Windows Update on Networked Computer

alanrowell

I have two computers connected via a crossover cable and the client machine can access all websites EXCEPT microsoft ones such as Windows Update, Hotmail, MSN.COM & microsoft.com.

I've checked the Microsoft knowledge base and it hasn't come up with anything, reinstalled everything until the cows came home and still no linkage.

I use wanadoo as my ISP so it's not flaky AOL

I came across a note to the effect that it might be a MTU problem on the client's network card.

Any ideas?

mattrgee

Could be a virus. A lot of virus's stop you from connecting to web pages that may threaten it i.e. windows update, anti virus update pages etc....

Try visting the home pages of norton antivirus, avg, stinger etc... If you can't get to these either its most likely a virus or trojan etc.

alanrowell

Not a virus, not spyware.

bbb_uk

Can you just connect one directly to the 'net without using cross-over cables and see if you can update just that one computer connected directly to the 'net to see if its a cross-over home network issue?

I don't have such a network so I couldn't say if it a (known) problem.

mattrgee

Try running the latest build of Stinger just in case there's any nasty's lurking on your system.

Do you have a firewall installed? Check its settings, make sure its not blocking anything it shouldn't be.

drlight_2

You can skip Microsft's update site and download autopatcher, and run it to install microsoft patches across your network, reboot then try to acess microsoft.

Al

alanrowell

Just to add, removed everything - firewall, anti-virus, spyware browsers and anything else that I thought could affect the linkage on both computers, rebooted and recreated the links and the client computer still could access most of the internet except for ALL of the microsoft websites.

The only "new" thing I've noticed is that although I can look at the client hard drives from the host computer, I can't do it the other way.

Anyway I'll try the autopatcher and see what happens.

mattrgee

Very ood.

As far as the hard drive browsing is concerned, make sure you have the same user name and password on both machines.

alanrowell

Gave up in the end & connected client directly to the internet where it worked perfectly & took 10 minutes to download all the ruddy Windows updates.

I hate networks, they should be renamed notworks