BASIC NETWORK TROULBLESHOOTING

Most Common Failures on Basic networks as follows.

1. Not connect to the Network.
2. Connect but not data communicating.
3. Connect but network printer is not working.
4. Internet not working through the network.
5. Not accessing to others share folders.
6. Suddenly network nods are disappearing/ disconnecting.
7. Suddenly Network stuck.
8. Data not routs to other networks.

First of all we should know, whether PC is physically connect to network or not, by checking, cables, jacks, and ports. Then make sure switch’s network port also, is working properly.

Then make sure all lights indicators of NICs and switch are showing perfectly. Light indicators are very important and here are some clues about the light indicators.

1. After remove the cable from NIC, still alights lit on NIC or Switch. – Faulty network card or Faulty Switch/ Port.
2. When connect network cable to NIC’s network port light not blinks after few seconds – first make sure NIC drivers are installed properly. If so, Faulty NIC.

Not connect to the Network.

This may happened due to following reasons.

Defective Cables, Defective NICs, Defective Switches or Ports, NIC’s Driver corruption or inaccurate drivers/ OS corruption.

1. Replace the Cable or Change the PC to another location and check. Doing this sometime you can check the Switch’s Port and wall socket also.
2. Then check whether NIC is installed properly, on the device manager.
3. Then this may happened to OS corruption.

Connect but not data communicating (Network Connection seems Ok).

1. Check the Proper IP address is assigned the NIC, by typing “ipconfig” on the Command prompt. If it hasn’t an IP address, put a proper IP and check.
2. Try to repair the Network connection, by right clicking on network connection on the task bar and selecting “Repair” on that menu.
3. Type “ping” Command with targeted IP address and check whether any respond.
4. If it’s pinging. Then you may check the file sharing settings, security settings on both computers.
5. If it’s not pinging you have to check the, firewall settings, Antivirus guard settings, IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway. And of course ultimately Faulty NIC or Corrupted OS.

Connect but network printer is not working.

1. Take a self test printout and verify printer is OK.
2. If printer is attach as a network node (Network Printer) Type Ping command and try.
3. Then make sure printer is working with another computer.
4. If it’s not pinging reconfigure the printer interface settings and restart and ping again.
5. If still it’s not pinging, check the Subnet mask, Default gateway, Antivirus guard settings and firewall settings.
6. If the printer is attaching to a network computer, then make sure the printer is working on attached computer properly.
7. Try to reinstall the drivers.
8. Then try to find out the attached computer in the network neighborhood or, try to search the attached computer by Computer name or IP address. Then try to connect. If you can see the computer, but it says “Access denied”, make sure all computers logged in to the network using user name and password. If not put a username and password for each and every network computers.
9. Then check the Antivirus guard settings and fire wall settings.
10. Check about a Virus, finally the OS.

Internet not working through the network.

1. Check the IP address, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway, DNS.
2. Check the Proxy settings in the Browser.
3. Ping the Gateway and check connection is Ok.
4. If its pinging to gateway, try to ping outside Ex : ping www.google.com –t
5. If its pinging outside try reinstall the browser or different browser.
6. Check the firewall and internet security settings, Antivirus guard’s settings.
7. Finlay it may problem with OS.

Not accessing to others share folders.

1. 1. Verify every computer was logged in to the network using user name and password. Because its vital factor for a network
2. 2. Check the folder share settings again.
3. 3. Try to repair the Network connection, by right clicking on network connection on the task bar and selecting “Repair” on that menu.
4. Check the antivirus guard settings and the firewall settings.
5. 5. Check the share security setting in the share folder properties.

Suddenly network nods are disappearing/ disconnecting.

1. Most probably this happened due to exceeding the limit of network connections that keep simultaneously on certain OS. Ex: - Windows XP Pro. Only 10 Connections have simultaneously.
2. Check for any loose Connections.
3. Check the Virus guard whether it is blocking the Network connections due to a virus issue.
4. Check the Network switch giving a ping command to several computers at the same time and monitor the behavior. Most of the time this may happen due to faulty NIC or Switch.

Suddenly Network stuck.

1. Check for a loose connection.
2. Check the Network switch giving a ping command to several computers at the same time and monitor the behavior. Most of the time this may happen due to faulty NIC or Switch.
3. Check the Virus guard whether it is blocking the Network connections due to a virus issue.
4. Check any blind network map drives are in my Computer, Desktop or any other places in every computer.

Data not routs to other networks.

1. Check the Virus guard settings and the Viruses.
2. Check the IP address, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway, DNS.
3. Re configures the Router/ Reset the Router.
4. Check the Firewall and reconfigure the firewall settings.

Those are the basic Network troubleshooting ways of a network, but experience is the key for troubleshooting and it will minimize the wasting time for troubleshooting.