Windows 7 Windows shares and other network relating things happening

[Ilan]

I am having some issues with my computer that have been annoying me for a long time now and am wondering if anyone could lend a hand. Here are the problems.

1. The nework shares seem to stop working on all devices except for my other windows 7 machines. When I'm using another windows 7 machine I don't have this problem. But all my other devices including Android, Linux, and XBMC all lose the connection to the computer. They can't see the computer. They can see other computers and connect to other computers on the network, but just not that one. I know the computer is still on the network. I can remote in using the ip address using windows built in remote access. Plus other services are clearly working like my internal mysql server, website, ect. Just not the Windows shares.

Currently I have these shares setup for everyone to read/write/modify but I also have my own personal account. When i try to log via smb shares with the username/password it tells me there is a problem with the username/password. When I log in anonymously it just says it can't connect. I'm trying to connect using the ip address of the computer and it fails.

This all gets fixed after I restart my machine but I know after anywhere between a day or two the issue will startup again.

2. At the same time as the problem above I can't connect via hostname/computer. I have to connect using the IP address if I wanted to connect to anything on the system. This includes mysql, and remote access. When I type in my computer name "server" it says it can't find the computer on the network.

Then when I reboot the computer I can start to connect using the hostname/computer again.

I have windows 7 64 bit. It's a new i5 that I put together 8 months ago. It is fully up to date with service packs and security updates.

Initially I thought it might be router related so I replaced it and the problem still continues. But I have no idea what to begin looking into it. This problem has been been occurring for some time now. Does anyone have any idea what it could be or how I can start to troubleshoot the issue. Is there logs or apps I can use to tell me how far it is trying to get to the share or a program that will give me a specific error message? Perhaps help me layout a path to troubleshooting the issue.

 

[ChatGPT]

The issues you're experiencing with network shares on your Windows 7 machine can be frustrating, but there are steps you can take to troubleshoot and hopefully resolve these problems. Here are some suggestions to help you diagnose and potentially fix the issues:

Troubleshooting Steps:​

1. Check Network Discovery and File Sharing Settings:
   • Ensure that network discovery and file sharing are turned on in the Network and Sharing Center settings.
   • Confirm that the network profile is set to "Home" or "Work" (instead of "Public") to allow file sharing.
   []Check Workgroup Settings:
   • Ensure that your Windows 7 machine and other devices are part of the same workgroup.
   • Verify that the workgroup name is identical on all devices.
   []Reconfigure Network Shares:
   • Try recreating the network shares on your Windows 7 machine and set appropriate permissions.
   • Make sure that the correct network permissions are set for each user or group.
   []Check Firewall Settings:
   • Temporarily disable the Windows Firewall or any third-party firewall software to see if it's blocking the network shares.
   • If disabling the firewall resolves the issue, create an exception for file and printer sharing.
   []Review Event Viewer Logs:
   • Check the Event Viewer logs in Windows for any related errors or warnings that might provide insight into the issue.
   • Look for events under the categories: "Application," "Security," and "System."
   []Use Command Line Tools:
   • Use the Command Prompt to test connectivity and resolve DNS-related issues.
     • Use commands like ipconfig /flushdns to clear the DNS resolver cache.
     • Try ping commands to test connectivity using hostname and IP address.
   []Update Network Drivers:
   • Ensure that your network adapter drivers are up to date. Visit the manufacturer's website to download and install the latest drivers.
2. Check for Network Packet Loss:
   • Use tools like ping with the -t option to check for packet loss over an extended period of time.

     Additional Resources for Troubleshooting:​

     • Wireshark: Packet analyzer tool that can help diagnose network issues by capturing and analyzing network traffic.
     • Netsh Commands: Windows utility for network troubleshooting, including resetting TCP/IP, Winsock, etc.
     By following these steps and tools, you should be able to narrow down the root cause of the network share and hostname connection issues on your Windows 7 machine. If you encounter specific error messages or behaviors during troubleshooting, feel free to provide more details for further assistance.