FLINT HILLS TECHNICAL COLLEGE
Network Troubleshooting Flowchart

START
Windows Workstation Unable to Access a Network Service
Gather Clues
A. Ask Questions.
 i. What were you doing when the problem occurred?
ii. Have there been any recent changes to the network?
B. Have the customer recreate the problem while you watch.
While watching, check for obvious user errors (ID10T errors), such as Caps-Lock being on.
Do other workstations on the LAN have the same problem?
Yes  or  No
        ↓
Restart the affected workstation. Problem solved?
Yes  or  No
        ↓
Is the Link-Light on the NIC lit?
Yes  or  No
↓        
Execute: ipconfig /all
What type of IP address?
No IP address  or  Valid Static or DHCP  or  DHCP starting with 169.254 (APIPA)
                        ↓
Possible Solutions
A. Incorrect, outdated, or misconfigured NIC driver. Verify NIC driver in Device Manager, and don’t forget to check the NIC’s settings, such as connection speed.
B. Malware infection. Scan system for malware infection using anti-malware software such as MalwareBytes.
C. Faulty cable. Test with cable tester or swap cables. Sometimes link-lights lie. Make sure cable is not too long.
D. If Wireless, lost connection to access point. Make sure workstation is close enough to access point. Check for interference. Make sure wireless NIC is configured with correct SSID & passphrase.
E. Faulty NIC. Try a different NIC in the workstation.
F. Reset Windows TCP/IP stack using
netsh int ip reset command. Reboot after executing command and reconfigure the NIC’s IP settings.
Problem Solved?
Document Your Solution
FINISHED

Click here for a graphical version of this flowchart.