Several residence halls have experienced severe network problems in recent weeks. An incorrect setting in a single XP laptop can bring down the network wired and wireless for an entire building. This is a known problem with the Microsoft operating system.

The problem is caused when a wireless equipped XP laptop (or desktop with both wired ethernet and wireless network card) is also plugged into the wired network *and* the computer has "network bridging" enabled. Network bridging is sometimes useful in home networks. However, Windows XP network bridging must be turned off while on campus.

To check your settings: right-click an active Ethernet connection (in the Control Panel or your system tray) and verify that "Bridge Connections" is not selected.

Network bridging links the two network connections, setting up a feedback loop on the network. Bridging can be set up inadvertently, such as during a software restore, during the installation of network software (such as AOL), or when the Networking Wizard is run. To prevent the networking wizard from automatically setting up bridging, see this Microsoft Knowledge Base article.

If a bridged computer causes a residence hall network to go down over the weekend, the wireless network may be disabled until staff return on Monday.

To report a problem with your building network, blitz network.trouble (or, if your network is not working, ask a friend in another area on campus to do so)

The Help Desk can also assist in checking over your laptop. The Help Desk is located on Level One of Berry Library. Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m, and Sunday evening. Telephone: 646-2999 (press 1).

How to check on the status of network bridging:

You can always fix a bridged machine by removing the Ethernet cable.

Via the system tray: Hover your cursor over an icon to read its pop-up label. When you locate one that indicates a network connection is enabled, right click on it. If "Network Bridging" appears with a check mark, click on that menu item to disable network bridging.

Via the Control Panel: You can find your way to the Network Connections Control Panel in a number of ways -- through the Start Menu --> Control Panel, for example. Right click on one of the "Enabled" network connections and, if bridging shows as enabled, click on the menu item to turn it off.

Other schools and institutions have noted this problem - here are links to information from UPENN and University of California, Irvine.