NetBEUI and Windows 2000 Network?

I have a small network set up at home off my DSL connection. I have two workstations running Windows 2000 and my server is running Windows 2000 Advanced server. I use a partitioned drive on the server to share files between the two workstations. For some reason I keep getting these really annoying errors when working with files off the server. Sometimes when I go to my mapped 'S drive' on the server, it comes up saying unable to connect. This even happens when I'm working on a file and have just saved it less than a minute ago. The only way I can connect is to keep trying to access the drive then it eventually lets me in.

I have my network set up with TCP/IP, Client for Microsoft Networks, and File and Printer Sharing. I was told by a few coworkers that I should try installing NetBEUI to fix this problem. I also set the autodisconnect to 0 on all my computers and I'm still being shut off. I went to install NetBEUI and it is only showing up in the Install list under protocols on one workstation. How do I get it to show up on the other? If I go to right click on Local Area Connection then Properties and click Install and select Protocol, the only thing that shows up is:

AppleTalk Protocol
DLC Protocol
Network Monitor Driver
NWLINK IPX/SPX/NetBIOUS Compatable Transport Protocol

Wheres NetBEUI? I can't figure it out because it is showing up on just one computer and not the other.

One I get it working on my other computer how do I set it up in Windows 2000 Adv Server? It's been almost a year since I've changed any of the settings on my server and I can't remember how to do this. If I right click on My Network Places then go to Properties and Right clickn on Local Area Connection, the only thing that is listed and checked is:

Client for Microsoft Networks
File and Printer Shring for Microsoft Networks
Internet Protocol TCP/IP

I am unable to click on the 'Install' button as it is not highlighted. Can somebody tell me how to get NetBEUI installed on Windows 2000 Advanced Server as well?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks,

John

You dont have to have netBEUI, you can easily go around it with tcp/ip and netbios (although netbeui is good for little networks - downside is that its not routable).
I do not see why you got ipx there though - pretty much it is for novel and games only.
Check again your sharing settings in lan properties, if that wont help simply reinstall the whole network thingy - it looks like some minor misconfiguration.

Thanks for your help.

Do you know how I can get rid of the NWLINK IPX/SPX if they aren't supposed to be there in the NWLINK IPX/SPX/NetBIOUS Compatable Transport Protocol line?

So you think I should just try NetBIOUS on each computer?

Also, when I go to LAN properties on my server it doesnt' let me change (click on component, install, uninstall, or view properties) any of the settings. Any ideas?


John

Windows use NWLink - an IPX/SPX-compatible protocol - suite of protocols designed by Microsoft for use with Microsoft networking products. IPX/SPX is required to connect to any NetWare server prior to NetWare 5 and can be used with NetWare 5. So yes I still stand that you can remove them safely and work with netbios.

>>when I go to LAN properties on my server it doesnt' let me change
From what I see, I'd guess your nic is not configured properly, make sure you got right drivers.

Before you start donig anything you haven't done before, I suggest you check out this site - it is written in plain english and I find it to be extremely usefull

NWlink isnt actaully installed there, it is just an option. And actaully even if you had a 4.11 box you wouldnt need ipx/spx. Also, don't bother with netbeui it is legacy used only to support legacy clients and domain controllers. Use straight TCP/IP, as your only protocol. It sounds as though you have netbeui already installed, just unbind it and uninstall it.
Now as to why is your mapped network drive acting flaky. When the mapped connection drops, can you still access it by manually typing the UNC path into your browser? If you cant, check your logs in event viewer for anything odd especially in the System log. Well send more info and we will try to help, good luck ..
Pulse