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Thread ID: 102163 2009-08-09 07:54:00 Strange Network Issues gkar (5215) Press F1
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799717 2009-08-09 07:54:00 The story goes: last night I tried to connect a Vantec Nexstar CX external HDD enclosure . As I wanted maximum transfer speeds to my SATA drive I installed the supplied eSATA bracket .

When I tried to reboot, the computer -my main HTPC- cycled through startup with BSOD, then just continued to reboot without showing POST . In safe mode it hung at mup . sys .

I thought maybe the eSATA bracket was shorting to the mobo as I had trouble inserting it properly . It could also have an issue with the IDE to the DVD drive, as it was directly behind the SATA header to the eSATA bracket . I removed both & eventually got into safe mode, & from there, normal startup .

During one of the integrity checks, it stated something about certain files not being recoverable . I have a three (HT)PC system: one desktop/gaming/internet rig; one main HTPC & one client HTPC . They run through a TPLink 5-port ethernet switch . My two HTPCs connect via ICS . I have used this system without hitch since upgrading to broadband from dial-up two months back . The desktop is connected to the switch with a 10m crossover cable . The HTPCs connected using straight cables .

Since this issue, I have had no network activity through my HTPC onboard LAN port, except if I connect the desktop's crossover to the main HTPC, then I get activity & connection . I also have network capabilities between the desktop & client machines using the switch . I have tried the following:

1) replaced the cable both with straight & crossover varieties through the switch
2) reinstalled the network drivers
3) updated the network drivers
4) direct connection of client HTPC with no success
5) tried a system restore to before I had the issue

Not sure what to attempt next? As I get connection with a direct link to my desktop, I would assume the onboad ethernet is OK .

Could it be an issue with Windows in any shape or form that reGhosting to my latest image could fix?? What else could be the cause . The HTPC appears to function perfectly otherwise . :thanks in advance .

PS . I still have the IDE drive disconnected .
gkar (5215)
799718 2009-08-09 08:07:00 What is assigning IP addresses to the systems?

What sort of broadband modem/router do you have?
stormdragon (6013)
799719 2009-08-09 08:44:00 Thanks. I have a Dynalink RTA1320 router.

The IP addresses are:
Desktop 192.168.01
main HTPC 192.168.0.2
client HTPC 192.168.0.3
gkar (5215)
799720 2009-08-09 08:45:00 The story goes: last night I tried to connect a Vantec Nexstar CX external HDD enclosure . As I wanted maximum transfer speeds to my SATA drive I installed the supplied eSATA bracket .

When I tried to reboot, the computer -my main HTPC- cycled through startup with BSOD, then just continued to reboot without showing POST . In safe mode it hung at mup . sys .



This problem was probably caused by the mainboard booting off the eSATA HDD instead of the IDE drive .
If you went into the BIOS and changed the boot order setting to boot off the internal HDD first then this problem should have gone away .
CYaBro (73)
799721 2009-08-09 09:08:00 This problem was probably caused by the mainboard booting off the eSATA HDD instead of the IDE drive.
If you went into the BIOS and changed the boot order setting to boot off the internal HDD first then this problem should have gone away.

Interesting. I checked that the Vantec drive was recognised in the BIOS. But I admit I didn't check the priority. So, that could the continuous rebooting I saw with just a blank screen ie. no POST? I would have thought I would get the standard disc failure code at POST. Thanks.
gkar (5215)
799722 2009-08-09 09:19:00 Correction on my IP addresses. They were changed to 192.168.1.2 for the desktop, with a default gateway of 192.168.1.1, when I changed to broadband & are automatically being assigned by DCHP with the server addresses as designated by Slingshot for the HTPCs. gkar (5215)
799723 2009-08-12 06:22:00 OK. I have resolved the issue, but it appears to be a scenario straight out of the Twilight Zone.

I tried to Ghost to my latest image, but reverted back after I had no success at attaining my HTPC network.

Today I had some spare time so thought I would try my desktop's 10/100mb card used for my internet connection just to confirm everything would work properly before I bought a Gigabit ethernet card.

Everything went sweet, so I thought I would just try my onboard ethernet connection: guess what, it now works perfectly after setting my network IP :banana

If anyone has a reason how this should resolve my network issues, I would love hear it, whether it is a logical (PC-wise) or otherwise :illogical

Thanks for the attempts to assist, though.
gkar (5215)
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