I have three systems on my network.  One system acts as a server and holds all media and shared family files (ie. calendar and address book).  Both are running Vista Premium.

Every day or so, the server machine stops sharing its files.  I can still do a remote login (hack), but I can't access any of the files.  A reboot gets it sharing again.

Any help would be appreciated.

Mike

Hi

A little bit confused because you say you have 3 systems but then say both are running Vista Premium.  Also your text is a little confusing because if you can remote logon you should be able to see all your files there - just that they aren't remotely accessible via a file system operation?

If I assume you are using Windows shares then these will be created via the local server service.  You could run up services.msc via a remote logon when you have issues and see if it (and the workstation service to be sure) are started.  A good way to check is to sort all the services by Startup Type and note down all the ones that should be set to start automatically but that are not started (indicating a potential problem - some services only start up when you need them but on a workstation OS is this less common.)

Another thing to do is have a look in the windows event log (eventvwr.msc from Start->Run) - see if you have a bunch of red errors in the system (and maybe application) that might give a clue that you can run through your favourite search engine.

Of course, you haven't updated your AV / Spyware client have you?!?  For example, see http://www.experts-exchange.com/OS/Microsoft_Operating_Systems/Windows/Windows_Vista/Q_23631054.html

Hope this helps a bit

Cheers
Drew

Sorry for the confusion

All three systems are running Vista Home Premium.

Yes, I can see the files in the remote desktop window, but that is not due to the system sharing them.  The problem is when I try to access the files on the 'server' from the desktop of another machine.

I haven't done any updating of AV or spyware other than the automatic updates by Symantec.

I'll try your suggestion next time it fails.

Thanks,

Mike

No worries - by the way just in case you can't see that expert-exchange (you can always see these by htting the view cache option in google) this was the solution to a similar issue you seem to have:

Turned out it was the Proactive Threat Protection part of Synantec Environment Protection. After uninstalling that, things seem to be "back to normal."

Cheers

D