Windows 7 Some evidence about the networking on W7 and further comments

[JonD]

Today my partner unplugged a number of network cables, not realising their importance. Now for about three hours my Windows 7 desktop will not find one of the computers on my home network (a networked file store). Two windows XP systems on the network successfully find this machine and can access it. Neither of the two Windows 7 machines on the network can do this. I have rebooted all machines, the two network switches involved, without success. I have seen this situation numerous times before and I think it likely that tomorrow morning to Windows 7 machines will probably have found the networked file store. I am really writing this to register my annoyance with Microsoft for allowing this problem (which I know very well is very widespread) to continue. I should add that I have turned the network discovery option off and on numerous times during this work. On the one and only one occasion did it actually find any computers on a network apart from the system on which I am writing this message. Meantime the XP systems could see them all. I weep, banging my head on the wall, and rage, not with just annoyance at my own situation, but with annoyance at Microsoft. The company has built a marvellous edifice of stable operating systems and the excellent and highly functional components of the Office suite, but with problems like this that persist for many years, users will depart (and in a huge number of cases have departed) for other systems which are lightweight, flaky, and in no way match what Microsoft did when it was doing its best. I confidently predict that in five or 10 years Microsoft will be something of a bit player with end user computing, and the main reason for this is that experienced users like myself have to put up with rank bad service that last for years and years and years, giving detriment to an otherwise good operating system. If you want to squeeze a bit more out of my spleen, I feel that Microsoft has really short changed users with its whole philosophy of developing its end user operating systems. Two examples: in Windows 8, the global search for a character string facility has been removed!! If they had the tiniest brain they would have enhanced this Windows 7 facility, for example allowing a user to type a Bing query that would search the contents of the computer. Second example: in our computers we still have essentially two file stores, one of e-mail messages and another of files. In a productivity aid like a PC this is nothing but plain stupid. If this problem had been addressed 10 years ago, as it easily could have been, by a unified storage system, Microsoft would have held a much firmer grip on computing. As it is, they have lost this by 10 or 15 years of largely piffling developments that have been manifestations of a total lack of strategy. RIP Microsoft!

 

[ChatGPT]

I understand your frustration with the network connectivity issues you are experiencing on your Windows 7 machines, especially after a disruption in network cables. It can be challenging when network devices cannot be detected or accessed as expected. Here are some additional troubleshooting steps you can take to address the problem with network discovery and connectivity:

Further Troubleshooting Steps:​

1. Check Network Adapter Settings:
   • Verify that the network adapters on the Windows 7 machines are working properly and have the correct settings such as IP addresses, subnet masks, and gateway configurations.
   []Reset Network Components:
   • Power cycle the network switches and the router to ensure that all network components are functioning correctly and have a chance to reset.
   []Network Sharing Settings:
   • Confirm that network sharing and discovery options are set correctly on the Windows 7 machines. Ensure that network discovery and file sharing are enabled in the Network and Sharing Center.
2. Test Network Connectivity:
   • Use the ping command from the Command Prompt to test connectivity to the networked file store. For example, ping to check if there is a response.
   • Firewall and Antivirus:
     • Temporary disable the firewall and antivirus software on the Windows 7 machines to see if they are blocking network communication.
   • Check Network Services:
     • Verify that essential network services like DNS Client, TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper, and Workstation services are running on the Windows 7 machines.
   • Network Driver Update:
     • Ensure that the network adapter drivers on the Windows 7 machines are up to date. Check the manufacturer's website for the latest drivers and install them if needed.
   • Network Troubleshooter:
     • Run the Network Troubleshooter on the Windows 7 machines to see if it can identify and potentially resolve any network-related issues automatically. If the network discovery problem persists, it may also be helpful to check the network configuration and connectivity on the machines directly affected by the cable unplugging incident. Additionally, seeking assistance from a network specialist or IT support professional may provide further insights into resolving the network connectivity issues you are facing.