Allow ping through Windows Firewall

You ping a server, get "Request timed out", and assume it's down. Often it's fine: Windows Firewall blocks incoming ping (ICMP echo) by default.

Allow it

Open Terminal (Admin) and run:

Enable-NetFirewallRule -Name FPS-ICMP4-ERQ-In

No output means it worked. Ping the server again from another machine.

Or through the GUI

Open Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security (search for wf.msc).
Click Inbound Rules.
Find File and Printer Sharing (Echo Request - ICMPv4-In).
Right-click it and choose Enable Rule.

Turn it back off

Disable-NetFirewallRule -Name FPS-ICMP4-ERQ-In

Troubleshooting tip: if ping fails but you can reach a share or RDP, the server is up and the firewall is just doing its job. Test a real service with Test-NetConnection server -Port 445.

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