Unable to reconnect PC to network.

I work in an office that has 14 total computers. I believe all but two are using XP Home due to an odd way we set up the business. We had a computer in the office used by an old employee that left. We formatted the computer and reinstall the drivers (its a dell machine). But when we try to add the computer to the network, it has issues. It senses it is on the network, it knows if you unplug its network cable from the wall, and it knows if you disconnect it from the router. The problem is that it doesnt see itself or anyone else under the workgroup. It also cant access the internet. Ive tried connecting the computer directly to the internet connection without using the router and no luck.

I also changed the name of the workgroup of the suspect computer and of one other pc on the network. Then, the suspect pc was able to see itself and the other pc but still no internet. Even weirder still, when ive brought the machine home, it has no issues connecting to my home network or browsing the internet.

Im really stuck here guys, any help would be appreciated. And any more information I can get to help you out, just let me know. Thanks for your time.

 

Connect the computer back to one of the router's LAN port using a straight through cable. Then try these suggestions which should help get everything working.

1. If any of the computers have the Windows Firewall enabled, make sure it is properly configured for file and printer sharing. With Windows Firewall enabled, go to the Exception tab, and click to check the File and Printer Sharing checkbox. If you've installed a third party firewall program (Norton, McAfee, PC-cillin, eTrust, ZoneAlarm, etc), make sure that it's configured to allow access on the local area network.

2. Use only one protocol for File and Printer Sharing. TCP/IP is the preferred network protocol. If the network needs more than one protocol, unbind File and Printer Sharing from all but one of them. Details here:

Windows XP Network Protocols
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/network_protocols.htm

3. Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP on all computers. Details here.

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/troubleshoot/netbt.htm

If this doesn't help solve anything then Please start with ipconfig information for the computer. Start - Run - "cmd ". Type "ipconfig /all >c:\ipconfig.txt" into the command window - Open c:\ipconfig.txt in notepad, copy and paste into your next post. Identify operating system (version, and Service Pack level) with the ipconfig listing. It would help to see results from a working and a non working machine to compare.