Linux based devices randomly can't connect to Windows shared files

[Espada04]

I have a media server set up running Windows 7 and most of the time it works and everything can stream off it. Recently, I've noticed at random times non Windows devices would have trouble re-establishing a connection to the server and would refuse to connect with a server time out error.

The problem only happens to non Windows devices like my Boxee Box or MacBook Pro. I can connect to it from any other windows machine without any issues.

Any suggestion on how to fix this issue besides restarting the computer whenever this issue arises?

[+BudMan MVC]

And are you actually hitting a stream, or just accessing a file share?

How are you accessing these files? via smb:\\ or cifs:\\ ? Or an actual stream? What is serving up the stream?

I have a popcorn hour that accessing a windows share, and if you try and browse to the share and you have issues with the master browser there are issues. if you access via smb:\\ not an issue.

Really need some details if you want actual helpful advice to your issue.

[+John Teacake MVC]

First of all I would update Linux as far as you can, All the packages. I would even go as far as compiling the latest Kernel. It sometimes fixes VERY specific bugs. I would also check your hardware. I am going to have a guess its something to do with the network card. When it drops does a ping still work from an other device? But we do need more information.

[Espada04]

I'm just accessing the files via SMB to open the files.

My media server is running Windows 7 Professional with network share enabled. I can access it from any other Windows based device by either IP address and the computer name.

But with non-Windows device, such as my MacBook Pro, Boxee Box or even my Android phone running XBMC it would randomly lose connection and simply give me a unable to connect error. The problem is resolved if I reboot the server. But I can't figure out what would be causing that problem. I don't think the problem is with the devices trying to access the server.

It could be the network card, but would there be a reason why it only affects Non Windows device.

[ColeBee]

I'm not entirely sure how updated Samba is for those devices, but a major problem I've usually always had with a Linux box connecting to a Windows share when the Windows machine had Windows Live Sign-In Assistant installed. Supposedly it's been fixed in the newer releases of Samba. But I'm pretty sure the Boxee Box has it's own rolling releases or something similar, and just might have not released a Samba update in a while.

A quick fix is just to uninstall the Sign-In Assistant, I think it gets installed through Windows Update automatically at some point. So if you don't remember installing it, it doesn't mean it's not there.

[Espada04]

I never installed any Windows Live services on the server. And if it does get it through Windows Update, I can't locate it in the programs and features page. :/

Would it be located somewhere else on the system?