1/8 workstations acting up Windows 2000 server

We have a windows 2000 server with 8 XP pro workstations.
This setup has worked wonderfully for years, but then mysteriously 1 of the 8 is acting up.

All 8 workstations are mapped with 2 drives. T
The first drive is F and gives us access to our mfg software
The 2nd drive is U and lets us share documents that we save to our server.

This arrangement has worked flawless for years, until this past Monday morning when one of the workstations would not connect to the MFG drive. It will connect to the shared doc. drive but it takes forever and ever.


I have reset the server, I have reset the problem workstation. This particlar workstations seems to be okay in every other aspect.

When you go to MY NETWORK PLACES the MFG DRIVE does not show up, but if you go to remap it, the drive is there and if try you remap it you are told that it cant be found.

If you go to disconnect the drive, its there???

I think if I could make this drive show up on the front page of the MY NETWORK PLACES screen then it would connect. But the computer thinks its connected because it is found in the disconnect option,

any and all help appreciated,

laura

 

More clues:

after further review I found that the Network logon screen freezes gray for a long long time before you enter the desktop.

Also the printer icon in the tray says the printer is offline (its not)

resetting and resetting changes nothing.

 

Is this a domain contoler? if so ..

Check the workstation's dns ... sounds like someone changed the dns server to a non internal address.

 

The DNS is the same for all 8.
Today its working a little differently.
If I go into my shared doc drive, it takes forever, but I can get in.
If can NOT get into my MFG software via the icon on my desk, but if I go to My Computer>MFGsoftware> I can get into the data but the software will not run..................... so my network drive is allowing me to access my server...it just want let me run my MFG software and my shared doc drive is really sluggish to open.

Thanks, if you have any other ideas I would love to hear them.
Laura

 

Anything on the server's event viewer?

 

I dont know how to check that....but I have more clues.

I can slowly slowy access the folders on the server via my mapped dirve.
But when the folder finally opens....its empty.

The other 7 workstations are working great.

I am not a computer guru.... I always thought XPpro madie it so that dummys like me could do this...but now I am pulling my hair out.

thanks for your interest.

 

eventvwr.msc

Look in the app and system log for errors

can you access the file via \\server\share?

Do you have anything in the taskbar about being offline?

 

1. system log shows no errors before during or after the problem time period.
it does show errors since then related to the printer


2. I can access run>\\server\\share....but all the folders are empty ! ! \
same with My Computer>\\server\\share, I see the folders but no files

3. An old printer icon is in the tray and off line

Thanks,
Laura

 

i mean offline files, like a little computer icon near the clock that is asking you to sync

 

Yes, but what is it? The 2000 server or something else?

 

I got so frustrated.
I just saved all My document to a thumbdrive.
I wiped the computer-reinstalled XP-pro
I remapped the drives and now everything is perfect.
I guess I will never know what happened.
Thanks for all the help