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Robert Ener

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XP Workstations losing connection to Server/Shared Folder simultaneously

I've been wrestling with this issue for a couple of weeks now.  I have a client who has Server 2003 R2 in a workgroup evironment.  Every workstation can connect to it and open up the shared folder.

However, all the XP machines, and only the XP machines lose connection to the server intermittently, the past couple of days they've been losing internet connection as well.  I've set the troubled workstations i.p.'s statically and pointed it's DNS to the server which we set up as a DNS server.  

I've tried tirelessly to find a solution to this, but seems like every solution that I find online that is implemented has not resolved the issue.

I've tried to modify a few registry settings on the server (AutoDisConnect, created KeepConn under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Service\lanmanworkstation\parameters) and set the value to 65000)

I've even modified the registry setting for forcing the Server to be a "Master Browser" and disabled the service on the workstation.  

The workstations have still been dropping their connections to the server, simultaneously.  Please help me to resolve this most frustrating issue!!!  Thanks in advance fellow techies :)
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tmoore1962

Turn off any power management on the server's NIC. and also the workstations NIC's
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tmoore1962- Thanks for your recommendation.  That was actually the most recent thing that I have done to fix the issue.  Both server and workstaton have also been rebooted.  I will update you later this afternoon on whether or not the workstations are still dropping the connections.
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Update NIC Drivers

See if any packet are dropping. You can check this by continuous ping recorded in a flat file.

ping xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx -t > C:\Abc.txt
Ran 3 simultaneous pings from server and from a wireshark workstation that's on the same hub as the server and the managed switch.  

Whenever the xp workstations go down from the server, the wireshark still shows all the pings reaching the workstations.  

Have noticed this behavior for about a week.
Have you tried updating NIC Drivers? Also see if network cables are good.
reach2sandeep - yes I have, sir.  I was on location a few times this week doing all the basic troubleshooting.  I've updated the NIC on the workstation but not on the server just yet.  If I'm not mistaken, the last round of Windows updates included a NIC update on the server.
As you saying XP machines goes down from the server, it would be better if you could try with Upgrading the NIC Drivers from server as well. Best choice is to have updated drivers from Manufacturer than relying on Microsoft Default Drivers.
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Sandeep
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The problem that I ran into on that regards is Broadcom does not support 2003 R2 for the following model...  I tried to update with the legacy 2003 driver but was unsuccessful.

BCM5708 Broadcom NetXtreme II Gigabit Ethernet Adapter
reach2sandeep-  Thank you tremendously for all of the posted links.  The AV that is deployed across the company is ESET.  

RE:  Broadcom links.  Those were the exact downloads that I attempted yesterday but it errored out on installation saying that the version of 2003 that I had was not supported by the installation file.  

Update:  None of the xp workstations have dropped their connections to the server since I've modified the power management settings on the NICs.  I'll update again if they do drop the connections.
The dropping of the connections was due to Kaspersky.  Once uninstalled, connections were no longer dropping.