What you’re seeing
- Ping returns 'Request timed out' while you are connected to the same machine over Remote Desktop.
- Monitoring or inventory scripts list the computer as offline even though someone is working on it.
- The machine answers ping from some parts of the network but not from others.
- The address returned for the PC's name doesn't match the IP address it is actually using.
Common causes
Every environment is different, but these are the causes our engineers find most often:
- Windows Firewall blocks inbound ping requests by default, especially when the network is identified as Public.
- Third-party endpoint protection includes its own firewall that drops ping while allowing Remote Desktop.
- Stale DNS records point the computer's name to an old IP address, so ping goes to the wrong place or nowhere.
- The PC is connected over VPN or sits on a different VLAN, and a router or firewall in between filters ping traffic.
- The name resolves to an IPv6 address on one machine and IPv4 on another, so tests reach different addresses.
Why it matters
On its own, an unanswered ping is harmless, but many scripts and tools use it as a gatekeeper. Machines that are wrongly marked as offline get skipped for patches, software deployments and inventory, so they quietly fall behind on security updates. Monitoring dashboards fill with false alarms, which trains staff to ignore real ones. If stale DNS is involved, connections intended for one PC may land on another, which can also confuse remote support and file access.
How AskTechGurus fixes it
Skip the trial and error. A certified engineer works on your actual system, finds the root cause, and fixes it properly.
Tell us what’s happening
Submit a ticket in about two minutes. Paste the error, describe what changed, and pick your tier. No charge to submit.
A certified engineer diagnoses it
A vetted, US-based systems engineer claims your ticket, usually within minutes during business hours, and investigates over a secure remote session you can watch and end at any time.
Fixed and verified with you
The engineer resolves the root cause and confirms with you that it’s working. You don’t just get a workaround, and you get a plain-English summary of what was wrong.
Pay only when it’s resolved
Fixed price from $99, invoiced only after you approve the fix. If it isn’t resolved, you don’t pay.
Frequently asked questions
Is it a security risk to let our computers answer ping?
Allowing ping from inside your own network is low risk and common practice. Blocking it from the internet is sensible; what matters is a consistent rule your tools can rely on.
Could our scripts have been skipping other machines too?
Quite possibly. If your tools use ping to decide whether to act, every machine that ignores it may have been missed for updates or deployments.