you might want to read this.

**smghou** · May 8th, 2010, 08:29 PM

All I'm trying to do is see other computers on network. Was able to see all computers from network places and see all printers from add a printer. Now I cant see any from either place. What is strange it doesn't matter what computer I get on can't see a thing. when I ping or run;//10.6.X.X everything shows up. If I was unable to see anything from only a couple of the boxes it would be one thing but all at once I can't get accesss from any.Also have some files mapped and they all work.

**smghou** · May 13th, 2010, 05:23 PM

O.K. disabled all firewalls and tried to view workgroup computers and received this message:
Workgroup is not accessible. You might not have permission to use network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permission.

The network path was not found.

Again this is a peer to peer network and I am admin on all computers

**smghou** · May 16th, 2010, 11:26 AM

After trying many different ideas the gods came out to help. Had a storm hit last night and a bolt of lightning hit pole right outside our telephone room , Knocked out power, lots fo sparks and twenty mins. later power was restored. For fun I checked network places and everything was back.

**nunob** · May 16th, 2010, 06:14 PM

That's not fixed just put off till the next time it happens. You should seriously consider standardizing everything on that network and getting some solid documentation.