TR Forums

My main computer recently updated itself (Windows 7 Home premium 64-bit). My network consists of 5 machines (4 computers and the PS3). All of the computers were able to see each other before my main computer did its self update.. Here's where things get weird . . . .at least to me.

When I go into the network center on my main box, I only see my laptop under devices. My main computer and the laptop also show up under Media Devices. My main computer no longer recognizes my Ubuntu box (Ubuntu 10.04). All of the machines were listed before the update!

My laptop sees all of the machines on the network as it always was.

Transferring files between the main machine and the Ubuntu box was really fast before the update.

Please note that I have never let the main box update the NIC drivers because every time I try it, I lose my internet connection until I roll back the drivers.

Anyone ever seen this and have a recommendation where I can reconnect the Ubuntu box with the main machine? Samba is still going strong and the folders I shared are still listed as shared (as my laptop can see them).

Thanks.

I suspect the update has disabled support for the version of the protocol that Samba is using, just a guess off the top of my head. Hunting packets with wireshark whilst opening the Network Browser may tell you what is going on.

UPDATE

My Linux box was still seeing my main box, so I decided to open up the shared folders and - BINGO!!! - the Linux box is now showing up again on my main machine. . . . . mind-blowing.

The joys of Microsoft's Network Browser protocol are many.

Is there a way of securing the connection that it doesn't happen again?

The Network Browser protocol can sometimes go into some sort of loop to elect a browse master. Don't think you can address this unless you set up a WINS server or something. While you were not able to "see" the other computers with the browser, can you still ping by name and/or IP address? May be you just need to learn to remember the names.