Computer forgets network name but remembers IP address

OK, so I will try for the 3rd or 4th time:

Two computers A & B

When first booted, the two computers know each other and all is well. After
a while, computer A knows B but B forgets A;

so that a file on \\computerA\shareddocs\myfile.doc cannot be found

HOWEVER,

Computer B can get to A by typing in the IP address for Computer A
(192.168.1.100)

so that the file can be located as \\192.168.1.100\shareddocs\myfile.doc

Why does Computer B forget the nickname for 192.168.1.100?

I could simply do the shortcuts with IP addresses but IP address is
dynamically assigned so it won't stay the same. Of course, I could turn off
DHCP and assign them, but that has problems too, and I don't know how to do
it anyhow.

Help; suggestions? Is anyone here?

> I could simply do the shortcuts with IP addresses but IP address is
> dynamically assigned so it won't stay the same. Of course, I could turn off
> DHCP and assign them, but that has problems too, and I don't know how to do
> it anyhow.

Likely this is the reason, if the DHCP lease is short, the IP may change
regularly, confusing the browser-process (The process that identifies other
PCs on the network, nothing to do with the Internet!)

If the computers are desktops I'd suggest using fixed IPs. Dynamic IPs are
generally better for laptops as they allow them to roam it will. They're also
a useful labour-saving arrangement for large networks. Any machine acting as
a server should have a fixed IP, though.

I changed to a fixed IP, but it doesn't fix the problem that Computer B
forgets Computer A's name after 30 minutes. I have DCHP lease set to 0 (24
hrs, which is the maximum). Any idea of how I edit the Hosts file or
whatever to tell dumb Computer B that Computer A is 192.168.1.150?

Thanks for replying!
"Ian" <> wrote in message
news:34A87874-C7E6-41B8-9441-(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>> I could simply do the shortcuts with IP addresses but IP address is
>> dynamically assigned so it won't stay the same. Of course, I could turn
>> off
>> DHCP and assign them, but that has problems too, and I don't know how to
>> do
>> it anyhow.
>
> Likely this is the reason, if the DHCP lease is short, the IP may change
> regularly, confusing the browser-process (The process that identifies
> other
> PCs on the network, nothing to do with the Internet!)
>
> If the computers are desktops I'd suggest using fixed IPs. Dynamic IPs
> are
> generally better for laptops as they allow them to roam it will. They're
> also
> a useful labour-saving arrangement for large networks. Any machine acting
> as
> a server should have a fixed IP, though.
>
>

SteveC wrote:

> I changed to a fixed IP, but it doesn't fix the problem that Computer
> B
> forgets Computer A's name after 30 minutes. I have DCHP lease set to
> 0 (24
> hrs, which is the maximum). Any idea of how I edit the Hosts file or
> whatever to tell dumb Computer B that Computer A is 192.168.1.150?
>

Do you have the NetBIOS service running? It needs to be running. Do
Start>Run>services.msc [enter] and scroll down to the service. Make
sure it is started and set to Automatic. What do you have set for DNS?
Try putting your router's address in for DNS.

To edit the Hosts file in XP, enable the ability to see hidden
files/folders from Folder Options>View tab. Navigate to
%System%\Windows\System32\Drivers\Etc directory, where %System& is the
drive where Windows is installed. You will see the Hosts file.
Double-click it and choose to open it with Notepad. Probably the only
entry in there now is 127.0.0.1 localhost. Add your computers' IP
addresses and names so it would look like:

127.0.0.1 localhost
192.168.1.150 NameOfComputer
192.168.1.xxx NameOfOtherComputer

Get the computer names from the Computer Name tab in Device Manager
(System applet>Hardware>Device Manager) if you don't know them.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Thanks for the help. I did edit the Hosts file and that resolves the names
for the IP addresses. I didn't find Netbios listed anywhere in the
Services.msc.
"Malke" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> SteveC wrote:
>
>> I changed to a fixed IP, but it doesn't fix the problem that Computer
>> B
>> forgets Computer A's name after 30 minutes. I have DCHP lease set to
>> 0 (24
>> hrs, which is the maximum). Any idea of how I edit the Hosts file or
>> whatever to tell dumb Computer B that Computer A is 192.168.1.150?
>>
>
> Do you have the NetBIOS service running? It needs to be running. Do
> Start>Run>services.msc [enter] and scroll down to the service. Make
> sure it is started and set to Automatic. What do you have set for DNS?
> Try putting your router's address in for DNS.
>
> To edit the Hosts file in XP, enable the ability to see hidden
> files/folders from Folder Options>View tab. Navigate to
> %System%\Windows\System32\Drivers\Etc directory, where %System& is the
> drive where Windows is installed. You will see the Hosts file.
> Double-click it and choose to open it with Notepad. Probably the only
> entry in there now is 127.0.0.1 localhost. Add your computers' IP
> addresses and names so it would look like:
>
> 127.0.0.1 localhost
> 192.168.1.150 NameOfComputer
> 192.168.1.xxx NameOfOtherComputer
>
> Get the computer names from the Computer Name tab in Device Manager
> (System applet>Hardware>Device Manager) if you don't know them.
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

SteveC wrote:

> Thanks for the help. I did edit the Hosts file and that resolves the
> names
> for the IP addresses. I didn't find Netbios listed anywhere in the
> Services.msc.

Quite right you are. I should have turned on one of the XP boxen and
looked before I leaped. NetBIOS is turned on in Network Connections.
Here's a link to a good explanation and How-To:
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/...hoot/netbt.htm

I believe I was thinking of the Computer Browser service. Here's a link
explaining that:
http://www.theeldergeek.com/computer_browser.htm

If you have computers turning off their wireless networking or being
turned off and on during the day, there is possibly a problem with the
Computer Browser service in your network and/or the DNS. The reason I
asked you what you had assigned for DNS is that DNS translates the
human-readable IP addresses (yahoo.com) to the "real" computer language
of numbers (126.345.12.100 - made up number). So if your DNS is set
incorrectly, you would experience the problem of being able to get to a
website by inputting the IP address numbers but not the name.

Without actually looking at your physical setup and examining all the
computers and watching how you work, I can't tell you why you are
having the problem. I can only suggest the workarounds, most of which
you've already done now:

1. Assign static IP's.
2. Assign static DNS and use your router's address for this.
3. Edit the Hosts file.
4. Don't bother using Network Places for sharing resources but instead
make a Desktop folder with shortcuts to network shares.

HTH,

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

You and Ian have been a big help! I think I have things working pretty
correctly now (I recleaned the registry to remove all vestiges of the Belkin
adapter that I replaced witht he Linksys -- the Belkin was disconnecting and
always needing repairing -- and going through the services I noticed the
Belkin thingy was still there. That seemed to help and now all computers
can see each other. Not sure that would have fixed it everything by itself;
the Hosts editing, and static IPing no doubt help too. I will copy this
page and check the other things too.

By the way, I put the IP's DNS addresses instead of the address to the
router because otherwise I could not get Internet. Unless I am confusing
two separate DNS addresses. My router's address is 192.168.1.1 and the DNS
for the IP (there are two) are much different. Thanks again!
"Malke" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> SteveC wrote:
>
>> Thanks for the help. I did edit the Hosts file and that resolves the
>> names
>> for the IP addresses. I didn't find Netbios listed anywhere in the
>> Services.msc.
>
> Quite right you are. I should have turned on one of the XP boxen and
> looked before I leaped. NetBIOS is turned on in Network Connections.
> Here's a link to a good explanation and How-To:
> http://www.practicallynetworked.com/...hoot/netbt.htm
>
> I believe I was thinking of the Computer Browser service. Here's a link
> explaining that:
> http://www.theeldergeek.com/computer_browser.htm
>
> If you have computers turning off their wireless networking or being
> turned off and on during the day, there is possibly a problem with the
> Computer Browser service in your network and/or the DNS. The reason I
> asked you what you had assigned for DNS is that DNS translates the
> human-readable IP addresses (yahoo.com) to the "real" computer language
> of numbers (126.345.12.100 - made up number). So if your DNS is set
> incorrectly, you would experience the problem of being able to get to a
> website by inputting the IP address numbers but not the name.
>
> Without actually looking at your physical setup and examining all the
> computers and watching how you work, I can't tell you why you are
> having the problem. I can only suggest the workarounds, most of which
> you've already done now:
>
> 1. Assign static IP's.
> 2. Assign static DNS and use your router's address for this.
> 3. Edit the Hosts file.
> 4. Don't bother using Network Places for sharing resources but instead
> make a Desktop folder with shortcuts to network shares.
>
> HTH,
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Computer Browser service was automatic; I knew where the Netbios setting was
and tried it both ways before. Have set it back to default. So it seems
I've done all I can for now, and it is working. Muchísimas gracias, amigo.
"Malke" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> SteveC wrote:
>
>> Thanks for the help. I did edit the Hosts file and that resolves the
>> names
>> for the IP addresses. I didn't find Netbios listed anywhere in the
>> Services.msc.
>
> Quite right you are. I should have turned on one of the XP boxen and
> looked before I leaped. NetBIOS is turned on in Network Connections.
> Here's a link to a good explanation and How-To:
> http://www.practicallynetworked.com/...hoot/netbt.htm
>
> I believe I was thinking of the Computer Browser service. Here's a link
> explaining that:
> http://www.theeldergeek.com/computer_browser.htm
>
> If you have computers turning off their wireless networking or being
> turned off and on during the day, there is possibly a problem with the
> Computer Browser service in your network and/or the DNS. The reason I
> asked you what you had assigned for DNS is that DNS translates the
> human-readable IP addresses (yahoo.com) to the "real" computer language
> of numbers (126.345.12.100 - made up number). So if your DNS is set
> incorrectly, you would experience the problem of being able to get to a
> website by inputting the IP address numbers but not the name.
>
> Without actually looking at your physical setup and examining all the
> computers and watching how you work, I can't tell you why you are
> having the problem. I can only suggest the workarounds, most of which
> you've already done now:
>
> 1. Assign static IP's.
> 2. Assign static DNS and use your router's address for this.
> 3. Edit the Hosts file.
> 4. Don't bother using Network Places for sharing resources but instead
> make a Desktop folder with shortcuts to network shares.
>
> HTH,
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User