WHS not visible on the network - can't access shares

Hi there

I've got a sticky one that I'm hoping I can get some help with.

My WHS has been working perfectly for ages, no problems until I decided to use to to test a VPN connection to my office.

I installed the WatchGuard Mobile VPN software to test an IPSEC tunnel that I'd set up.  I was remotely connected to my server from my office when I did this.

On installing the software I guess the installation reset the NIC as I lost my connection.  I was expecting this, but I couildn't get back on after the time it should have taken for the NIC to come back up.

I waited until I got home and logged into the WHS itself to take a look - the thing had locked up when installing the VPN software.  I rebooted and then uninstalled the software.  I also ran CCleaner to take out any registry keys that may have lingered.  I then removed any traces of the folder structure for the VPN software.

I rebooted again and went upstairs. tried RDPing my server and got connected successfully.

It wasn't until later that night when I turned on the Xbox and tried to access one of the folder shares on the WHS that I realised it wasn't showing up on the network.  I did all the usual tests on the Xbox and still couldn't get the shares to appear.  I also tested from my MacBook Pro which I'm always able to map shared folders on - but every time I tried to map the folder it said that the connection did not exist.

The WHS doesn't even show up in my list of shared items in Finder or Path Finder.  I loaded up an XP VM on my Mac and tried to map to the UNC - no joy either as it just couldn't see the WHS.  I cleared all my DNS cache from the Mac and VM and tried again - nope.  Can't connect using IP OR DNS name.

I then disabled the WHS firewall - nothing.
I uninstalled File and Print Sharing from the WHS, rebooted, and reinstalled the service - nothing.  After doing this I had to enable the shares again so I did so on one folder.  Tested mapping it - nothing

I left it alone for a while and played a little Secret of Monkey Island SE.  Came back an hour or two later and lo - the shared folder I enabled is now showing on my Xbox and I can access the files in it?!?!  I tried again from my Mac and XP VM but the same thing happened - cannot connect!!!!!!!!!

I tried to open the WHS console on the WHS to see what was going on but it keeps crashing - the Application event log comes up with a .NET error after about a minute of trying to load the console: ".NET Runtime 2.0 Error Reporting: EventType clr20r3 P1 homeserverconsole.exe P2 6.6.6.6. P3 49ed39c1 P4 whscommon...... etc etc system.io.ioexception P10 NIL"

The HomeServer event log shows no errors or warnings, nor does System.

I checked the routes on my WHS - all look standard and are pointing to the right places.  Hmm what else did I do?  Oh I created a new workgroup on the WHS and rebooted - still not showing.

So clearly the VPN software did something it shouldn't have and I've learned my lesson there :)  But I'm stumped now as to what the problem could be.  Either it's something very simple that I've overlooked, or it's going to require a repair of the OS...

Question1: any idea what I've missed or need to check for now?

Question2: If I have to repair the OS on my WHS will that effect my data drive(S) in any way?  The OS is on it's own separate drive but I have a good 5 or 6 other drives with all my data on them and I don't want to lose that data.  Can WHS repair itself and then rebuild the data array without any problems or data loss?

Thanks!
Mike