Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Prgram blocks network printer and nas

Mar 7, 2016 9:55AM PST

Hi
I am having difficulty with my pc. I have expereinced constant problems with my HP printer. The printer is conected wireless to the router. Now that I have installed the new WP MyCloud to my router. The software does not find the harddrive in my network.

I also have a MacBook in my system that does not have these problems. I can print and I successfully installed the hardware.

When I ping the IP address of the printer on my PC, it would answer that it cannot reach it. However, when I ping my router, it found find it.

Reading on the internet brought me to the suggested solution that there might be program installed that blocks my computer from accessing / communicating with these network hardware.

I have obviously tried turning off the windows firewall. However, that did not give me any solution.

Does anyone have a good way to approach this?

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Answer
Sorry no.
Mar 7, 2016 9:59AM PST

The fact the Apple works throws a wrench into the one idea I have. But I'll write it anyway, just in case.

You noted the firewall in the PC but what about the firewall in the router. Did you turn that off for a test run?

As to the program installed that blocks, only you know what's installed besides windows own.

- Collapse -
Thanks but thats not it
Mar 7, 2016 10:07AM PST

Thank you for your quick response.

I have not installed any software intentionally that would call itseld firewall or antivirus that immediately would come to mind, apart from that windows firewall.

The wired thing is that at times, it works and I can print. I just always blamed the printer for it. Now that I test the ip address 192.168.1.67 of the printer. I can see that in fact it is my pc that blocks it. I want to install a nas in order to share files and documents between the computers in the system.

- Collapse -
I found it
Mar 7, 2016 10:23AM PST

Sorry for this, but maybe it might help someone else then.

The software that blocks my network access, is the VPN software ShrewSoft.

Thanks for the help.

- Collapse -
Thanks. And that makes sense to me.
Mar 7, 2016 10:28AM PST

VPN should do that when you are VPN'd to another network. This is by design and not a flaw.

There are long hot discussions that folk have had on this but when you VPN the concept is this. You just plugged your PC into that other network. Since your printer is not on that network, you can't get to the printer.

Hope this helps explain it.

- Collapse -
Did you try changing from public to private network?
Mar 7, 2016 10:23AM PST