We have Windows 7 PCs, running Avast EPPSP. Randomly some computers have recently started dropping off the network. We lose all network mapped drives, and we can’t even PING the server address. Other PCs can PING and see the drives as normal so we know the server is working ok.
At first we rebooted the server, which cured the problem. Then we started rebooting the affected PCs, which also cured the problem. But lately I have found that merely turning off the Avast firewall is enough to suddenly bring all mapped drived back up, and allow PINGs, etc. At first we just turned it off for 10mins, but shortly after it comes back on the problem presents itself again. We now have turned off the firewall permanently.
Any ideas what could be causing this?