Question

Windows Home Server not connecting to home network

Asked by: ccureton

I have a home network of 5 computers and am using a Linksys WRT54GS Router & EZXS55W switch. Network consists of Vista Home Premium, XP Pro SP2 and XP Home computers. All computers connected to each other and the internet with out problem.

I'm now trying to setup Windows Home Server on a new computer. The software installed without a noticeable problem but when I try to install Windows Home Server Connector software on the other computers the server can not be found.

I can see the server on Network Magic's network map, but it shows as offline and not connected. When I open My Network Places and open the entire network I do not see the server.



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Asked On
2008-12-13 at 18:44:31ID23982862
Topics

Windows Home Server

,

Windows Networking

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
9

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Answers

 

by: JascotPosted on 2008-12-13 at 19:23:24ID: 23166404

Can you browse the Internet from the server computer? It sounds like maybe the driver for your network card didn't install right. If you can't browse the Internet, then check in the Device Manager and look for any Unknown devices.

 

by: ccuretonPosted on 2008-12-13 at 19:31:42ID: 23166425

The network card isn't even showing in device manager. I know the card is good because before I installed WHS the computer could access the internet and the network.

What steps should I take to correct the situation?

 

by: JascotPosted on 2008-12-13 at 19:35:17ID: 23166428

Do you know what kind of a network card it is from before you installed WHS? Also, in the device manager, are there any Unknown devices showing up with a yellow icon on them? The network card should be showing up like that if the driver isn't loading right.

 

by: ccuretonPosted on 2008-12-13 at 19:40:12ID: 23166436

I don't know the brand of network card. It's just described as "10/100Mbps Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 port)"

The Yellow Questions Marks:
Other Devices:
Audio Device on High Definition Audio Bus
Other PCI Bridge Device
PCI Simple Communications Controller
SM Bus Controller

 

by: JascotPosted on 2008-12-13 at 19:43:45ID: 23166445

Hmm. Do you know what model motherboard is in the computer? Or if its a name brand computer, what model computer it is? Though none of the devices listed sound like a network card. Its possible its the Other PCI Bridge Device. If you know what model it is we can try to look up those missing drivers for it.

 

by: ccuretonPosted on 2008-12-13 at 19:49:15ID: 23166462

It's a cheapo computer since WHS didn't seem to require much. eMachines EL-1200-5W. I looked on the manufactures website and didn't see any specific network drivers.

http://www.emachines.com/products/products.html?prod=EL1200-05w

driver downloads:
http://support.gateway.com/support/drivers/search.asp?st=pn&param=EL1200&site=emachines

Specifications:
http://support.gateway.com/emachines/emac/EL1200/EL1200sp2.shtml

 

by: JascotPosted on 2008-12-13 at 20:41:17ID: 23166582

Damn. That seems to be a very bad chipset for any sort of MS Server OS. Nvidia doesn't seem to offer chipset software downloads for any of the Server OS versions. It looks like that computer uses the Nvidia nForce 430/6150SE chipset. Your best bet may be to install a 3rd party network card in it. A PCI card would probably be best. I've always had a preference for Intel, though they're a more expensive option. Probably any card would work, IF that machine has a slot that will fit one, which I'm not sure it does judging by the spec sheets you linked to. You could try a USB network card, though its performance probably won't be very good. Its better than nothing though.

 

by: ccuretonPosted on 2008-12-13 at 20:47:21ID: 23166594

Thanks... I'll open it up tomorrow and see if it has an open slot. If not I may try switching the WHS to a different computer and using this one for one of my less demanding tasks. I'll post another question if I run into trouble.

 

by: SeabeeCanDoPosted on 2009-03-17 at 14:45:38ID: 23913531

Your nit card worked for access to microsoft.
Download the WHS toolkit and it will answer all the above questions and possibly solve the problem.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=DE10C0E9-2D46-4770-91FE-6B84AE06F960&displaylang=en

A more direct approach might be to update the Connector software. Use the trouble shooter first.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=42426d83-2c54-446e-86ed-e3e9e7e33a98&displaylang=en

Good luck

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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