Explorer/Outlook won't connect with Comms Line 1

[ajcarr]

My Windows XP Home system did not come up properly from sleep mode and on re-booting neither Internet Explorer nor Outlook would connect with a comms line which Windows said was connected. The problem occurs with both an ISDN line and standard dial-up. McAfee Firewall Visual trace connects OK. So does PING. I've tried rebuilding all the connections to no avail.

Any ideas?

 

[linney]

Did you try using System Restore to go back to a point before the problem?

 

[ajcarr]

I hadn't tried system restore and it did indeed fix the problem. I've only had this machine for a week and previously used W98 so I didn't know about the facility. Thanks for the help.

 

[ajcarr]

The cause of the problem has been isolated to setting up a peer-to peer network. Establishing this using Network Wizard causes Outlook/Explorer to stop communicating with the comms line although both still successfully initiate a connection. However, the Comms line Status box shows no traffic. Any ideas on how to resolve this?

 

[linney]

There has been a lot of negative comments about using the Network Wizard when networking XP with other Windows Systems. Mixing XP with 98 etc. for example. These links may prove interesting and of assistance.

http://www.wown.com

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/addxp.htm

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/support/troubleshoot_index.htm

http://www.howstuffworks.com/home-network.htm

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=...Re%3A+Windows+XP+%2F+2000+Networking+Problem+

 

[ajcarr]

Thanks Linney, those links were most useful. The problem turned out to be due to having NETBEUI enabled on the WIN98 system. When I deleted this, both Networking and Outlook/Explorer worked on the XP system without changing that at all. Don't know why NETBEUI on the WIN 98 machine should affect Comms access on the XP system - just one of those mysteries.