A sort of mess

Hi all,

Can somebody out there possibly help me with this mess? Here is the problem:

My desktop computer has Norton Internet Security Suite 2008 installed on it. As a function of the suite, it monitors all computers currently in my network, and it displays a graphical picture of all the computers. To control my network, I use Network Magic software. All works well, however, each time I allow access to a temporary wireless computer, the Norton suite adds the computer to the picture (graph), and I can never remove it.

As an example, one laptop computer on my network recently failed, so I replaced it with another. Last weekend, I helped a friend set-up a new laptop computer, and to test it out, I allowed it to access my network. Now I have two computers shown on the Norton graph which simply no longer exist.

I have contacted Norton technical support (worthless), and they absolutely swear that their suite does not record (or store) any records of computers attached to a network. They further claim that the information indicating the two laptops must be being transmitted by my router. The kicker is that Network Magic only shows the two correct computers as being in my network.

I have searched through the D-Link (my router) website for a possible solution, but I have not found an answer. I also tried calling them, but until I learn to speak Hindu, GOOD LUCK!

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

George

Windows XP SP2
D-Link DIR-655 router
Norton Internet Security Suite 2008

All updates are current.

 

Hi Major,

I know all too well that Norton totally sucks, but in this specific case, I do not believe that Norton is the issue. To prove the point, I went ahead and disconnected (temporarily) my router. After again viewing the Norton screen, it said that it could NOT interrogate my network. Now, as I see it, if Norton HAD stored the information somewhere, it would have posted the same stupid information that it always shows me. Then again, YOU are the Major Geek!! I could be wrong.

George

 

Haven't GUI network management tools become popular? And of course there's one built right into Vista.

I stopped recommending Norton last year so haven't come across this one but hazard a guess that it is picking up information still stored in your DNS cache. In other words the 'culprit' is Windows.

I don't know if the Norton was supplied by your ISP but you could try their helpline if flushing the caches doesn't do it.

 

Hi again,

The information offered is greatly appreciated, but it did not work. I am burned out trying to fix this stupid problem. I have done everything I know how to do, but nothing changes. What bothers me about this the most is that there seems to be no manner of seeking out where the problem is actually coming from. Everybody (Norton, D-Link, Network Magic) blames everybody else.

Oh well, just another of life’s little mysteries. :cry

Thanks again,

George

 

Does this only happen to wireless connections?
And are you using Windows or a third party program to control these connections?
Is the Dlink using MAC filtering?

 

Hello,

Thanks for trying to help. Listed below are the answers to your questions:


I have only tried wireless connections at this point, so I cannot answer your first question.

I am using Network Magic software to control the connections. I went as far as uninstalling the software, but nothing changed.

I currently have the D-Link set up to use MAC filtering, but I have also turned off MAC filtering, rebooted the D-Link, and have used the “restore to original condition” setting. Nothing changed.

I have also used regedit to search for all instances of “Arlene-Laptop” in the registry. I thought that if I could find the name somewhere, it would be a clue. It was not there. I tried the same thing using Windows “search”. Nothing again.


I really appreciate your help,

George