Thanks for getting back. And, you are very clear and concise which is helpful and, obviously, knowledgeable about these things. Here are some thoughts. I feel a bit funny offering them since things seemed to work for quite a while with no issues.
I agree with your assessment about if everything can access SQL and AC chart that permissions are fine. I just try to never say never, so making it Everyone and Everyone for share and permissions just takes that out of the equation. Making sure all firewalls are off on the clients and main computer is helpful too. Can always turn back on.
I think the biggest thing you have going for you is that you are betting on a network issue and not blaming it on AC or whatever. A lot of people would.
I understand your not wanting to upgrade the Win 7 Homes. As long as the main computer is Pro, then you should be and are fine.
While we are on the subject (and again it has been working in the past), but why do you share the wireless network with someone else. I think wireless is bad enough without sharing and causing more bandwidth plus other issues. My recommendation would be to let him use the wireless and set up an entirely different network, hopefully wired, but even if wireless, it would seem more secure if you weren?t using the same network. I am sure you aren?t on the same subnet and it is separate, but still.
It is actually more difficult to troubleshoot peer to peer than a client/server domain setup. As you said, likely a subtle issue, but as my networking guru friend always says, DNS, DNS, DNS. I am sure you are doing this as you stated you are doing one step at a time, but I would just be sure you are doing this one step at a time. Just one computer, make sure it is using the same subnet, same gateway, etc. I know that all these things would affect connectivity in general, but just to be sure. I am not sure if this would make a difference but please check the AmazingCharts.xml file in the folder of the database and make sure it is fine.
Why do I recommend not using that computer? For many reasons. Ironically, I was just working with Dell on my server doing some firmware updates, and the last time it had been rebooted was 283 days ago for some reason. Updates or something. Not only is it going to be more powerful in every way, it just does one basic thing. It is the database server for AC. I never touch it. If you are using the Win 7 Pro, you are using the processor, you are risking viruses on the main computer, it will ultimately freeze for god knows what. It will ask you to update Adobe and Flash and Java and every other little thing. And, who knows, it may even have McAfee or Symantec as an A/V which can cause issues. Even MSE can see AC as malware. I would temporarily disconnect it.
Microsoft just put out a very large SQL Server 2005 SP2. I have purposely stayed away from it. I don?t know if it affects Express or not. But, if it does, and it was installed, who know?
Again, I would start from main computer back. I would purchase a $25 Netgear unmanaged switch and connect a patch cable from one computer to the switch to the main computer. Eliminate ALL of the other networking parts. If that works, work backwards.
One trick I did on my network, which is a little different is the following: (And, I know I will get yelled at on here, since my switch costs more than three Cisco routers so I could have used a VLAN). But, I wanted one network for my LAN and one network for wireless guest access. I took the input from the modem and connected it to a small switch, and then ran a cable to one Cisco router and then another to a separate Cisco router, therefore assuring completely separate networks. Ran both routers to switches and used them. While you certainly can use your routers as a switch, I just prefer to use the router as a router/firewall and then have a separate switch. This again, keeps things simple as the switch would not be used as your DHCP server.
In the end, it will be something simple. Always is. I also always suggest using Experts Exchange,
www.experts-exchange.com. You will get comment after comment from worldwide experts who will respond to your troubleshooting steps. I didn?t even take much of a look at your Actiontek, but not only will Sandeep know it, but most of the experts who comment will know everything.
I think you are close. If you don?t figure it out, my suggestion is to PM or email Sandeep and have him remote in and fix it. That?s pretty much a given.
Good luck. Keep us posted. Networking issues can be frustrating. Make sure no IPs are the same. And, while DHCP is generally the way to go, as you won?t tend to get error sin settings, there is no reason you can?t do static.
Please do an ipconfig /all on EVERY computer (I guess there are only two, lol), and on the main computer, and copy to text files or directly to your post. This will be very helpful to those smarter than I on here.
Bert
