Network problems - help!

[Pacific_2]

Computers (8 of them) are all connected through a router and a switch, it was working fine. We had router hijacked, but it was resolved, some time after that, computers couldn't see each other, randomly some could see other couldn't, I replaced router and a switch, it worked fine for a day, after that nobody can see anybody anymore. We are all in the same workgroup and all are configured to be visible, we have win 10, win 7 and one win xp. When we open windows explorer, my network places id doesn't show anybody except it self and some self phones. Everybody is reachable through IP address, but not visible in my network places. I checked some of them for the needed services, fixed that, also flushed dns for all of them. Anybody help?

 

[jensrobot]

Not sure i can help, but here is some brainstorming.

Is everything else network related working fine? Can you type in pc name or ipadress in address bar and access networked pc's that way?, if not can you ping them?
Are the pc's stating they are in the actual workgroup?, and is the workgroup password protected?
Please elaborate on the hijacking of you old router. Was it hacked?

 

[Ralston18]

Verify: you are indeed using Windows Workgroup? Or did you just mean that the computers are all on the same network?

You need to take a careful methodical approach to getting it all sorted out and back in operational order. Especially if routers have been reset or otherwise reconfigured.

Twofold approach:

1) Figure out and understand how your network is currently set up/configured.

2) Reconfigure each device, one at a time, as necessary, to get it back into service.

Sketch out a network diagram showing all of your connected devices.

On the diagram list each device or computer name, IP addresss, and subnet mask. Use "ipconfig /all" on each computer to get that information. You may find some things are not as you expect.

Get a big picture view of your network so you can see what is what.

Be certain that only one router is providing DHCP IP addresses. And that any assigned static IP addresses are outside of the available DHCP IP address range and that the static IP is reserved on the router via the device MAC for that device.

Make a simple checklist of what needs to be accomplished on each computer - does not need to be perfect the first time around and you may realize on the 3rd of 4th system that something was overlooked on the first two. Evolve the process as needed.

Disconnect all but one computer and (using the checklist) work to get the computer configured first for network access, workgroup membership, and internet as applicable.

Be careful and methodical. Pay close attention to any error messages or pop-up windows. Some of them may not be all that helpful but they still can provide some clue as to what has or is going astray.

 

[Pacific_2]

Not sure i can help, but here is some brainstorming.

Is everything else network related working fine? Can you type in pc name or ipadress in address bar and access networked pc's that way?, if not can you ping them?
Are the pc's stating they are in the actual workgroup?, and is the workgroup password protected?
Please elaborate on the hijacking of you old router. Was it hacked?

Yes, everything else is ok, I can reach every computer with an ip address and name, I can ping them, everybody is in the same workgroup, changed the name in system settings and all accepted it. Its not password protected, I don't even know how to do that, although only one computer with win xp reports error when accesing the network places with this error message: "Worgroup is not accesible. You might not have permision to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions. The service has not been started." - which I googled it and checked the client for microsoft in the adapter settings, and it was allready there.

I tried to change the worgroup name, it seems to work for a while, and then losses it again.

My browser kept clicking on a certain website which transfered me to other sites, I found it using avast network scaner and it stated that the router was hijacked, which my provider confirmed and we changed back the settings in router, and now I put the new router.

 

[jensrobot]

Winxp will have problems with vista/win7+ workgroups. Dunno the details, but out of the box they don't like eachother. Maybe switch out winxp completely as it already poses a security risk anyway being unsupported and all.
The fact that it works for a little while, and then stops is a cause for concern considering you had a security breach on your router.
Ralston18's methodical approach is good, i would recommend you start slow and simple. 2 pc's first, maybe outside your other network on a seperate router with no internet for example.
But i'll admit, i think this is out of my league now. Good luck with it all

 

[Ralston18]

Keep working on things and also leave the WinXP system until the very last. If all goes well and works up until WinXP's reintroduction then that would be further evidence of some workgroup conflict.

 

[Pacific_2]

Keep working on things and also leave the WinXP system until the very last. If all goes well and works up until WinXP's reintroduction then that would be further evidence of some workgroup conflict.

Thanks. I'll try that!

 

[Pacific_2]

Winxp will have problems with vista/win7+ workgroups. Dunno the details, but out of the box they don't like eachother. Maybe switch out winxp completely as it already poses a security risk anyway being unsupported and all.
The fact that it works for a little while, and then stops is a cause for concern considering you had a security breach on your router.
Ralston18's methodical approach is good, i would recommend you start slow and simple. 2 pc's first, maybe outside your other network on a seperate router with no internet for example.
But i'll admit, i think this is out of my league now. Good luck with it all

Ok, thanks for trying anyways

 

[Pacific_2]

Verify: you are indeed using Windows Workgroup? Or did you just mean that the computers are all on the same network?

You need to take a careful methodical approach to getting it all sorted out and back in operational order. Especially if routers have been reset or otherwise reconfigured.

Twofold approach:

1) Figure out and understand how your network is currently set up/configured.

2) Reconfigure each device, one at a time, as necessary, to get it back into service.

Sketch out a network diagram showing all of your connected devices.

On the diagram list each device or computer name, IP addresss, and subnet mask. Use "ipconfig /all" on each computer to get that information. You may find some things are not as you expect.

Get a big picture view of your network so you can see what is what.

Be certain that only one router is providing DHCP IP addresses. And that any assigned static IP addresses are outside of the available DHCP IP address range and that the static IP is reserved on the router via the device MAC for that device.

Make a simple checklist of what needs to be accomplished on each computer - does not need to be perfect the first time around and you may realize on the 3rd of 4th system that something was overlooked on the first two. Evolve the process as needed.

Disconnect all but one computer and (using the checklist) work to get the computer configured first for network access, workgroup membership, and internet as applicable.

Be careful and methodical. Pay close attention to any error messages or pop-up windows. Some of them may not be all that helpful but they still can provide some clue as to what has or is going astray.

Thanks, I tried your way. Disconnecting all computers and adding one by one through switch to see which one is causing the problem. I reached to all of them and none of them reported problem and it works fine now. I don't know how but it fixed it self =)