Problem with Network Places

Hi Folks,
On my XP Pro laptop I often get the following problem:
I click My Network Places, a window opens and displays the expected shares
from my desktop (XP Home).

I double-click to open one but if the network is not operating correctly for
some reason nothing happens and this window is frozen. There appears to be
no time-out function.

If I try and close this window using Task Manager, Windows Explorer is shut
down with the usual messages and error report BUT Network Places remains in
Task Manager applications list! This can be done over and over. The desktop
icons and taskbar and Start button all disappear. Applications open in
visible windows continue to work but nothing else is accessible. The only
option is a power-off, it seems.

How do I avoid or workround this stupidly incompetent piece of programming?
(or am I being stupid and incompetent?!)

Derek

"Derek Harvey" <newsbox1@dvharvey.me.uk> wrote in message
news:eEEhWnQwIHA.3860@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Hi Folks,
> On my XP Pro laptop I often get the following problem:
> I click My Network Places, a window opens and displays the expected shares
> from my desktop (XP Home).
>
> I double-click to open one but if the network is not operating correctly for
> some reason nothing happens and this window is frozen. There appears to be no
> time-out function.
>
> If I try and close this window using Task Manager, Windows Explorer is shut
> down with the usual messages and error report BUT Network Places remains in
> Task Manager applications list! This can be done over and over. The desktop
> icons and taskbar and Start button all disappear. Applications open in visible
> windows continue to work but nothing else is accessible. The only option is a
> power-off, it seems.
>
> How do I avoid or workround this stupidly incompetent piece of programming?
> (or am I being stupid and incompetent?!)
>
> Derek
>


Next time this happens and you've shut down Windows Explorer, you might want to
try launching it again by clicking on the File menu in Task Manager and
selecting New Task (Run...) from the menu. In the Run box, enter explorer.exe
and hit the OK button. This may restore the Start button and Taskbar.

As for your networking problem, you might want to post your question to this
newsgroup.

microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web

Provide as much detail as possible including how your computers are connected,
router make and model, and any firewall programs that may be active.

Good luck

Nepatsfan

Many thanks, Nepatsfan, for that hint about perhaps gettng back to a working
state.

I don't really have a network problem except perhaps in not understanding
why some shares from XP Home don't seem to work; perhaps it's a XP Home
thing.

Derek

"Nepatsfan" <nepatsfan@SBXXXIX.com> wrote in message
news:edtiV1QwIHA.4848@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> "Derek Harvey" <newsbox1@dvharvey.me.uk> wrote in message
> news:eEEhWnQwIHA.3860@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> Hi Folks,
>> On my XP Pro laptop I often get the following problem:
>> I click My Network Places, a window opens and displays the expected
>> shares from my desktop (XP Home).
>>
>> I double-click to open one but if the network is not operating correctly
>> for some reason nothing happens and this window is frozen. There appears
>> to be no time-out function.
>>
>> If I try and close this window using Task Manager, Windows Explorer is
>> shut down with the usual messages and error report BUT Network Places
>> remains in Task Manager applications list! This can be done over and
>> over. The desktop icons and taskbar and Start button all disappear.
>> Applications open in visible windows continue to work but nothing else is
>> accessible. The only option is a power-off, it seems.
>>
>> How do I avoid or workround this stupidly incompetent piece of
>> programming? (or am I being stupid and incompetent?!)
>>
>> Derek
>>
>
>
> Next time this happens and you've shut down Windows Explorer, you might
> want to try launching it again by clicking on the File menu in Task
> Manager and selecting New Task (Run...) from the menu. In the Run box,
> enter explorer.exe and hit the OK button. This may restore the Start
> button and Taskbar.
>
> As for your networking problem, you might want to post your question to
> this newsgroup.
>
> microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web
>
> Provide as much detail as possible including how your computers are
> connected, router make and model, and any firewall programs that may be
> active.
>
> Good luck
>
> Nepatsfan
>
>
>