W2K will not re-establish network connection

Two W2K Pro, SP4 computers networked through a Linksys 4-port router, internal NICs, and sharing a DSL connection, static IP, not on a domain, no server, just two computers sharing files and an internet connection. Neither is passworded. "Reconnect on logon" is checked.

Computer One doesn't have any problems. Computer Two can never re-establish connection with Computer One when booted although it never has a problem re-establishing its internet connection. Both are running McAfee AV, neither are running a firewall. Both are scanned for spyware with Spybot weekly and neither have anything installed other than ordinary, registered (and expensive) software needed to run the business (dental clinic). No games installed other than those that come with Windows.

I can re-map the network on Computer Two and it connects to Computer One immediately, no delay, no error messages. It just will not establish a connection with Computer One without manually re-mapping the network on every boot and reboot. I rebooted Computer Two four times; twice shutting it down entirely, twice just restarting it. I got the same inability to re-establish the connection with Computer One every time and the same immediate connection when I re-mapped the network.

These two computers are in an office and are being used by less-than-skilled users so re-mapping the network on every boot/reboot is not only tedious but it is "too scary" for the users, so they won't even try it.

Any suggestions on what to try to get Computer Two to re-establish its connection to Computer One without having to re-map the network every time?

 

Hiya Miz
No domain, but are they set up to use the same workgroup? Logon-user?

 

Batch file placed in the All Users startup folder

net use \\computer-name\share-name /persistent:yes
exit

 

Yep, Daizy...I checked....unique computer names and same workgroup on both.

Batch file, huh? Okay....however, I have not the foggiest idea how to do anything with a batch file.

 

1. Open a session in your favorite text editor.

2. Put in the following lines:
echo off
net use x: \\computer-name\share-name /persistent:yes
exit

3. Save the file as c:\some folder\anyname.bat. As written it should silently map to the share as X: and then close itself.

4. Place the file where you want it and a shortcut to it in c:\documents and settings\All Users\start menu\programs\startup folder.

You might want to try just running the 'net use' command and see if it does what it is supposed to and makes a permenant connection to the share though. It may work when a normal mapping thru WE doesn't.

 

Thanks, Newt. I'll give it a shot tomorrow and let you know how it goes.

 

Thanks to all who replied. I got it sorted out easily enough yesterday. I finally took the time to read the screen during boot, checked the box "don't try to connect again" and that fixed it.

Turned out that it was still trying to connect to Computer One as "E" when I'd added a CD burner so it needed to connect as "F." So removing its trying to designate Computer One's drive as "E" solved the problem.

Perhaps it was trying to work in a dental clinic with all that drilling going on that distracted me the first time around.