Can't Connect to HP Home Server

Hello there. I have been trying to connect to the HP home server that my brother set up. It was working just a couple days ago, and I don't know what settings I need to change for it to appear again. This is obviously on a private network, and we are all connected to the same router. My brothers can get into it, and it also shows up on the family computer and can be accessed. The server shows up under Media Devices and Other Devices, but not as a Computer drive like it used to be. I tried typing the address in like I had to before, and it keeps shooting an error at me, "Windows cannot access (server)". I tried to diagnose it, but it can't find any solutions.

I don't know if it's an issue with my firewall or my Webroot Internet Security problem. I am running Windows 7 64bit Home Premium. Any help would be most appreciative?

 

So... anyone got a solution? lol

 

Sorry. I have no clue how the home server is set up. What changed from when it was working to now? Did you change any settings on your computer, install any new programs, anything like that? Did your brothers change anything on the server?

 

I honestly do not know what exactly I changed. I mean, I took the firewall off and nothing happened. Under System Restore, I have this critical update from Windows that put into place updates of Microsoft Office, but that was it. Like I said, it can be found under Media and Other Devices, but not under Computer so I can actually explore its folders, so the problem is pinpointed to that.

Is there any software I need to install to connect to this HP MediaSmart server? I do not believe I need to, as the family computer can access it just fine.

 

Go to http://yourhomerservername:55000/ with another computer and download the Windows Home Server Connector Setup on a usb stick.

If reinstalling the connector does not work, there is also Windows Home Server Toolkit that should help with connection issues.

Can you ping the server in the command prompt?

 

What happened to the shortcut that you normally get on your desktop? - apparently network identification isn't perfect on the home server with newer OSes.

The shortcut you should have on your desktop would also work when the server is not detected on the network by the OS.

 

Well, everyone in my house is using Windows 7. I don't see a shortcut on the desktop, and typing \\(servername) on the explorer bar doesn't work like it used to (it never really showed up on Network, but I could access it that way regardless).

I tried downloading WHSConnector.exe and no dice. It can't find the home server, even if it shows up under Media Devices and Other Devices under Network.

I uninstalled Webroot and installed Kaspersky PURE as I bought a copy, turned off the firewall, and still that issue.

 

When I installed the Home Server Connector on my laptop I got a shortcut on my desktop... same for my mother's laptop...

Can you access it from another computer? Maybe you should restore yours to an earlier backup from the server? Apparently something must be wrong...

 

I already said in my first post that the other computers can access this server. I checked the System Restore and the only thing installed the day before it screwed up (since it did so overnight) was a Microsoft Office update.

 

I meant the server backup of your computer.

 

Server backup of my computer? It's my brother's server. I don't have any control over it aside from accessing it, which the other computers in the house have been able to do. I did not set up backup for my computer although my brother did on his own.

I apologize if I am being inept, but a lot of this is over my head unfortunately. I am no good with networking aside from using Google to find answers.

 

Well if you don't have access to it ask him if he does full computer backups.

On that note - could it be that he has withdrawn your access?

There is nothing special that you need to know about networking with regards to the Home Server.
I assume you have tried to restart your computer?

 

I have restarted my computer multiple times for different reasons and that didn't fix things.

My brother said he has done nothing to me by restricting my access. I believe him because if he wanted to restrict someone it'd be my other brother who watches movies all the time on the server and tends to slow things down. lol

 

Strange...

I'm pretty sure the Home Server didn't display every time on my laptop either - but I have the shortcut - and it always returned.

Have you tried restarting the server? (ask your brother) and restarting the router?

It's the only thing that I can think off...

Else... you've not switched to a public network or something like that?
Look at the settings in the network and sharing centre.

 

I compared all of it to the family computer that can access the server and it matched up completely. I just changed the name of my computer, uninstalling a few programs, and see what my brother says when he gets home from work. I'll let you guys know how it goes. Thanks a lot for the help so far!

By the way, I am on a private network, and I restarted the server and router this morning with no dice. I'll go back and check the logs just in case.

 

Hmm... strange... that shouldn't happen...

Private network is OK what else to use at home?

By the way... I just checked... mine doesn't show up either (Vista) - the shortcut on my desktop works perfectly though...

Maybe you should try the toolkit?
Download details: Windows Home Server Toolkit v1.1 (32-Bit)

On that note... I think I found the issue....
"Windows Home Server Beacon discovery failed"

The MS solution (temporary HTML file):

 

I can't run the toolkit as I do not have the password. I do not think it has to be that drastic, really. I think it might be because my computer name was the same as the family computer's (which I sold to them before I bought this laptop), so I am going to check on that and report back to you. Thanks!

 

Does anyone have Kaspersky or Kaspersky Pure and know how to allow something like this through the Firewall? My brother couldn't figure out the problem.

 

Hm...

On that note, my HP HomeServer just reappeared this morning.

You need to go into settings - I used to use KIS - and you can allow ports through it "in there somewhere" - that's about as far back as I remember.

 

Unfortunately, that doesn't help me a whole lot. lol

 

Have you tried googling?
KIS open ports in firewall - Google Search

On that note... my mother is on KIS 2009 I think and has no issues - so that shouldn't be the problem.

 

Is there a way to completely return to default all network and firewall settings? I'm becoming highly frustrated with this.

EDIT: No dice. I tried it and it didn't work. I think I will have to reformat my computer in order to solve any issues.

 

I'm not sure that's your best option.

Try reinstalling HomeServer Connector again - that should put a shortcut onto your desktop - and then you'd be fine,

 

I tried reinstalling it and it can't find the server. I tried doing it manually (again, after having done this a few times before) and it still didn't work.

That's the problem I'm dealing with. What a pathetic state of affairs!

 

Have you tried deleting your network and adding it again?

It might not work though...

This does seem awfully strange... are you on wi-fi or ethernet?

 

I am on Wifi. I tried uninstalling ICP and reinstalling and no good!

 

ICP??

Actually... you know what you should do?

Try reinstalling the Home Server Connector over Ethernet - if that works then you are sorted (because you get the shortcut)

And if the Home Server can't be found on ethernet by the software something is rather wrong... or let your brother run the toolkit.

 

Well, I reformatted my computer, and it turns out that it was the antivirus because I had the problem again after reinstalling Kaspersky Pure. Must've been some hidden setting or something because everything I tried didn't work.

Anyway, not a big deal, considering I already sold this computer. Thanks a lot for your help though, Detlev!

 

Interesting to hear - I've got Kaspersky running on my mother's computer and as far as I am aware all works well.

It might be that you had some "paranoid" setting turned on - I know KIS caused issues with the "ZDF Mediathek" - no live viewing - and I sorted that out recently by adding it as a safe address.