XP over the network

I am working on a network and there are about 8 computers hooked up to a LAN. The client PC’s are all running Windows XP Pro and the Server is 2000 Advanced Server. Now, my buddy asked me to take a look at this network so I didn’t really no what to expect, but when I got to the building I was in complete shock. I mean this company isn’t a small fish however it has gaping wide security holes that even the most basic hacker could get through. However, I have had the strangest problem one of the computers cannot hook up to the server. I mean it is really odd because it ran for a few years then all of a sudden bam it can’t hook up to the network drive. I have checked all the setting and the computer is a replica of all the other ones. Infact, it can see the other computers and access their shared files, but it cannot access the server. I checked all the permissions and they are set correctly but for some reason it cannot see it. I made sure that the XP firewall has been disabled but still nothing. Please provide some assistance.

- MilitantEidolon

Check the server and make sure the machine and user have an account.

Then release the IP address and renew .

Can you ping the server???

By IP?
By Name?


MLF

Anything in the eventlogs?

I can IP ping the server from the client computer and from the server to the client computer (didn't try with name).

There is nothing in the eventlogs and the computer is identical (besides IP address) to the other computers on the network.

The user and password are set up in the server and the permissions are correct.

- MilitantEidolon

Have you tried logging on w/a different user account?

if these machines are "identical" you may want to doublecheck to make sure that they dont have the same name then... also, is this "server" a domain server or just a file server?? try pinging it by name (if possible) and then also trying a nslookup of that computer.

No, they do not have the same computer name and their IP address' are different. However, all the settings and the sorta of stuff is that same.

So, you think trying to Ping the name instead of the IP is any better?

- MilitantEidolon

Can you see server name on network neibourhood?
Server and clients are on the same network segment?
Are they using "old" domain structure or Active Directory?
"server" service is active on server side?

Once had a 2K machine unable to connect to the exchange server...
Could see the network etc...but was unable to connect.

I ended up reinstalling TCP\IP and service packs and the machine could then connect again.
Not sure what happened ...but it looked liked the TCP\IP stack got corrupted somehow and some service just stopped working.

Reinstalling the protocol worked....

What about another user on the same machine ...does it still happen???

There are no other users setup on the machine. They do not have active directory setup on their servers so I would have to add another user and I do not see a purpose in that. I haven't uninstalled the TCP-IP connections but I will try that it. I have switch IP's around (they have a pool of IP and I just selected another IP from the pool to see if it was the IP addy.

- MilitantEidolon

Setting up and using another user is a good way to see if it is that users profile that is buggered......
If another user can log on and connect to the server...then it becomes a user specific issue...not machine specific.

Can the user use another machine ??

haha, I am having a hard time trying to convey to you how horrible this network is setup. All people sign onto the root with the administrator password. I nearly crapped myself when I first saw this. I told them that they need to change it immediately and they said they weren't allowed to do anything until I got word from "the top" and then I would be able to sign a contract and fix it. I am still so awwed by this because it is so wide open. So this user logging onto the machine from another machine doesn't mean anything. Um. I will look into setting up a new user and seeing if that will work.

- MilitantEidolon

so what you are saying is that they all have the same user/password, and the username is administrator... furthermore, they don't want to let you make changes to that without signing a contract?!?

i understand the contract part, but not the way they are setup.....

yes, try pinging the NAME and tell us what happens.... also, if they all have the same user/password - verify that somehow the password on the 1 machine didn't get changed.

also, check on the server to make sure that no one changed the connection limit from default (max)

I can relate...

I get most of my work by fixing other people mistakes.

Usually I put it to the owner or the person at the "top" that paying me to continue to try and fix this mess is a waste of time and money. I then propse to them that I reinstall and set it up correctly (for a large sum of money)or they can call someone else to support it.
Its not worth the headache or frustration for me to continue...and I am far too busy to deal with other peoples messes...and lack of documentation

Otherwords...It is setup and configured my way...or I dont support it...

MLF

I already checked the server for any limits they are all set to default (max).

Well let me try to explain how they are hooked up into the network. We will use Jim as an example. Lets say Jim is trying to get onto the network. Jim walks into work chipper as all hell, grabs himself a cup of coffee sits down at his computer to read his email and check his bid on his BMW on Ebay. Well Jim clicks his name on the logon on name and simply clicks through the password. He pops open his email and then opens his browser to look on ebay. *ring*ring* (Jim is getting a call) Jim scoops up the phone he chats for a bit and then pulls up the company database and looks over the financial records and customer information. He answers the question on the phone and chats little about his wife and kids and then brags about the 1 under par game he hit on the weekend.

Now lets sit back and look at this Jim never has had to enter a password not once since he logged on to the computer he didn't enter one to log into the database he didn't enter one to enter the network drive he didn't enter one to log onto his email or to access the internet. Jim is a sitting duck with everything open. So imaging this and then imagine that all of a sudden you cant access the network drive. I checked for any proggies running. I ran it through Norton and Housecall (found and removed a trojan) and that was it.

The server is running windows 2000 Advanced (an industry standard right?). Well they have 8 computers hooked into this network. All these computers are hooked up to the network using the Administrator Name and Password. However all the computers have their local users I have already checked the client PC to make sure that the Username and Password are correct (even restarted it a few times to check) and still nothing. I will try pinging the server by the name.

Sorry if this post is hard to read I have been interrupted about 15 times since writting this so please bare with me.

- MilitantEidolon

sorry

I am confused...
Are the users using the Server Administrator account\ password or the local XP admin account password??
When they log on are they using the actuall admistrator account...or a user with administrative rights.??

Yeah sorry I thought I would confuse every haha. Anyway when you map a network drive you can select connect to with a different Username and Password. Well the previos Admin would Click that enter the Administrators Username and Password to gain access to the server.

Oh the upside to the admin is that he did change the administrators username yup he changed it to the name of the company what a huge improvement (sarcasm).

The user logs onto the computer by just clicking his/her name and then they are on with administrator rights for everything.

- MilitantEidolon

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Usually I put it to the owner or the person at the "top" that paying me to continue to try and fix this mess is a waste of time and money. I then propse to them that I reinstall and set it up correctly (for a large sum of money)or they can call someone else to support it.
Its not worth the headache or frustration for me to continue...and I am far too busy to deal with other peoples messes...and lack of documentation

Otherwords...It is setup and configured my way...or I dont support it...

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Take this advice from morganlefay, and use it.
When they see sense it will 'probably' be too late.
Get an image of one of the stations ASAP, that way at least there will be something to build on...........

Get the admin account away from the [L]users, strong password for that, then get the users reassigned as users, with passwords where you pointed out.

now re-read the advice above, and get them to listen, or WALK AWAY.
(keep the image, it gets valuable when the sh*t hits.)

If all this fails, sit back and watch the fireworks, cos' July 4th COULD come twice this year.

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If all this fails, sit back and watch the fireworks, cos' July 4th COULD come twice this year.

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Thanks I needed that!

- MilitantEidolone