Troubleshooting Networks and Internet Connections
Links to the most popular Microsoft Knowledge Base troubleshooting articles for troubleshooting networking issues, cable modems and internet connection sharing (ICS). Also includes home networking, connectivity, TCP/IP, TRACERT, file sharing, permissions, wireless network connections, internet connection problems, VPN, cable modems, XP firewall, routers and print servers.
Index
Troubleshooting Home Networking in Windows XP
How to Troubleshoot Network Connectivity Problems
Network Problems with a Router in Windows XP
You May Be Unable to Browse the Network
Network Adapter Not Working no Compatible Driver
Cannot Create a Network Connection After XP Restore
How to Troubleshoot TCP/IP Connectivity with Windows XP
How to Use TRACERT to Troubleshoot TCP/IP Problems
How to Reset Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
Description of File Sharing and Permissions in Windows XP
Connect to Network Resources Without Mapping a Drive or Port
XP Firewall Can Prevent Browsing and File Sharing
How to Troubleshoot Wireless Network Connections
How to Make 802.11b Wireless Network More Secure
Wireless Network Adapters May Lose Connectivity
How to Enable Automatic Wireless Network Configuration
Cannot Print from the Network to a Windows XP Print Server
How to Print to Network Printer from an MS-DOS Program
How to Troubleshoot Network Printing Problems
"Access Denied" When Printing to a Network Printer
How to Troubleshoot Internet Connection Problems
WebCast: Troubleshooting Internet Connectivity
Using Internet Connection Sharing with User Profiles
Troubleshooting Internet Connection Sharing in Windows XP
Resources for Troubleshooting Internet Connection Sharing
Setting up Internet Connection Sharing
Description of Repair Option LAN or Internet Connection
Check Your Internet Connection Speed
How to Configure a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
IEEE 1394 Network Connectivity Lost on Resume
Resources for Troubleshooting Modem Problems
Troubleshooting Home Networking
in Windows XP
This article describes how to troubleshoot Windows XP Home Networking. When you encounter such issues, the best first step is to use the Home and Small Office Networking Troubleshooter in Help and Support Center in Windows XP. To use the Home and Small Office Networking Troubleshooter in Help and Support Center … Back to Top
How to Troubleshoot Network
Connectivity Problems
Network connectivity problems have various causes but typically occur because of incorrect network adapters (also called NICs or network interface cards), incorrect switch settings, faulty hardware, or driver issues. Some connectivity symptoms are intermittent and do not clearly point to any of these causes. Back to Top
Sometimes an operating system upgrade introduces network connectivity problems. The same network adapter that worked correctly on an earlier or different operating system, such as Microsoft Windows 98 or Microsoft Windows 95, may cause problems after an upgrade. Sometimes a server relocation introduces a connectivity problem. Back to Top
How to Troubleshoot TCP/IP
Connectivity with Windows XP
There are utilities that can provide useful information when you are trying to determine the cause of TCP/IP networking problems under Windows XP. This article lists recommendations for using these utilities to diagnose network problems. Although this list is not complete, the list does provide examples that show how you can use these utilities to track down problems on the network. Back to Top
Covers clearing the ARP cache with the Arp Tool, automated and manual troubleshooting, testing connectivity using Ping, verifying a route using PathPing, verifying the default gateway, checking communications using Tracert or Route, checking packet filtering, checking failure to connect to a specific server, determining why a remote connection stops responding (hangs), examining the Routing Table using the Route tool, examining paths using Tracert, troubleshooting gateways and finding additional resources. Back to Top
How to Use TRACERT to
Troubleshoot TCP/IP Problems in Windows
This article describes TRACERT (Trace Route), a command-line utility that you can use to trace the path that an Internet Protocol (IP) packet takes to its destination. Back to Top
Description of File Sharing and
Permissions in Windows XP
Windows XP enables you to share files and documents with other users on your computer and other users on a network. Windows XP introduces a new user interface (UI) in the Windows XP Home Editions and Windows XP Professional that is known as Simple File Sharing, and includes a new Shared Documents feature.
This article describes the new interfaces that are introduced in Windows XP and how to enable, disable, configure, and troubleshoot file sharing in Windows XP. Back to Top
How to Connect to Network
Resources in Windows XP Without Mapping a Drive or Port
This article explains how to use Universal Naming Convention (UNC) names with My Network Places to connect to network resources without mapping a drive or port. Back to Top
How to Troubleshoot Wireless
Network Connections in Windows XP
Windows XP supports 802.11b wireless networking with the Wireless Zero Configuration service. With 802.11b wireless networking, you can enable easy configuration and switching between wireless networks. To use this support, you need a wireless network adapter that is compatible with Windows XP. Back to Top
How to Make Your 802.11b Wireless
Home Network More Secure
Wireless networks can be vulnerable to a malicious outsider gaining access because of the default settings on some wireless hardware, the accessibility that wireless networks offer, and present encryption methods. Back to Top
The concepts that are presented in his article are general suggestions, and may help make your wireless network more difficult for a malicious outsider to gain access. For more specific information about the implementation of these suggestions, see the documentation for your wireless network hardware or contact the hardware vendor. Back to Top
Wireless Network Adapters May
Lose Connectivity When They Appear to Be Functioning
A wireless network adapter may lose its IP address and, as a result, may not have any network connectivity to access the Internet or browse the network. Back to Top
How to Enable Windows XP
Automatic Wireless Network Configuration
This step-by-step article describes how to enable Windows XP automatic wireless network configuration. Windows XP makes it easy to set up your computer for wireless networking on any 802.11b standard wireless network. Back to Top
How to Troubleshoot Possible
Causes of Internet Connection Problems
This article describes ways to diagnose and resolve issues that can cause problems when you try to use an Internet browser, File Transfer Protocol (FTP), or Telnet to communicate with servers on the Internet. Back to Top
This article assumes that you can successfully connect with and log on to your Internet service provider (ISP). Back to Top
WebCast: Microsoft Windows XP:
Troubleshooting Internet Connectivity
This WebCast provides an overview of Internet connectivity support in Microsoft Windows XP, along with information about how to troubleshoot an Internet connection. This discussion includes the use of Modem Diagnostics, Network Diagnostics, IPConfig, Ping, and other troubleshooting tools to test the connection, as well as some general guidance about sharing an Internet connection with other computers on a home or small office network. Back to Top
How to Configure a Connection to
a Virtual Private Network (VPN) in Windows XP
This step-by-step article describes how to create a new VPN connection in Windows XP.
You can use a virtual private network (VPN) to connect components to one network by means of another network, such as the Internet. Virtual private networks accomplish this by "tunneling" through the Internet or another public network in a manner that provides the same security and features as a private network. With a VPN, connections across the public network can transfer data by using the routing infrastructure of the Internet, but to the user, the data seems to travel over a dedicated private link. Back to Top
This article describes how to troubleshoot problems with cable modems in Microsoft Windows XP. Back to Top
The Internet Connection Firewall
Can Prevent Browsing and File Sharing
When you enable the Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) feature, and then attempt to browse the Internet by means of My Network Places, you are unsuccessful. Back to Top
Using Internet Connection
Sharing with User Profiles
This article describes how Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) works with user profiles in Windows. Back to Top
Troubleshooting Internet
Connection Sharing in Windows XP
In this article, information on troubleshooting the installation and use of Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) in Windows XP is provided. Back to Top
Resources for Troubleshooting
Internet Connection Sharing in Windows XP
This article is intended to assist you in using the Internet Connection Sharing Troubleshooter that is included in Windows XP Help and Support Center, and to provide a list of online support services that may help you solve your problem. Back to Top
Setting up Internet Connection Sharing
ICS allows two or more networked computers to share a single Internet connection, and it's not that hard to set up, as long as you do it properly. If you perform the following steps, in order, you should be able to get it right the first time.Back to Top
Network Problems with a Router in
Windows XP
You may experience one or more of the following symptoms in your peer-to-peer network that includes Windows XP and a router: You can browse the Internet, but you cannot browse your local area connection. You are able to ping your loopback address (127.0.0.1), but you cannot ping another computer on the same network. Back to Top
Cannot Print from the Network to
a Windows XP Print Server
You may not be able to print to a Windows XP-based print server on the network. This problem can occur in the following situation: A Windows XP-based computer is used as a network print server. The computer is in a workgroup. The printer is a serial-port printer. Back to Top
A Description of the Repair
Option on a Local Area Network or High-Speed Internet Connection
This article describes what actions are taken if you select the Repair option on a local area network (LAN) or high-speed Internet connection. Back to Top
Your Computer Loses IEEE 1394
Network Connectivity When You Resume from Suspend or Hibernate
If you bridge an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 1394 network adapter with another network adapter, suspend or hibernate the computer, and then resume the computer, network connectivity on the IEEE 1394 adapter may not work for approximately 10 minutes. Back to Top
You Cannot Create a Network
Connection After You Restore
If you install Service Pack 1 (SP1) for Windows XP and then use the System Restore feature to restore Windows to a state before the installation of the service pack, you may experience the following symptoms: You cannot create a remote access or Dial-Up Networking connection. All items on the "Network Connection" page of the New Connection Wizard are unavailable (dimmed). The Network Connections folder is empty. The Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) and Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) services do not start because of a dependency failure. Back to Top
"Access Denied" Error Message
When You Print to a Network Printer or View the Printer Properties
When you try to print to a network printer that requires trusted credentials, or when you try to view the properties of the network printer, the following error message may appear: Access Denied. Also, you may not be able to save a password for the network printer after you connect to the printer. Back to Top
Your Network Adapter Does Not
Work and Windows XP Does Not Include a Compatible Driver for the Network Adapter
After you install Windows XP or upgrade to Windows XP, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms: Your network adapter does not work, and you do not have network connectivity or any related network functionality. Device Manager may list your network adapter as not working and as not having a driver installed. If you try to install a Windows XP driver for your network adapter, the driver may not be on the list of available network adapter drivers. If you install drivers from Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows 95, or Microsoft Windows NT, the drivers do not work on your Windows XP-based computer. If you upgraded your Windows-based computer, your network adapter worked correctly before the upgrade. Back to Top
You May Be Unable to Browse the
Network
When you attempt to browse the network by means of either My Network Places or a program (that can access network resources), your computer may experience an extreme slowdown or the program may display a "Not Responding" message. Back to Top
The Syntax and Options for Using
the Ipconfig Diagnostic Utility for Network Connections
This article tells how to run the Ipconfig utility and lists the options that you can use. Ipconfig.exe is included with Windows XP. This utility provides you with diagnostic information related to TCP/IP network configuration. Ipconfig also accepts various Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) commands, allowing a system to update or release its TCP/IP network configuration. Back to Top
How to Print to Network Printer
from an MS-DOS-Based Program
This article explains how to print to a network printer from an MS-DOS-based program in Windows XP. By default, most MS-DOS-based programs print directly to either the LPT1 or LPT2 port. However, the output is not automatically routed across a redirector to a print share unless you use one of the following methods. Back to Top
How to Troubleshoot Network
Printing Problems in Windows XP
This article explains how to print to a network printer from an MS-DOS-based program in Windows XP. By default, most MS-DOS-based programs print directly to either the LPT1 or LPT2 port. However, the output is not automatically routed across a redirector to a print share unless you use one of the following methods. Back to Top
How to Reset Internet Protocol
(TCP/IP)
In extreme cases, reinstalling the Internet Protocol stack may be the most appropriate solution. With the NetShell utility, you can now reset the TCP/IP stack back to a pristine state, to the same state as when the operating system was installed. Back to Top
Resources
for Troubleshooting Modem Problems
The Modem Troubleshooter includes step-by-step instructions for troubleshooting the following problems in Windows XP: You receive one of the the following error messages when you attempt to use your modem: The protocol is not configured. A dial-up connection could not be established. You have problems using your modem to connect to the Internet. Windows XP does not detect your modem.
How to Install
NetBEUI on Windows XP
Microsoft has discontinued support for the NetBIOS Extended User Interface (NetBEUI) network protocol in Windows XP. This article describes the process for manually installing the unsupported NetBEUI protocol on a computer running Windows XP. The NetBEUI files will need to be manually copied from the Windows XP CD-ROM before NetBEUI will show up in the list of installable network protocols.
~~AAJakeleg posted in alt.os.windows-xp with an issue relating to a network of XP Pro Windows 98 machines. Files and mappings were accessible but one of the Windows 98 machines did not appear in the Network Neighborhood on any of the XP computers, whilst it did show up on the other Windows 98 machines. The XP systems could still access files through a search, but not via Network Neighborhood. Ralph Wade Phillips suggested installing NetBEUI, which immediately fixed the issue.
Revision Date: 29 Nov 2003