A strange one

[Berkswolf]

Up untill now I have not had a single problem with my XP network. However, since a power outage the other day whatever I do I just cannot get my remote (just the one) to connect to the internet, or fetch and send mail. Connection between computers is via a crosover cable, with the cable modem connected by its own NIC.

I have tried.reseting the network using the wizard in XP and making a floppy to transfer info. I have tried setting things manually but still the same. Both PCs can see each other and can access each other files, printers etc. The host connects without problem to the net, its just the remote. The host can ping both its own nics and the nic on the remote. The remote can ping both nics on the host, and can also ping IPs on the internet, using the actual IP or just the www. name.

When trying to use IE on the remote it just sits there forever saying connecting to......not the normal "unable to connect" error message. The mail client appears to log on to the server but then just sits there saying receiving mail, but again with nothng happening.

It appears to me that information is going out, but is not getting back, though the fact that I can ping outside addies would seem to say differantly. Most confusing.

Any ideas/suggestions gratefully received.

[Berkswolf]

Just found out after doing a test, the remote can send mails, but it won't log on to receive them :confused:

[sohailm6]

Hi Berks

Have you tried turning your firewalls off, it may help I tend to forget I have a firewall running and in most cases it causes the problem. XP has it's own built in firewall so turn that off as well as any others you have running.
Also check your remotes network setting and make sure your gateway is set correctly.

Sorry I can not be of more help.

Sohailm6

[Berkswolf]

Good suggestion about firewall, but already tried. :(

I am pretty certain the gateway is right. The disk setup method would have done it I think. Just as a check though it is the same IP as the none internet connected nic on the host. That is correct I assume?

[sohailm6]

Hi Berks

As far as I am aware it should be the addy of the NIC that has access to the net. Not too sure as I haven't delt with a system that has to network cards installed. You could get a router.
As a thought have you tried connecting the internet connection direct to the remote and you can rule out any problems with the remote.


Sohailm6

[TGC]

The first system should have no gateway set, the second system should have the IP of the first machine set as it's gateway. Not familiar with XP, but do you have the browser on the second machine set to connect thru the lan, or using ICS?

[888]

hi Berks,
Mmmm weird problem. I've never used XP or ICS, but if your network settings, ICS settings and browser settings are definately correct, it might be worth uninstalling ICS and reinstalling it from the XP CD.
First though, I would check through both machines event viewers to see if there's any clue there.
Also, the gateway of the remote machine should be set to the non internet connected interface IP of the host machine. ie 192.168.0.1

[Berkswolf]

No nearer solving it. I think I may have to take the sledgehammer to a nut approach and do a clean install to clear things up. The weirdest thing is the fact that I can ping the internet and get a respeonse, but can't load any web pages. :eek:

Everything appeasrs top be set correctly but no go from the remote machine, so in the event of a clean install, what machine do I do? the host, or the remote?? Blowed if I know. :confused:

[888]

One other thing - have you tried entering an IP address in your browser, such as 212.58.224.31 (which is bbc.co.uk).
Perhaps its worth trying the tracert command on the bbc IP address as well.
When you type in ipconfig /all at the command prompt what info do you get.

[4.6POWER]

Hmmm, try clearing out all of your network protocols, delete entries for your nics in device manager. Let it reinstall the nics, then run the setup wizard again. Sorry don't have any better advice.

Joe

[Berkswolf]

I did try that one scotty but to no avail. It was as though my firewall was blocking, but I had disabled it.

Anyways, sorted now. :) I did a clean install of XP on my spare drive on the host and that was fine. so I then did another clean install on my main, Raided setup. So now I have TWO working setups on my host machine so have a backup in case of similar problems in the future. I can only think that the recent power cut had corupted something.

Anyways, we are all sorted now :)