Linksys router issues... again

I have a strange problem with my Linksys 54G. It is connecting my desktop via cat5 and to my laptop via wifi. My desktop is on basically all day and is turned off at night. My laptop is on sporadically, once every couple days. Two days ago I turned on the laptop to transfer some files from pc to notebook and then turned the NB off, later that night, I turned off the PC. The next morning, I get zero connectivity, my PC and NB do connect to the net. I find that I have to hard boot (unplug from wall) the router and then everything connects again. This should not be happening, any ideas?

 

Sounds like the PCs are having trouble finding each-other. This is usually the responsibility of the Browser service in Windows.

First thing you want to check is that you haven't disabled the Browser service in Windows on both PCs.

If that doesn't work, buried in the Network Connection, TCP/IP, Advanced, on the DNS Tab, make sure that the checkbox "Register this connection's addresses with the DNS" are checked off on both the PC and Laptop. While you're in there, you may want to try enabling "NetBios over TCP/IP" on the WINS tab.

If none of that works, post your OS's and the IP Config info from both PCs.

 

I'll try it out when I get home tonight, thanks!

 

How do you do this as im also having this problem. my config and usage is just like the OP, but my desktop is W2K and laptop is XP MCE.

Thanks for the help and detailed response - love this fourum.

 

For any Win2k or XP OS, you'll need to drill down through the Control Panel to Computer Management (or try right-click My Computer / Manage), where you'll see a bunch of 'folders' on the left. One should be 'Services & Applications', under which is another 'Services'. Look for 'Browser' or 'Computer Browser' service on the right, and make sure it's started and the startup type is set to 'Automatic'.

It does sometimes take a few minutes for the browser service to update and all the PCs on the network to 'Sync', so if you just booted a PC, it may not be visible on the network immediately, but should show up after a few minutes.

 

Knock on wood. Seems the NetBios over TCP/IP enabling did the trick. Hope everything stays that way.
Also glad to see I'm not the only one to have this problem, comes to show it never hurts to ask questions, even if they seem dumb.

Thanks, lmychajluk. Much abliged!