Networks·41,418 discussions

cannot view computers in workgroup

Locked

I administer multiple systems on a network consisting of XP and 2000 OS. None of the systems can view or access each other in their workgroups nor in other workgroups unless computer is already mapped. Can ping by IP and computer name; XP firewall turned off; can access Internet. I am at a total loss of what else to do. Any advice would be appreciated.

Topic

Reply To: cannot view computers in workgroup

In reply to cannot view computers in workgroup

HI,
You please try to access this pc via run like \\pcname. once you got access it will show in workgroup aswell.

Reply To: cannot view computers in workgroup

In reply to cannot view computers in workgroup

Dear Anne,

I’ve seen this happen, where the Master Browser ran into a problem on a Workgroup. If you check the Event Viewer on several workstations, there may be an error listed about Master Browser polling that failed, or a Master Browser is unreachable. What happens in a Workgroup is, the PC’s ‘elect’ a machine to become a Master Browser, i.e. a kind of ‘server’. If that machine is the type that is usually shut off during the day, or is experiencing network problems, the machines become confused and cannot find their way around the network. The best solution is to choose a PC that is running most of the time, and force it to become the Master Browser (Check out MicroSoft Article ID : 135404 on how to do that, particularly the part of editing the registry).

[Author]

Replies