Computers inexplicably disconnect from 2003 data server.

[dataDude]

I have a Windows 2003 data server to which I also login all my computers. For a while I have no problem accessing the shared folder I have set up on the server. Sometime later I'll try to access the server with any other computer I use and come to find out that I no longer have access to that share. I'm not sure how to check for any other time-dependent settings other than under the sharing properties of the drive (nothing suspicious there). At first I just had the problem where I couldn't delete any files from the server's drive and then found out that I had forgotten about a permission; things worked fine for a while after that, but now I just have to wait long enough before the server cuts the privileges out again. The only other way I've found to restore access has been to reboot each computer that's not the server. Can anyone shed light on the matter? Thanks.

BTW: sometimes I can't access the network share even from the server on which it's shared!

The client PC's here are 2 windows xp's with similar settings (both have more than enough "guts" to support really anything I've ever thrown at them i.e. Unreal, UT GOTY, Doom3, etc.) and 1 Windows 2000 machine with power of its own. They're all connected to the network via Netgear router.

[faulkner132]

What do you mean by "the server cuts the privileges out again"? It actually removes the permissions you previously applied and you have to go back and add them again because they are now missing?

What roles is the 2003 machine serving?
DHCP? (or is the Netgear acting as the DHCP server)
Domain Controller? if so are the PC's logging into the domain?

Is it possible the DHCP lease has expired?

[dataDude]

It's not so much that the privileges "cut out", but when the server refuses to provide its resources, I get a dialog box saying "[ server ] is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions. Access is denied." Then I just reboot that computer and suddenly everything works ok again for the time being, before eventually refusing.

The 2003 machine, the domain controller, is currently only serving as a DNS server, the router is the DHCP server. The PC's all seem to login just fine (although sometimes it takes seemingly an unreasonable amount of time for this computer to finish applying the personal settings).

All the PC's are set up with static IP's.

[faulkner132]

Then I just reboot that computer and suddenly everything works ok again for the time being, before eventually refusing.
This is highly suspect. Everything else seems like it is fine. Just for kicks, triple check:
1. You have both Share and NTFS permissions set on your shares... unlike 2000 Server, 2003 does not have NTFS permissions preset to the Everyone group.
2. You are logging into the domain of the DC on the clients as opposed to the default domain of "This Computer".

[dataDude]

Y'know what, I did realize shortly after posting that last reply that I hadn't gotten one of my computers ready to be put onto the domain, so that nails that one. And to correct the part of the Windows 2000 deal, that computer seems to working ok with the server at the moment, but the PC I'm on right now is the one I have most of the issues with. I'm pretty sure I took the "Everyone" group off of the permissions for the drive, for security reasons. Like I said, before when I had this problem, it was because I had everything on the Read Only permissions for all registered users and I changed them to Modify. Right now that doesn't seem to matter.

[faulkner132]

I'm pretty sure I took the "Everyone" group off of the permissions for the drive, for security reasons. Like I said, before when I had this problem, it was because I had everything on the Read Only permissions for all registered users and I changed them to Modify. Right now that doesn't seem to matter.
Not having the "Everyone" group is fine. Since it is a 2003 machine, you have to set share permission and NTFS permissions. When you set one, it does not set the other. Also, are you able, on your problem machine, to do the following: create a text file in a share on the server, open the file, modify the file, save it, rename it, and finally delete it? This is usually the first thing I do to troubleshoot permissions.

[dataDude]

When I have started/rebooted the computer, then I'm able to do all that stuff. When the time comes when the access is denied, I'm not even able to look within the server at its shares. The NTFS and share permissions all look ok. Funny, I just tried to change a couple of permissions (to not allow modify for a couple of client users) and suddenly I got the Access is denied message for changing permissions on the server itself! I'm lost on that one. I looked at the System permissions and I have full control with it. I also looked at the user permissions for the server Administrator and I see Full Control for that one (except for special permissions). I'm even more baffled now.

[faulkner132]

Are you logging in as a Domain User on the problem machine? If so, try logging in as the Domain Administrator and see if the problem persists.

[dataDude]

I have the user as a member of Admins, Domain Admins, Domain Users, and Domain computers. On the local machine I have it as an Administrator.

[faulkner132]

Sounds like you have everything set up correctly. If you are getting the same errors from all 3 of your client machines, I would think there is something wrong with the server install. How long ago did you set it up? Was it ever working properly? if so, what did you install/remove prior to the problem?

[dataDude]

As I had corrected myself on earlier, it was actually mostly just this computer that I was having issues with. Also, last night I found out that I hadn't given this computer a static IP, which I totally thought I had. I put a static IP there, and so far it's working ok. However, now I'm faced with another puzzle. Has it ever happened to you where you're looking at, say, Internet Explorer, then you go down to the taskbar to look at windows explorer (on Windows XP with similar programs grouped) and suddenly another window you didn't click on comes into focus? I've been getting that off and on. This is usually an indicator to me that something's wrong with the OS and that I should probably reload it or something. If you or anyone else knows what could be causing that issue (maybe a weird registry setting?), please let me know.

[faulkner132]

Has it ever happened to you where you're looking at, say, Internet Explorer, then you go down to the taskbar to look at windows explorer (on Windows XP with similar programs grouped) and suddenly another window you didn't click on comes into focus?
Yes, I have that happen and I've had cases where I am typing and my mouse cursor will move across the screen. I kept my XP install pretty clean, but not paranoid level, so I am pretty sure there wasn't anything bad running. I can't explain it... part of the reason I don't use Windows at home anymore unless I have to.

[dataDude]

I think I know what you mean with the mouse cursor. That's happened to me in the past too, although it hasn't happened to me in a long while (years). There will be times, though, when the mouse will shake a little (in a range of 2 or 3 pixels) no matter what kind of mouse is in use (ball or optical). I take it you use Linux? Whatever OS you use, I'm guessing you don't get those problems?

[faulkner132]

Well, the mouse will sometimes move across the screen (not pixels) and while I'm not even touching it. Happens at work sometimes too... I keep the XP machine clean, so I can't really explain it.

I use Linux (with a boot option to XP if I ever need it) at home and we use exclusively Windows at work. Haven't had the problem (if you want to call it that) in while on XP and never had the problem with Linux.