Can't join local network

21 Oct 2006 1:14 PM

Sammie

For some reason, the local network has disappeared from my computer running
XP Home. It was working before. My other computers are networked normally.
I tried running both the network setup wizard and the network troubleshooting
wizard to no avail. My DSL connection works - I can get on the internet. I
can ping the other computers on the network, but they cannot ping this
computer. The computer name is correct and the workgroup name is correct
(WORKGROUP). I also tried going back to a restore point where I thought
the network was working - no luck. When I click on Microsoft Windows
Network, I get the error: "Unable to browse the network. The network is not
present or not started." The help button on that dialog box goes nowhere.
Thanks,
Sammie

21 Oct 2006 3:51 PM

Chuck

On Sat, 21 Oct 2006 06:14:01 -0700, Sammie <Sam***@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote:

>For some reason, the local network has disappeared from my computer running
>XP Home. It was working before. My other computers are networked normally.
>I tried running both the network setup wizard and the network troubleshooting
>wizard to no avail. My DSL connection works - I can get on the internet. I
>can ping the other computers on the network, but they cannot ping this
>computer. The computer name is correct and the workgroup name is correct
>(WORKGROUP). I also tried going back to a restore point where I thought
>the network was working - no luck. When I click on Microsoft Windows
>Network, I get the error: "Unable to browse the network. The network is not
>present or not started." The help button on that dialog box goes nowhere.
>Thanks,
>Sammie

Sammie,

Well, if the network isn't present, you have a problem.

Try running the Network Setup Wizard first. Since (I hope) you have a router,
select:
This computer connects to the Internet through another computer on my network or
through a residential gateway.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/using-network-setup-wizard-in-windows.html#NATClient>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/using-network-setup-wizard-in-windows.html#NATClient

See what error (if any) you get. Check the Event Log too.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/using-event-viewer-to-get-details.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/using-event-viewer-to-get-details.html

And make sure that all components and services are installed.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#Components>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#Components

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.

22 Oct 2006 7:52 PM

Sammie

Thank you, Chuck! Your article about "Troubleshooting Network Neighborhood
Problems" pointed me to 2 services that were on "automatic" but not
"started": Workstation service and Server service. I started them and then
ran the network setup wizzard again, and voila! There was my network. I am
most grateful for your help.
Sammie

Show quoteHide quote

"Sammie" wrote:

> For some reason, the local network has disappeared from my computer running
> XP Home. It was working before. My other computers are networked normally.
> I tried running both the network setup wizard and the network troubleshooting
> wizard to no avail. My DSL connection works - I can get on the internet. I
> can ping the other computers on the network, but they cannot ping this
> computer. The computer name is correct and the workgroup name is correct
> (WORKGROUP). I also tried going back to a restore point where I thought
> the network was working - no luck. When I click on Microsoft Windows
> Network, I get the error: "Unable to browse the network. The network is not
> present or not started." The help button on that dialog box goes nowhere.
> Thanks,
> Sammie
>

23 Oct 2006 6:43 AM

Chuck

On Sun, 22 Oct 2006 12:52:02 -0700, Sammie <Sam***@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote:

Excellent! Glad to help. Thanks for the feedback!

Show quoteHide quote

>Thank you, Chuck! Your article about "Troubleshooting Network Neighborhood
>Problems" pointed me to 2 services that were on "automatic" but not
>"started": Workstation service and Server service. I started them and then
>ran the network setup wizzard again, and voila! There was my network. I am
>most grateful for your help.
>Sammie
>
>"Sammie" wrote:
>
>> For some reason, the local network has disappeared from my computer running
>> XP Home. It was working before. My other computers are networked normally.
>> I tried running both the network setup wizard and the network troubleshooting
>> wizard to no avail. My DSL connection works - I can get on the internet. I
>> can ping the other computers on the network, but they cannot ping this
>> computer. The computer name is correct and the workgroup name is correct
>> (WORKGROUP). I also tried going back to a restore point where I thought
>> the network was working - no luck. When I click on Microsoft Windows
>> Network, I get the error: "Unable to browse the network. The network is not
>> present or not started." The help button on that dialog box goes nowhere.
>> Thanks,
>> Sammie
>>

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.