The following describes how to troubleshoot some common network communication problems you may experience when you use TCP/IP as your network protocol. These problems usually fall into one of the following two categories:

• You are unable to connect to a specific IP address.
• You are unable to connect to a specific host or NetBIOS name.

NOTE: All of the troubleshooting steps described will work on the NT and 2000 platforms, but may not work on the Win9x (except Win ME) platforms. However, the basic diagnostic and troubleshooting methods are the same for all of these Windows operating systems.

Before taking any action, consult Troubleshoot TCP/IP Methodology.

The Repair feature for network connections is a useful tool for troubleshooting network connectivity problems. Knowing how this tool works helps you narrow the focus of your troubleshooting efforts by eliminating possible causes such as incorrect or missing DHCP configuration settings, invalid entries in the ARP, NetBIOS or DNS resolver cache, or invalid or stale entries in the WINS or DNS database.
If you're having problems with network connectivity and you've verified that your network connection is in a media-connected state (i.e. no loose cable or powered-down hub or switch) then the Repair feature should be one of the first things you should try to resolve the issue and restore connectivity.