XP Network keeps losing PC connections

[cbird01]

We have a Microsoft Network of 6 PC's (XP + 98SE) connected in a wireless Network via a NetGear RangeMax WPN824 router. Signal strength is Good to excellent on all pc's.

We have one PC that acts as a server for 2 applications - a paging application that allows client users to send pages through the "server" (messages sent from server via SMTP) and a fax application allowing clients to send fax jobs to the server that then get sent out via phone line. Both apps have data files and connections on the server that client accesses.

The system was working fine when it was hardwired, but then we moved and switched to wireless, due to a very difficult/expensive building to wire. Wireless was working fine for a 2 or three weeks with no problems. Gradually we noticed that the network apps would stop working and we could not view or connect any of the pcs on the network. When this happens, the internet connection goes down briefly, but then after several minutes comes back up. The network connections/applications to not come back up. Rebooting the router does not solve this. To reconnect PC's we need to 1) shut down clients 2) shut down server 3) unplug router and then reverse order to bring everything back up. After that, everything would work. It is always both applications and the network drives/connections between computers that goes down all at once with the inet, then inet comes back.

We can not figure out why the network connections tank. It is now happening 3-4 times a day.

Any suggestions out there please?

Craig
Phoenix, AZ

 

[bbaca]

Is the wireless still reporting good to excellent when the troubles occur? Is the 98SE box the server? Because I would advise updating that. Even if it is only to get rid of old equipment. Do you receive any error messages on any machine (check the event logs also) when the problems occur?

 

[cbird01]

I am not sure what they say when it goes down since it is intermittent, but my guess is, since the inet goes down for a few minutes that there is no wireless connection at that time. I will check this next time and report back.

The server is XP box. There is only one Windows SE box.

I have attached my event log.

Craig

 

[cbird01]

Here is the line item event log. The other file is the details of some of the fishy ones.

Craig

 

[cbird01]

Here is the fishy logs....any comments?

THIS ONE LOOKS FISHY and I see the same pattern later.

9:12 I was told they did a reboot of the whole system at about 9:30-9:45

The system detected that network adapter WPN311 RangeMax(TM) Wireless PCI Adapter was disconnected from the network, and the adapter's network configuration has been released. If the network adapter was not disconnected, this may indicate that it has malfunctioned. Please contact your vendor for updated drivers.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
----

The browser has forced an election on network \Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{C1169704-C3B1-4ABF-9345-C860E883E87F} because a master browser was stopped.
For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
-----
The system detected that network adapter WPN311 RangeMax(TM) Wireless PCI Adapter was connected to the network, and has initiated normal operation over the network adapter.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
-----



Other warnings and messages:
=================

Unable to contact a DHCP server. The Automatic Private IP Address 169.254.240.24 will be assigned to dial-in clients. Clients may be unable to access resources on the network.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.


============

Unable to contact a DHCP server. The Automatic Private IP Address 169.254.227.107 will be assigned to dial-in clients. Clients may be unable to access resources on the network.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

================

The server service was unable to recreate the share RC51DATA because the directory C:\PROGRAM FILES\REALCONTROL5.1\RC51 DATA no longer exists. Please run "net share RC51DATA /delete" to delete the share, or recreate the directory C:\PROGRAM FILES\REALCONTROL5.1\RC51 DATA.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

============

The attempt to power off CAROL failed

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

===============

The server {F3A614DC-ABE0-11D2-A441-00C04F795683} did not register with DCOM within the required timeout.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

 

[bbaca]

Is there a way to test out the network and the applications by wiring at least a few clients?

 

[cbird01]

well, not really. We do not have ethernet cards in there anymore.

 

[JohnWill]

I strongly suggest you bite the bullet and hard wire the stations.