home network stopped working

[pusher]

Hi
I have a home network consisting of:

cable modem
Netgear 4 way router
PC1
PC2
laptop
all have winXP Professional, and zonealarm installed.

I have had this working fine in the past, with file sharing and internet sharing. Now PC2 and laptop can share files, but can not see PC1. PC1 can not see anything under the MSHOME network, even itself. All three are on the same network - MSHOME
All 3 can connect to the internet.
I haven't done anything that I remember to the system, but I am always installing and uninstalling software.
When I set up the network originally, it was all done automatically when XP installed. Now I don't know where to start to troubleshoot.

I have tried making a new network and adding the local machines to it - but the same components work as before.

Could someone suggest me something to try to try and find where the fault is?

Many thanks for any help.
Pusher

[deddard]

Check to see if the LAN is trusted or not by Zone Alarm. It will not allow any access from anything it has placed in it's not trusted zone.

[JustAnotherTech]

After checking your zone alarm, you might try just running the netwok wizard again on PC1. I have had instances where I tried everything under the sun and decided to run the network wizard just as a "be sure it is setup correct" and Blam! Back on the network.

Just a thought my friend.

[pusher]

Hi
Thanks for the replies. I tried both the suggestions, but no joy.
Does any one have anything else to try?
many thanks
Pusher

[JustAnotherTech]

Have you tried removing all your network (Adapter, Protocols...everything) from the machine, restart and let windows re-find everything as well as let it re-install your TCP/IP? I have ran into this problem before and sometimes that works. I absolutely hate it when a machine decides to contrary.

[pusher]

Hi, thanks.
I tried unchecking the TCP/IP etc boxes in the connection properties and then re-installing. This didn't help. I'm not sure how to completely remove the Local Area Connection in the Network connections window, this may allow windows to install a new connection. I did see a "Repair Connection" selection in the options. When I do this it says
"The following steps of the repair operation failed:
Renewing the IP address.
Purging and reloading the remote cahe name table of Net BT.
Sending Name Release packets to WINS and then starting Refresh".
Does this mean anything to anyone?

I have checked the Network in a clean installation on winXP on the same PC, and it works fine, it must be something in the windows installation I presume.

Thanks for any suggestions/ help.

Pusher

[pusher]

Hi, thanks.
I tried unchecking the TCP/IP etc boxes in the connection properties and then re-installing. This didn't help. I'm not sure how to completely remove the Local Area Connection in the Network connections window, this may allow windows to install a new connection. I did see a "Repair Connection" selection in the options. When I do this it says
"The following steps of the repair operation failed:
Renewing the IP address.
Purging and reloading the remote cahe name table of Net BT.
Sending Name Release packets to WINS and then starting Refresh".
Does this mean anything to anyone?

I have checked the Network in a clean installation on winXP on the same PC, and it works fine, it must be something in the windows installation I presume.

Thanks for any suggestions/ help.

Pusher