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Missing computers in network places

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17 replies

by jmalone

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Using Windows 2000/xp (no domains) when I browse the network places for other computers in my workgroup, no computers show up? Sometimes disconnecting the network cable and replugging it in will allow me to again see the other workgroup computers but after a period of time they will disappear again? The connection seems ok and we can ping the other computers on the network, we can also see a display of the workgroup name but no computers are diplayed as being in the workgroup? Problem just started a week or so ago?

17 replies

by cg it

If when you boot up and browse My Network Neighborhood and computers are shown and over time they disappear, then they aren't members of the workgroup that the computer your using is a member of.

The default installation on W2k/XP for membership of a network is named "Workgroup". That name is generic default name and does not indicate membership to a workgroup with other computers. One must create a Workgroup and then computers must join that workgroup. In addition, to access shared resources on other computers within a Workgroup, user accounts must reside on all computers within the workgroup and they must be given permission to access that resource.

by jmalone

Appreciated, but I did set up a workgroup other than the generic "workgroup" that installs with xp/2000, I have also set up user permissions within individual xp/2000 workstations. This workgroup is several years old and everything was working fine until just recently, I could browse and see other computers in my workgroup.

by 5jgibbs

Jeremy

I would almost bet its windows firewall, or its some other 3rd party firewall software that you use. I had the same problem a long time ago. So if that?s the problem, you just need to set up a scope of ip?s that are not blocked such as

Scope 192.168.1.1/255.255.255.0 to 192.168.1.244/255.255.255.0

by jmalone

We have disabled windows firewall on all xp computers within the network, still same problem, sometimes we can see the network computers, sometimes not.

by sgt_shultz

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314872

CAUSE
This behavior can occur if the File and Print Service component was not selected during the initial setup of the server or if that component is no longer selected. When this occurs, the Server service does not bind to the NetBIOS interface. A Windows-based computer that becomes a backup browser but that does not have file and printer sharing turned on cannot share the browse list with clients. Any computer that is to be included in the browse list must also have file and printer sharing turned on.
RESOLUTION
To work around this behavior, install or turn on file and printer sharing on Windows-based domain controllers and on any computer that is in the browse list.

To install or turn on file and printer sharing in Windows XP, follow these steps: 1. Click Start, click Control Panel, click Network and Internet Connections, and then click Network Connections.
2. Right-click the network connection that you want to configure, and then click Properties.
3. Click the General tab (for a local area connection), or click the Networking tab (for all other connections).
4. Make sure that File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks is in the list of components for the connection.

NOTE: If File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks is not in the list of components for the connection: a. Click Install.
b. Select the Service check box, then click Add.
c. In the Manufacturers box, click Microsoft.
d. In the Network Services box, click File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks, and then click OK.

5. In the list of components for the connection, make sure that File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks is selected, and then click Close or OK.
6. Click Close or click OK.

APPLIES TO
? Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
? Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition
? Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition

by jmalone

File and print sharing have been turned on for most of the computers in the network for several years

by ozzy

Just an opinion... a new problem usually occurs when theres a new update... did you tried checking the new super sp2 firewall settings? i m working with a domain but its usually windows firewall. When a client install that super pack i can only ping... great hee??

by jmalone

We disabled windows firewall on the XP computers and we have several Win 2000 computers, all computers within the workgroup cannot be seen, that includes Win 2000 and Win XP. I was thinking firewall also but I assume if the Windows firewall is disabled in the control panel setting that should eliminate this as a possibility? Earlier today we could see the other computers on the network workgroup, but later in the day we could not see any computers, the workgroup name shows up as an icon but if you click on it it times out with no computers showing up. pinging is still possible and connections are in place, just no browsing?

by 5jgibbs

Did you ever try assigning static IP's to all the computers..

so if your default gateway is your router, and that ip is at 192.168.1.1

then you would just set things up like this..

http://users.adelphia.net/~jergod/tcpip.gif

i am thinking it may be your DHCP or something else.. like your router.. or whatever equipment your using.. so try that.. and tell me what happens..

by lmayeda

One of the computers on our domain "disappeared" when we uninstalled McAfee 7.0 which included firewall software. I read somewhere that when some Antivirus software is uninstalled, it leaves the PC (W2K in my case) with firewall enabled. 1) I was able to assign the PC a static IP address at which point the PC could see the other PCs on the network however it could not communicate with the internet. Only after re-installing McAfee 7.0 was it able to retrieve a DHCP IP address as well as connect to the internet. Sorry, I don't know where or how to set the firewall to be disabled. Good luck

by carlos0463

I am not sure if you have fixed this, but I just wanted to know if Easy File sharing feature of XP is enabled and also make sure account/passwords have not changed . In workgroup environments all users must have same username/password in order to see each other in the same workgroup. Furthermore, If you have set permissions I would advise to disable the easy file sharing feature of windows xp. Also, if all of these options are checked make sure you can reach the workstations via their respectives UNC paths. I hope I helped :) Los

by mitchlr

Try downloading the utility called Browmon from Microsoft. This is a browser monitor, and will tell you which host is the current master browser for your workgroup.
One thing that happens sometimes in a mixed network is that a Linux or Unix box running Samba forces a browser election and elects itself the master browser, but does not replicate any browse list from the existing domain.
The browse list you're getting comes from the master browser -- find that box and you are on the way to solving your problem.

Hope this helps.

by kly321

hi....
if ur using norton antirious then
check the setting/internet setting/select ur workgroup/select ur workgroup computer name/network details edit/trust level edit/select shared.

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