network problems

[DetroitTechComputer]

So my first job under my compay is tomorrow, and I was wondering if anyone on TN ran into this before..

Only 6 computers on the network all wired, 5 running 7 one running vista. Vista pc ethranet card was replaced. Vista pc will not communicate with netowrk. No server, just a printer. Sorry for the crappy typing, on my phone. Thanks for anyhelp

 

[ATTech]

You've pretty much given us absolutely nothing to work with here. A computer that can't "communicate with the network" (which is ambiguous in and of itself) can have a hundred different causes. From your post, I'm assuming you haven't even seen the problem, so you can't be more specific. This isn't a specific error code or blink pattern, it's like trying to get someone to diagnose a machine that won't boot without giving them anymore information than that. Are you looking for a starting point, or do you think this is a specific enough issue for us to be able to give you good advice?

 

[Martyn]

I'm with ATTech here. There are too many variables not just technical either. Do you know the customer? Is this your first visit? Who changed the Ethernet board and why? What do you mean "will not connect to the network just the printer". If it connects to the printer at an ip level then that tells you something if the printer is working over ip.

Good luck with it.

 

[DetroitTechComputer]

Just looking for a starting point. I do not know the customer, and it is my first visit. Kind of a shot in the dark lol. If I can't figure it out after I diagnose it I'll let you guys know. Card was changed because the PC wasn't connecting to the network, said the customer at least.

 

[ljtechservices]

had something like that a month ago.
Local company installed a NIC because the onboard NIC on the PC was dead.
Customer got it back home and It would not connect to the internet.
After much back and forth about warranties, suing and questionable parentages of both parties, the customer called me.
Nic was working but there was no link. All the switch ports on their d-link was dead. wireless devices connected fine but this was the only computer that was wired.

now i'm a hero to this guy or something. he keeps calling for ridiculously simple things and I keep billing him. Kinda strange. The first shop could have solved this with a site visit and a little kindness.

 

[ATTech]

Just looking for a starting point. I do not know the customer, and it is my first visit. Kind of a shot in the dark lol. If I can't figure it out after I diagnose it I'll let you guys know. Card was changed because the PC wasn't connecting to the network, said the customer at least.

Your starting point would be to find out what "not communicating with the network" actually means and go from there. Is it not getting an IP from DHCP? Does the cable show as unplugged? Can you ping the local gateway? Etc.

 

[homebase]

I'll bet you a nickel it's because whoever set up the LAN originally configured all the network devices with static IP addresses, and when they swapped out the NIC, they left it set at the default setting of obtaining an IP address from a DHCP server, which doesn't exist.

 

[wtigger]

I'll bet you a nickel it's because whoever set up the LAN originally configured all the network devices with static IP addresses, and when they swapped out the NIC, they left it set at the default setting of obtaining an IP address from a DHCP server, which doesn't exist.

You have my vote on that one seen that a few times...

 

[DetroitTechComputer]

It ended up being a whole array of problems. A "computer savvy" company worker screwed up the configurations for the networked printers. Somehow the ports for the printers were closed. Machine A could communicate with the workgroup with machines B,C and D couldn't communicate with machine A. Attech, like I said. I had no prior information about the job besides what the secretary told me, which ended up being all wrong. Throughout the job Mr. Computer Savvy kept deleting the shared printers and his computer. Not sure how to deal with people like that. It was my first job though, and a successful one. They're dropping their current IT guy and contracting me.