view workgroup computers--workaround

[no problem w/ internet connection, but w/ workgroup access:]
Really would appreciate some of your expert insight on this one!
Have been wrestling w/ small wireless network (1 desktop/host + 2
laptops, all running xp pro) for 2 months now...Just about got
everything running smooth, but w/ one weird hangup: If the host is up
& running, and I log onto a laptop/wireless client, go to My Network
Places, then click View Workgroup Computers, either the window hangs &
stops responding, or I get an error msg telling me access to the
workgroup's denied 'cause I don't have permission, etc. BUT if--after
I bring up My Network Places, I manually-enter into the address bar
\\hostcomputername then Enter, it brings up all the shares
perfectly.
Anyone out there know why clicking on View Workgroup Computers is
causing havoc? Thanks for your time & attention to detail [:-)

terry.

On 11 Oct 2004 21:53:23 -0700, *email_address_deleted* (Terry B.) wrote:

[no problem w/ internet connection, but w/ workgroup access:]
Really would appreciate some of your expert insight on this one!
Have been wrestling w/ small wireless network (1 desktop/host + 2
laptops, all running xp pro) for 2 months now...Just about got
everything running smooth, but w/ one weird hangup: If the host is up
& running, and I log onto a laptop/wireless client, go to My Network
Places, then click View Workgroup Computers, either the window hangs &
stops responding, or I get an error msg telling me access to the
workgroup's denied 'cause I don't have permission, etc. BUT if--after
I bring up My Network Places, I manually-enter into the address bar
\\hostcomputername then Enter, it brings up all the shares
perfectly.
Anyone out there know why clicking on View Workgroup Computers is
causing havoc? Thanks for your time & attention to detail [:-)

terry.

Terry,

Are your XP computers running Simple, or Advanced (Simple disabled) File
Sharing? Advanced File Sharing is a Windows 2000 compatibility feature, and
uses the Guest account, as a backup to a matching non-Guest account with
identical, non-blank password, for authentication.

On any XP Pro computer, check to see if Simple File Sharing (Control Panel -
Folder Options - View - Advanced settings) is enabled or disabled. With XP Pro,
you need to have SFS consistently set on each computer.

On XP Pro with SFS disabled, check the Local Security Policies (Control Panel -
Administrative Tools). Under Local Policies - Security Options, look at
"Network access: Sharing and security model", and ensure it's set to "Classic -
local users authenticate as themselves".

On XP Pro with SFS disabled, if you set the above Local Security Policy to
"Guest only", enable the Guest account, using Start - Run - "cmd" - type "net
user guest /active:yes" in the command window. If "Classic", setup and use a
common non-Guest account on all computers. Whichever account is used, give it
an identical, non-blank password on all computers.

On XP Home, and on XP Pro with Simple File Sharing enabled, make sure that the
Guest account is enabled, on each computer. Enable Guest with Start - Run -
"cmd" - type "net user guest /active:yes" in the command window.

Now, if Guest authentication is a possibility, check the Registry policy
restrictanonymous.

In addition to any possibilities you might find in other articles, look at
registry key [HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa], value
restrictanonymous.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/en-us/default.asp?url=/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/en-us/regentry/46688.asp
http://www.jsifaq.com/subf/tip2600/rh2625.htm

The above articles refer to Windows 2000. Remember WinXP is NT V5.1, and Win2K
is NT V5.0.

Have you used the Registry Editor before? If not, it's a scary tool, but it's
pretty simple once you get used to it. Here are a couple articles that might
help:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/using/productdoc/en/default.asp?url=/windowsxp/home/using/productdoc/en/tools_regeditors.asp
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/registry

Just remember to backup the key (create a registry patch) for
[HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa] before making any changes, if
appropriate.

From the Annoyances article:
You can create a Registry patch by opening the Registry Editor, selecting a
branch, and choosing Export from the File menu. Then, specify a filename, and
press OK. You can then view the Registry patch file by opening it in Notepad
(right-click on it and select Edit). Again, just double-click on a Registry
patch file (or use Import in the Registry Editor's File menu) to apply it to the
registry.

And Terry, please don't contribute to the spread and success of email address
mining viruses. Posting your email address openly will get you more unwanted
email, than wanted email. Learn to munge your email address properly, to keep
yourself a bit safer when posting to open forums. Protect yourself and the rest
of the internet - read this article.
http://www.mailmsg.com/SPAM_munging.htm

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

Chuck wrote in message . ..

Terry,
Are your XP computers running Simple, or Advanced (Simple disabled) File
Sharing? Advanced File Sharing is a Windows 2000 compatibility feature, and
uses the Guest account, as a backup to a matching non-Guest account with
identical, non-blank password, for authentication.

On any XP Pro computer, check to see if Simple File Sharing (Control Panel -
Folder Options - View - Advanced settings) is enabled or disabled. With XP Pro,
you need to have SFS consistently set on each computer.

On XP Pro with SFS disabled, check the Local Security Policies (Control Panel -
Administrative Tools). Under Local Policies - Security Options, look at
"Network access: Sharing and security model", and ensure it's set to "Classic -
local users authenticate as themselves".

On XP Pro with SFS disabled, if you set the above Local Security Policy to
"Guest only", enable the Guest account, using Start - Run - "cmd" - type "net
user guest /active:yes" in the command window. If "Classic", setup and use a
common non-Guest account on all computers. Whichever account is used, give it
an identical, non-blank password on all computers.

On XP Home, and on XP Pro with Simple File Sharing enabled, make sure that the
Guest account is enabled, on each computer. Enable Guest with Start - Run -
"cmd" - type "net user guest /active:yes" in the command window.

Now, if Guest authentication is a possibility, check the Registry policy
restrictanonymous.

In addition to any possibilities you might find in other articles, look at
registry key [HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa], value
restrictanonymous.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/en-us/default.asp?url=/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/en-us/regentry/46688.asp
http://www.jsifaq.com/subf/tip2600/rh2625.htm

The above articles refer to Windows 2000. Remember WinXP is NT V5.1, and Win2K
is NT V5.0.

Have you used the Registry Editor before? If not, it's a scary tool, but it's
pretty simple once you get used to it. Here are a couple articles that might
help:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/using/productdoc/en/default.asp?url=/windowsxp/home/using/productdoc/en/tools_regeditors.asp
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/registry

Just remember to backup the key (create a registry patch) for
[HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa] before making any changes, if
appropriate.

From the Annoyances article:
You can create a Registry patch by opening the Registry Editor, selecting a
branch, and choosing Export from the File menu. Then, specify a filename, and
press OK. You can then view the Registry patch file by opening it in Notepad
(right-click on it and select Edit). Again, just double-click on a Registry
patch file (or use Import in the Registry Editor's File menu) to apply it to the
registry.

And Terry, please don't contribute to the spread and success of email address
mining viruses. Posting your email address openly will get you more unwanted
email, than wanted email. Learn to munge your email address properly, to keep
yourself a bit safer when posting to open forums. Protect yourself and the rest
of the internet - read this article.
http://www.mailmsg.com/SPAM_munging.htm

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

To Chuck,
Thanks much for your time; here's my response:
#1: My WLAN consists of 3 machines, all running xp pro, and yes,
they all routinely run with Simple File Sharing disabled.
#2: I went into Administrative Tools and drilled-down to the
"Network access sharing & security model" and its setting; on all
network machines it was already set to Classic--local users
authenticate as themselves. And yes, I've got a "common non-Guest
account on all computers" (mine), which is an administrators group
account and shares an identical password on all machines.
#3: I went into regedit & checked
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\LSA. On all network machines the
settings are identical ("restrictanonymous" has a DWORD value of 0)

(Sorry about that, hit "post" by mistake.)
Chuck wrote in message
Terry,

Are your XP computers running Simple, or Advanced (Simple disabled) File
Sharing?
Yes they are; there are 3 machines on WLAN, all run winxp
pro, and all run with SFS disabled.

On XP Pro with SFS disabled, check the Local Security Policies (Control Panel -
Administrative Tools). Under Local Policies - Security Options, look at
"Network access: Sharing and security model", and ensure it's set to "Classic -
local users authenticate as themselves".
I checked this setting and yes, all machines were already
set to "Classic--local~themselves"

Whichever account is used, give it
an identical, non-blank password on all computers.
Yes, there is already a common user acct w/ identical
password enable on all machines (my acct, in administrators group)

Now, if Guest authentication is a possibility, check the Registry policy
restrictanonymous.

In addition to any possibilities you might find in other articles, look at
registry key [HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa], value
restrictanonymous.
I checked; all machines had identical settings at this
reg key; "restrictanonymous" has a DWORD value of 0.

And Terry, please don't contribute to the spread and success of email address
mining viruses. Posting your email address openly will get you more unwanted
email, than wanted email. Learn to munge your email address properly, to keep
yourself a bit safer when posting to open forums.

Sorry about that, Chuck. But evidently I'm not smart
enough to post a msg to Usenet using an anonymous address like yours.
I tried, but Google told me I had to use an authentic email address.

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

So Chuck--You have any other ideas on why the computer hangs bigtime
when asked to "View Workgroup Computers", but oftentimes will show the
shared folders when I manually enter the other workgroup computer's
name in address bar?

Thanks again for your time!
Terry B.

On 12 Oct 2004 18:41:33 -0700, *email_address_deleted* (Terry B.) wrote:

(Sorry about that, hit "post" by mistake.)
Chuck wrote in message
Terry,

Are your XP computers running Simple, or Advanced (Simple disabled) File
Sharing?
Yes they are; there are 3 machines on WLAN, all run winxp
pro, and all run with SFS disabled.

On XP Pro with SFS disabled, check the Local Security Policies (Control Panel -
Administrative Tools). Under Local Policies - Security Options, look at
"Network access: Sharing and security model", and ensure it's set to "Classic -
local users authenticate as themselves".
I checked this setting and yes, all machines were already
set to "Classic--local~themselves"

Whichever account is used, give it
an identical, non-blank password on all computers.
Yes, there is already a common user acct w/ identical
password enable on all machines (my acct, in administrators group)

Now, if Guest authentication is a possibility, check the Registry policy
restrictanonymous.

In addition to any possibilities you might find in other articles, look at
registry key [HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa], value
restrictanonymous.
I checked; all machines had identical settings at this
reg key; "restrictanonymous" has a DWORD value of 0.

And Terry, please don't contribute to the spread and success of email address
mining viruses. Posting your email address openly will get you more unwanted
email, than wanted email. Learn to munge your email address properly, to keep
yourself a bit safer when posting to open forums.

Sorry about that, Chuck. But evidently I'm not smart
enough to post a msg to Usenet using an anonymous address like yours.
I tried, but Google told me I had to use an authentic email address.

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

So Chuck--You have any other ideas on why the computer hangs bigtime
when asked to "View Workgroup Computers", but oftentimes will show the
shared folders when I manually enter the other workgroup computer's
name in address bar?

Thanks again for your time!
Terry B.

Terry,

Two other things to check out.

The Microsoft Browstat program will show us what browsers you have in your
domain / workgroup, at any time.
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188305

You can download Browstat from either:
http://www.dynawell.com/reskit/microsoft/win2000/browstat.zip
http://rescomp.stanford.edu/staff/manual/rcc/tools/browstat.zip

Browstat is very small (40K), and needs no install. Just unzip the downloaded
file, copy browstat.exe to any folder in the Path, and run it from a command
window.

For more information about the browser subsystem (very intricate), see:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188001
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188305
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winntas/deploy/prodspecs/ntbrowse.mspx

Please provide browstat information for each computer.
Start - Run - "cmd". Type "browstat status c:\browstat.txt" into the command
window - Open c:\browstat.txt in Notepad, copy and paste into your next post.
Identify each computer by name and operating system.

Look at Advanced Settings for Local Area Connection (Network Connections -
Advanced - Advanced Settings). On the Adapters and Bindings tab, list the
contents of the Bindings window. On the Provider Order tab, list the contents
of the Network providers list window.

Google. %-} You have my sympathy.

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

do you have norton internet security installed on your computer? cause if you
do, norton is preventing your computer to communicate with other computer.
configure the personal firewall of norton then go to network tab, it will
tell you everything. you have to put your ip ad in the trusted zone. then you
can go from there.
very easy ... that is if you have anorton security installed.



"Terry B." wrote:

[no problem w/ internet connection, but w/ workgroup access:]
Really would appreciate some of your expert insight on this one!
Have been wrestling w/ small wireless network (1 desktop/host + 2
laptops, all running xp pro) for 2 months now...Just about got
everything running smooth, but w/ one weird hangup: If the host is up
& running, and I log onto a laptop/wireless client, go to My Network
Places, then click View Workgroup Computers, either the window hangs &
stops responding, or I get an error msg telling me access to the
workgroup's denied 'cause I don't have permission, etc. BUT if--after
I bring up My Network Places, I manually-enter into the address bar
\\hostcomputername then Enter, it brings up all the shares
perfectly.
Anyone out there know why clicking on View Workgroup Computers is
causing havoc? Thanks for your time & attention to detail [:-)

terry.

Chuck wrote in message . ..
On 12 Oct 2004 18:41:33 -0700, *email_address_deleted* (Terry B.) wrote:

(Sorry about that, hit "post" by mistake.)
Chuck wrote in message
Terry,

Are your XP computers running Simple, or Advanced (Simple disabled) File
Sharing?
Yes they are; there are 3 machines on WLAN, all run winxp
pro, and all run with SFS disabled.

On XP Pro with SFS disabled, check the Local Security Policies (Control Panel -
Administrative Tools). Under Local Policies - Security Options, look at
"Network access: Sharing and security model", and ensure it's set to "Classic -
local users authenticate as themselves".
I checked this setting and yes, all machines were already
set to "Classic--local~themselves"

Whichever account is used, give it
an identical, non-blank password on all computers.
Yes, there is already a common user acct w/ identical
password enable on all machines (my acct, in administrators group)

Now, if Guest authentication is a possibility, check the Registry policy
restrictanonymous.

In addition to any possibilities you might find in other articles, look at
registry key [HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa], value
restrictanonymous.
I checked; all machines had identical settings at this
reg key; "restrictanonymous" has a DWORD value of 0.

And Terry, please don't contribute to the spread and success of email address
mining viruses. Posting your email address openly will get you more unwanted
email, than wanted email. Learn to munge your email address properly, to keep
yourself a bit safer when posting to open forums.

Sorry about that, Chuck. But evidently I'm not smart
enough to post a msg to Usenet using an anonymous address like yours.
I tried, but Google told me I had to use an authentic email address.

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

So Chuck--You have any other ideas on why the computer hangs bigtime
when asked to "View Workgroup Computers", but oftentimes will show the
shared folders when I manually enter the other workgroup computer's
name in address bar?

Thanks again for your time!
Terry B.

Terry,

Two other things to check out.

The Microsoft Browstat program will show us what browsers you have in your
domain / workgroup, at any time.
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188305

You can download Browstat from either:
http://www.dynawell.com/reskit/microsoft/win2000/browstat.zip
http://rescomp.stanford.edu/staff/manual/rcc/tools/browstat.zip

Browstat is very small (40K), and needs no install. Just unzip the downloaded
file, copy browstat.exe to any folder in the Path, and run it from a command
window.

For more information about the browser subsystem (very intricate), see:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188001
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188305
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winntas/deploy/prodspecs/ntbrowse.mspx

Please provide browstat information for each computer.
Start - Run - "cmd". Type "browstat status c:\browstat.txt" into the command
window - Open c:\browstat.txt in Notepad, copy and paste into your next post.
Identify each computer by name and operating system.

Look at Advanced Settings for Local Area Connection (Network Connections -
Advanced - Advanced Settings). On the Adapters and Bindings tab, list the
contents of the Bindings window. On the Provider Order tab, list the contents
of the Network providers list window.

Google. %-} You have my sympathy.

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

HELLO, CHUCK !
I downloaded browstat.exe from the link you provided, unzipped it
and placed it on root drive. Then I went to a command window and
entered "browstat status c:browstat.txt". It gave me the following
error:
C:\Documents and Settings\riprapbrowstat status c:\browstat.txt
'browstat' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\Documents and Settings\riprapbrowstat /?
'browstat' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

Any other ideas?

Terry B.

On 13 Oct 2004 17:13:44 -0700, *email_address_deleted* (Terry B.) wrote:

SNIP

HELLO, CHUCK !
I downloaded browstat.exe from the link you provided, unzipped it
and placed it on root drive. Then I went to a command window and
entered "browstat status c:browstat.txt". It gave me the following
error:
C:\Documents and Settings\riprapbrowstat status c:\browstat.txt
'browstat' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\Documents and Settings\riprapbrowstat /?
'browstat' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

Any other ideas?

Terry B.

Terry,

Is C:\ in your Path? Generally not. So do this:
cd\
browstat status browstat.txt

Don't forget to list the Advanced Settings.

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

"Cheer" wrote in message ...
do you have norton internet security installed on your computer? cause if you
do, norton is preventing your computer to communicate with other computer.
configure the personal firewall of norton then go to network tab, it will
tell you everything. you have to put your ip ad in the trusted zone. then you
can go from there.
very easy ... that is if you have anorton security installed.

TO CHEER:
No, there's no Norton products installed. There is Sygate Personal
Firewall, but it's configured to accept a network neighborhood, plus
I've tried a bunch of times to View Workgroup Computers (from the
laptop) w/ the Sygate turned off; no joy.

TO CHUCK:
I got browstat running. Here's the readout frm the cmd: "browstat
status workgroupname":

Status for domain disgusted on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{0F5B0BBB-99BB-4A1E-A25D-22718665A05C}
Browsing is NOT active on domain.
Master name cannot be determined from GetAdapterStatus.

(Does that help?)

Also, Chuck, I apologize for not noticing this before, but the
whole problem w/ not being able to View Workgroup Computers and the
application hang seems to be limited to just one of 2 laptops on
WLAN--a Dell Inspiron. (There's an Averatec which is sharing just
fine.) Also, I've tried 2 different pc cards on the dell; doesn't seem
to make any difference. And I've also uninstalled-&-reinstalled the
cd-based software that came w/ the cards. No joy.

(Does any of this help w/ diagnostics?)

Thanks much for your time [:-))

Terry B.

"Terry B." wrote:

[no problem w/ internet connection, but w/ workgroup access:]
Really would appreciate some of your expert insight on this one!
Have been wrestling w/ small wireless network (1 desktop/host + 2
laptops, all running xp pro) for 2 months now...Just about got
everything running smooth, but w/ one weird hangup: If the host is up
& running, and I log onto a laptop/wireless client, go to My Network
Places, then click View Workgroup Computers, either the window hangs &
stops responding, or I get an error msg telling me access to the
workgroup's denied 'cause I don't have permission, etc. BUT if--after
I bring up My Network Places, I manually-enter into the address bar
\\hostcomputername then Enter, it brings up all the shares
perfectly.
Anyone out there know why clicking on View Workgroup Computers is
causing havoc? Thanks for your time & attention to detail [:-)

terry.

On 13 Oct 2004 21:29:43 -0700, (Terry B.) wrote:

"Cheer" wrote in message ...
do you have norton internet security installed on your computer? cause if you
do, norton is preventing your computer to communicate with other computer.
configure the personal firewall of norton then go to network tab, it will
tell you everything. you have to put your ip ad in the trusted zone. then you
can go from there.
very easy ... that is if you have anorton security installed.

TO CHEER:
No, there's no Norton products installed. There is Sygate Personal
Firewall, but it's configured to accept a network neighborhood, plus
I've tried a bunch of times to View Workgroup Computers (from the
laptop) w/ the Sygate turned off; no joy.

TO CHUCK:
I got browstat running. Here's the readout frm the cmd: "browstat
status workgroupname":

Status for domain disgusted on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{0F5B0BBB-99BB-4A1E-A25D-22718665A05C}
Browsing is NOT active on domain.
Master name cannot be determined from GetAdapterStatus.

(Does that help?)

Also, Chuck, I apologize for not noticing this before, but the
whole problem w/ not being able to View Workgroup Computers and the
application hang seems to be limited to just one of 2 laptops on
WLAN--a Dell Inspiron. (There's an Averatec which is sharing just
fine.) Also, I've tried 2 different pc cards on the dell; doesn't seem
to make any difference. And I've also uninstalled-&-reinstalled the
cd-based software that came w/ the cards. No joy.

(Does any of this help w/ diagnostics?)

Thanks much for your time [:-))

Terry B.

Terry,

That's a good start. But just that. If browsing is NOT active on the domain,
you certainly shouldn't expect to see stuff in Network Neighborhood.

And, if you browse some of my previous posts where a personal firewall is
involved, you'll notice that, not infrequently, problems ARE NOT resolved by
turning the damn things off. You have to either properly configure them, or un
install each completely.

With a problem like yours, we can poke around all month. Or we can get
organised, carefully define the scope of the problem, and maybe fix it this
week.

First, we need to know what computers you have on the LAN, with computer name,
and with OS name, version, and SP level. And which computers have, or had,
personal firewalls of any brand.

Then run diagnoses on each computer. Starting here.

Please provide ipconfig information for each computer.
Start - Run - "cmd". Type "ipconfig /all c:\ipconfig.txt" into the command
window - Open c:\ipconfig.txt in Notepad, copy and paste into your next post.
Identify operating system (by name and version) with each ipconfig listing. And
identify any firewalls, both presently active, and previously active.

Provide adhoc browser view for each computer.
Start - Run - "cmd". Type "net view c:\netview.txt" into the command window -
Open c:\netview.txt in Notepad, copy and paste into your next post.

Provide browstat information for each computer.
Start - Run - "cmd". Type "browstat status c:\browstat.txt" into the command
window - Open c:\browstat.txt in Notepad, copy and paste into your next post.
Identify each computer by name and operating system.

From each computer, test connectivity and name resolution:
1) Ping itself by name.
2) Ping itself by ip address.
3) Ping the other two by name.
4) Ping the other by two ip address.
5) Ping 127.0.0.1.
6) Ping the router.
Report success / exact error displayed in each test (24 tests total).

This is a start. Once we have a start, we will know what to look at next.

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

On 13 Oct 2004 20:06:11 -0500, Chuck wrote:

browstat status browstat.txt

Chuck, all,

by the way, a nice command is: browstat vw 1

If 1 doesn't do, try 2 or enter browstat dn to find the right
number.

vw is an abbreviation of view, dn is an abbreviation of dumpnet.

Hans-Georg

--
No mail, please.

Chuck wrote in message . ..
On 13 Oct 2004 21:29:43 -0700, (Terry B.) wrote:

"Cheer" wrote in message ...
do you have norton internet security installed on your computer? cause if you
do, norton is preventing your computer to communicate with other computer.
configure the personal firewall of norton then go to network tab, it will
tell you everything. you have to put your ip ad in the trusted zone. then you
can go from there.
very easy ... that is if you have anorton security installed.

TO CHEER:
No, there's no Norton products installed. There is Sygate Personal
Firewall, but it's configured to accept a network neighborhood, plus
I've tried a bunch of times to View Workgroup Computers (from the
laptop) w/ the Sygate turned off; no joy.

TO CHUCK:
I got browstat running. Here's the readout frm the cmd: "browstat
status workgroupname":

Status for domain disgusted on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{0F5B0BBB-99BB-4A1E-A25D-22718665A05C}
Browsing is NOT active on domain.
Master name cannot be determined from GetAdapterStatus.

(Does that help?)

Also, Chuck, I apologize for not noticing this before, but the
whole problem w/ not being able to View Workgroup Computers and the
application hang seems to be limited to just one of 2 laptops on
WLAN--a Dell Inspiron. (There's an Averatec which is sharing just
fine.) Also, I've tried 2 different pc cards on the dell; doesn't seem
to make any difference. And I've also uninstalled-&-reinstalled the
cd-based software that came w/ the cards. No joy.

(Does any of this help w/ diagnostics?)

Thanks much for your time [:-))

Terry B.

Terry,

That's a good start. But just that. If browsing is NOT active on the domain,
you certainly shouldn't expect to see stuff in Network Neighborhood.

And, if you browse some of my previous posts where a personal firewall is
involved, you'll notice that, not infrequently, problems ARE NOT resolved by
turning the damn things off. You have to either properly configure them, or un
install each completely.

With a problem like yours, we can poke around all month. Or we can get
organised, carefully define the scope of the problem, and maybe fix it this
week.

First, we need to know what computers you have on the LAN, with computer name,
and with OS name, version, and SP level. And which computers have, or had,
personal firewalls of any brand.

Then run diagnoses on each computer. Starting here.

Please provide ipconfig information for each computer.
Start - Run - "cmd". Type "ipconfig /all c:\ipconfig.txt" into the command
window - Open c:\ipconfig.txt in Notepad, copy and paste into your next post.
Identify operating system (by name and version) with each ipconfig listing. And
identify any firewalls, both presently active, and previously active.

Provide adhoc browser view for each computer.
Start - Run - "cmd". Type "net view c:\netview.txt" into the command window -
Open c:\netview.txt in Notepad, copy and paste into your next post.

Provide browstat information for each computer.
Start - Run - "cmd". Type "browstat status c:\browstat.txt" into the command
window - Open c:\browstat.txt in Notepad, copy and paste into your next post.
Identify each computer by name and operating system.

From each computer, test connectivity and name resolution:
1) Ping itself by name.
2) Ping itself by ip address.
3) Ping the other two by name.
4) Ping the other by two ip address.
5) Ping 127.0.0.1.
6) Ping the router.
Report success / exact error displayed in each test (24 tests total).

This is a start. Once we have a start, we will know what to look at next.

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

TO CHUCK::Here's the data you asked for:

(3) Computers on the LAN

1.) desktop/host. type = hp 513c
name = "powertool" .
OS name = WinXP Pro v.2002
SP level = SP2
Firewalls: At present has Sygate 'personal' installed;
Windows Firewall/Internet Connection service DISABLED


2.) laptop #1: type = dell inspiron 1150
name = "multitool1"
OS name = WinXP Pro v.2002
SP level = SP2
Firewalls: Had Sygate, but uninstalled;
Windows Firewall/Internet Connection service DISABLED

3.) laptop #2: type = averatec 3220H1
name = "veridisk"
OS name = WinXP Pro v.2002
SP level = SP2
Firewalls: None. Windows DISABLED.

1a.) "powertool" ipconfig data:
Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : powertool

Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :

Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid

IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No



Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 6:



Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI
Fast Ethernet NIC #2

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-40-05-35-E0-8D

Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.8

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 216.148.227.68

204.127.202.4


2a.) "multitool1" ipconfig data:
Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : multitool1

Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :

Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid

IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No



Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2:



Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom 440x 10/100
Integrated Controller

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0F-1F-0D-7D-63



Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection 14:



Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Wireless-G Notebook
Adapter v.2.0

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0F-66-A2-45-23

Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.15

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 216.148.227.168

204.127.202.4


3a.) "veridisk" ipconfig data":
Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : veridisk

Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :

Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid

IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No



Ethernet adapter Broadcom builtin:



Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom 802.11g Network
Adapter

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-90-4B-6B-7A-31

Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.13

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 216.148.227.68

204.127.202.4

1b.) "powertool" browser view:
Server Name Remark

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\\MULTITOOL1
\\POWERTOOL
\\VERIDISK
The command completed successfully.

2b.) "multitool1" browser view:
Server Name Remark

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\\MULTITOOL1
\\POWERTOOL
\\VERIDISK
The command completed successfully.

3b.) "veridisk" browser view:
Server Name Remark

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\\MULTITOOL1
\\POWERTOOL
\\VERIDISK
The command completed successfully.

1c.) "powertool" browstat status:
Status for domain DISGUSTED on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{49EB0BD6-0334-48D9-A6D8-3818B8BD6858}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: VERIDISK
Master browser is running build 2600
1 backup servers retrieved from master VERIDISK
\\VERIDISK
There are 3 servers in domain DISGUSTED on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{49EB0BD6-0334-48D9-A6D8-3818B8BD6858}
There are 1 domains in domain DISGUSTED on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{49EB0BD6-0334-48D9-A6D8-3818B8BD6858}

2c.) "multitool" browstat status:
Status for domain DISGUSTED on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{0F5B0BBB-99BB-4A1E-A25D-22718665A05C}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: VERIDISK
Master browser is running build 2600
1 backup servers retrieved from master VERIDISK
\\VERIDISK
There are 3 servers in domain DISGUSTED on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{0F5B0BBB-99BB-4A1E-A25D-22718665A05C}
There are 1 domains in domain DISGUSTED on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{0F5B0BBB-99BB-4A1E-A25D-22718665A05C}

3c.) "veridisk" browstat status:
Status for domain DISGUSTED on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{35A2B29B-F6FA-437D-88FE-B1CF4522AC30}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: VERIDISK
Master browser is running build 2600
1 backup servers retrieved from master VERIDISK
\\VERIDISK
There are 3 servers in domain DISGUSTED on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{35A2B29B-F6FA-437D-88FE-B1CF4522AC30}
There are 1 domains in domain DISGUSTED on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{35A2B29B-F6FA-437D-88FE-B1CF4522AC30}


As far as the ping tests: All 3 units can pass all 6 of the tests
mentioned.

Does all this information paint a helpful picture, Chuck? PLEASE NOTE
that "multitool1" is the laptop that's been hanging up when asked to
"View Workgroup Computers"; "veridisk" works w/out a hitch....
Is it a telltale sign that, although "powertool" is the host
computer, for some reason "browstat status" on all 3 machines list
"veridisk" as the master browser?????

I'm looking forward to your next post, Chuck [:-))

Terry B.

On 14 Oct 2004 16:59:17 -0700, *email_address_deleted* (Terry B.) wrote:

SNIP

(3) Computers on the LAN

1.) desktop/host. type = hp 513c
name = "powertool" .
OS name = WinXP Pro v.2002
SP level = SP2
Firewalls: At present has Sygate 'personal' installed;
Windows Firewall/Internet Connection service DISABLED


2.) laptop #1: type = dell inspiron 1150
name = "multitool1"
OS name = WinXP Pro v.2002
SP level = SP2
Firewalls: Had Sygate, but uninstalled;
Windows Firewall/Internet Connection service DISABLED

3.) laptop #2: type = averatec 3220H1
name = "veridisk"
OS name = WinXP Pro v.2002
SP level = SP2
Firewalls: None. Windows DISABLED.

1a.) "powertool" ipconfig data:
Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : powertool

Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :

Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid

IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No



Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 6:



Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI
Fast Ethernet NIC #2

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-40-05-35-E0-8D

Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.8

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 216.148.227.68

204.127.202.4


2a.) "multitool1" ipconfig data:
Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : multitool1

Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :

Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid

IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No



Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2:



Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom 440x 10/100
Integrated Controller

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0F-1F-0D-7D-63



Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection 14:



Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Wireless-G Notebook
Adapter v.2.0

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0F-66-A2-45-23

Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.15

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 216.148.227.168

204.127.202.4


3a.) "veridisk" ipconfig data":
Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : veridisk

Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :

Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid

IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No



Ethernet adapter Broadcom builtin:



Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom 802.11g Network
Adapter

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-90-4B-6B-7A-31

Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.13

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 216.148.227.68

204.127.202.4

1b.) "powertool" browser view:
Server Name Remark

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\\MULTITOOL1
\\POWERTOOL
\\VERIDISK
The command completed successfully.

2b.) "multitool1" browser view:
Server Name Remark

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\\MULTITOOL1
\\POWERTOOL
\\VERIDISK
The command completed successfully.

3b.) "veridisk" browser view:
Server Name Remark

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\\MULTITOOL1
\\POWERTOOL
\\VERIDISK
The command completed successfully.

1c.) "powertool" browstat status:
Status for domain DISGUSTED on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{49EB0BD6-0334-48D9-A6D8-3818B8BD6858}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: VERIDISK
Master browser is running build 2600
1 backup servers retrieved from master VERIDISK
\\VERIDISK
There are 3 servers in domain DISGUSTED on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{49EB0BD6-0334-48D9-A6D8-3818B8BD6858}
There are 1 domains in domain DISGUSTED on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{49EB0BD6-0334-48D9-A6D8-3818B8BD6858}

2c.) "multitool" browstat status:
Status for domain DISGUSTED on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{0F5B0BBB-99BB-4A1E-A25D-22718665A05C}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: VERIDISK
Master browser is running build 2600
1 backup servers retrieved from master VERIDISK
\\VERIDISK
There are 3 servers in domain DISGUSTED on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{0F5B0BBB-99BB-4A1E-A25D-22718665A05C}
There are 1 domains in domain DISGUSTED on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{0F5B0BBB-99BB-4A1E-A25D-22718665A05C}

3c.) "veridisk" browstat status:
Status for domain DISGUSTED on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{35A2B29B-F6FA-437D-88FE-B1CF4522AC30}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: VERIDISK
Master browser is running build 2600
1 backup servers retrieved from master VERIDISK
\\VERIDISK
There are 3 servers in domain DISGUSTED on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{35A2B29B-F6FA-437D-88FE-B1CF4522AC30}
There are 1 domains in domain DISGUSTED on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{35A2B29B-F6FA-437D-88FE-B1CF4522AC30}


As far as the ping tests: All 3 units can pass all 6 of the tests
mentioned.

Does all this information paint a helpful picture, Chuck? PLEASE NOTE
that "multitool1" is the laptop that's been hanging up when asked to
"View Workgroup Computers"; "veridisk" works w/out a hitch....
Is it a telltale sign that, although "powertool" is the host
computer, for some reason "browstat status" on all 3 machines list
"veridisk" as the master browser?????

I'm looking forward to your next post, Chuck [:-))

Terry B.

Terry,

Sorry for not responding sooner. I've been experiencing power problems here
recently - that interferes with my computer use. :-(

Your connectivity, and visibility, of each computer to the other ("net view")
appears good.

Browstat indicates a symmetrical browsing (same master browser on each computer,
so no communication problem indicated). But there's no backup browser.

Make sure the browser service is running on multitool1 and powertool. Control
Panel - Administrative Tools - Services. Verify that the Computer Browser, and
the TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper, services both show with Status = Started.

When you have the browser service running on each computer, all of your
computers are equally eligible to be the master browser. The first election
criteria for being the MB, on your LAN, is being the computer that's been online
the longest.

When all computers are brought online simultaneously, the previous MB is
generally re elected. To influence the election, you need to power down each
computer simultaneously. The first computer subsequently powered up should be
elected.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winntas/deploy/prodspecs/ntbrowse.mspx

Do you have shares setup on each? Let's see exactly what you can see.

From each computer, test shares visibility:
Start - Run - "cmd" then type into the command window:
1) net view multitool1
2) net view powertool
3) net view veridisk
Report visibility of shares / exact error displayed in each test (9 tests
total).

From each computer, test shares visibility from browser:
Start - Run then:
1) \\multitool1
2) \\powertool
3) \\veridisk
Report visibility of shares / exact error displayed in each test (9 tests
total).

Let's see if we can motivate you to rename your Workgroup. ;-}

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

Hey, Chuck !

Thanks for the line. THIS is where I'm at: By going to My Network Places and
manually-entering \\computername, I can view any of the shared folders on
any workgroup computer. The basic hassle is that when I click on View
Workgroup Computers, the system hangs forever....Here is the data you
requested:

I. Shares Visibility, tested from powertool:

Shared resources at powertool
Share name Type Used as Comment

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
audio Disk
drivers Disk
dwnld_apps Disk
encrypted Disk
Favorites Disk
house_finances Disk
hppsc1200 Print hp psc 1200 series
job_search Disk
mp3_music Disk Z:
msoft updates Disk
Outlook Disk
pcmag Disk
pcmag_apps Disk
product_keys Disk
restore notepad Disk
SharedDocs Disk
Trimac Disk
tweaks_coding Disk
wireless Disk
The command completed successfully.
******************
Shared resources at multitool1
Share name Type Used as Comment

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Favorites Disk
hppsc120 Print \\powertool\hp psc 1200 series
SharedDocs Disk
wireless Disk
The command completed successfully.
*******************
Shared resources at veridisk
Share name Type Used as Comment

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SharedDocs Disk
wireless Disk
The command completed successfully.
*******************

II. Shares visibility, tested from multitool1:

Shared resources at multitool1
Share name Type Used as Comment

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Favorites Disk
hppsc120 Print \\powertool\hp psc 1200 series
SharedDocs Disk
wireless Disk
The command completed successfully.
********************
Shared resources at powertool
Share name Type Used as Comment

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
audio Disk
drivers Disk
dwnld_apps Disk
encrypted Disk
Favorites Disk
house_finances Disk
hppsc1200 Print hp psc 1200 series
job_search Disk (UNC)
mp3_music Disk
msoft updates Disk (UNC)
Outlook Disk
pcmag Disk
pcmag_apps Disk
product_keys Disk
restore notepad Disk
SharedDocs Disk
Trimac Disk
tweaks_coding Disk
wireless Disk
The command completed successfully.
**********************
Shared resources at veridisk
Share name Type Used as Comment

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SharedDocs Disk
wireless Disk
The command completed successfully.
***********************

III. Shares visibility, tested from veridisk:

Shared resources at veridisk
Share name Type Used as Comment

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SharedDocs Disk
wireless Disk
The command completed successfully.
*********************
Shared resources at powertool
Share name Type Used as Comment

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
audio Disk
drivers Disk
dwnld_apps Disk
encrypted Disk
Favorites Disk
house_finances Disk
hppsc1200 Print hp psc 1200 series
job_search Disk
mp3_music Disk
msoft updates Disk
Outlook Disk
pcmag Disk
pcmag_apps Disk
product_keys Disk
restore notepad Disk
SharedDocs Disk
Trimac Disk
tweaks_coding Disk
wireless Disk
The command completed successfully.
********************
Shared resources at multitool1
Share name Type Used as Comment

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Favorites Disk
hppsc120 Print \\powertool\hp psc 1200 series
SharedDocs Disk
wireless Disk
The command completed successfully.
**********************

PLUS, when I tested "shares visibility from browser" from each machine, all
nine tests were successful, no errors.
BUT, I don't have a master browser anymore, and when I run "browstat status"
from each machine's cmd prompt, it comes up like:

Status for domain DISGUSTED on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{35A2B29B-F6FA-437D-88FE-B1CF4522AC30}
Browsing is NOT active on domain.
Master name cannot be determined from GetAdapterStatus.

There doesn't seem to be a master browser. Note that there are no firewalls
running, and in local services on all units, the Computer Browser service is
turned to Automatic.
I'd like the desktop, powertool, to be elected master browser on a
consistent basis.

Can you help out with this, Chuck? As always, thanks for your time &
attention to detail.

Terry B.

On Sun, 17 Oct 2004 15:16:36 GMT, "Terry B." wrote:

Hey, Chuck !

Thanks for the line. THIS is where I'm at: By going to My Network Places and
manually-entering \\computername, I can view any of the shared folders on
any workgroup computer. The basic hassle is that when I click on View
Workgroup Computers, the system hangs forever....Here is the data you
requested:

SNIP Net View of each individual computer's shares from each other

PLUS, when I tested "shares visibility from browser" from each machine, all
nine tests were successful, no errors.
BUT, I don't have a master browser anymore, and when I run "browstat status"
from each machine's cmd prompt, it comes up like:

Status for domain DISGUSTED on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{35A2B29B-F6FA-437D-88FE-B1CF4522AC30}
Browsing is NOT active on domain.
Master name cannot be determined from GetAdapterStatus.

There doesn't seem to be a master browser. Note that there are no firewalls
running, and in local services on all units, the Computer Browser service is
turned to Automatic.
I'd like the desktop, powertool, to be elected master browser on a
consistent basis.

Can you help out with this, Chuck? As always, thanks for your time &
attention to detail.

Terry B.

Terry,

When you're going to View Workgroup Computers, you're trying to access the
browser. No browser = no list, and the computer will hang until it realises
that no browser is available.

In your previous post (10/14 16:59) you included 3 symmetrical browstat listings
that indicated browsing active, with veridisk the MB. Now you are seeing
"Browsing is NOT active on domain". What have you changed?

PLEASE post the complete Browstat output from each computer. Don't excerpt.

Is the Browser service, AND the TCP/IP Helper service, running on each computer?
Control Panel - Administrative Tools - Services. Verify that the Computer
Browser, and the TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper, services both show with Status =
Started. Not just Startup Type = Automatic.

If you want powertool to be the master browser, you need to power down all
computers simultaneously. If you then start powertool first, and allow enough
time, it should elect itself as the MB. IF the browser service is running.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winntas/deploy/prodspecs/ntbrowse.mspx

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.