Workgroup not accessable

Hi-

I have 3 computers all networked through a Linksys WRT54GS router (all
connected through ethernet). Sometimes file sharing between them work
great, other times it says Workgroup is not accessable and to see my
administrator. I am not sure what is wrong. All 3 machines are part of the
same workgroup and it does work too, the problem occurs once and a while. I
just perform a combination of resetting the router, rebooting some or all of
the machines and trying until it works but there is never a set way to get
it to work. The funny thing is that even if theView Workgroup Computers
doesn't work I can sometimes search for individual ones and transfer that
way or even if that doesn't work I have a sync utility to keep some
directories in sync between the machines and that works fine no matter what.
Does anyone have any idea for these troubles and weird behaviors? It is
really a pain to run into this about half the time. Thanks!

-Dan

On Fri, 20 Aug 2004 23:14:51 -0400, "Dan Orth"
wrote:

I have 3 computers all networked through a Linksys WRT54GS router (all
connected through ethernet). Sometimes file sharing between them work
great, other times it says Workgroup is not accessable and to see my
administrator. I am not sure what is wrong. All 3 machines are part of the
same workgroup and it does work too, the problem occurs once and a while. I
just perform a combination of resetting the router, rebooting some or all of
the machines and trying until it works but there is never a set way to get
it to work. The funny thing is that even if theView Workgroup Computers
doesn't work I can sometimes search for individual ones and transfer that
way or even if that doesn't work I have a sync utility to keep some
directories in sync between the machines and that works fine no matter what.
Does anyone have any idea for these troubles and weird behaviors? It is
really a pain to run into this about half the time. Thanks!

Dan,

the trouble is that this could be caused by almost anything,
like a loose contact or some fluke in the router.

I would recommend to swap equipment and test to find out whether
it is something like that.

Also, the computer browser is slow, so just after booting you
may not see the workgroup for a while. In a large network this
can take more than an hour, but even in a small one it can take
up to 15 minutes.

When you experience the defect, is it always on all computers?

For some possible causes please have a look at
http://www.michna.com/kb/WxNetwork.htm.

Hans-Georg

--
No mail, please.

Hi-

Thanks for your reply. The problem is that this is intermittant and I can
never seem to reproduce it exactly. It sometimes happens to all 3
computers, sometimes just 1. I don't think it is my router since it is
brand new and I don't have another one to swap in anyways. These computers
have been connected for over an hour every time this happens and since the
network is made up of only 3 systems I figured this would be enough time. I
wish I was getting a specific error message or that this problem would
happen every time but it doesn't so it makes it really hard to troubleshoot,
especially when looking at something like that troubleshooter for possible
problems since even just restarting a machine sometimes seems like enough.
Do you have any other ideas? Thank you for your help. I really appreciate
it.
-Dan


Dan,

the trouble is that this could be caused by almost anything,
like a loose contact or some fluke in the router.

I would recommend to swap equipment and test to find out whether
it is something like that.

Also, the computer browser is slow, so just after booting you
may not see the workgroup for a while. In a large network this
can take more than an hour, but even in a small one it can take
up to 15 minutes.

When you experience the defect, is it always on all computers?

For some possible causes please have a look at
http://www.michna.com/kb/WxNetwork.htm.

Hans-Georg

--
No mail, please.

Hi
May be this can Help: http://www.ezlan.net/sharing.html
Jack (MVP-Networking).


"Dan Orth" wrote in message
...
Hi-

I have 3 computers all networked through a Linksys WRT54GS router (all
connected through ethernet). Sometimes file sharing between them work
great, other times it says Workgroup is not accessable and to see my
administrator. I am not sure what is wrong. All 3 machines are part of
the
same workgroup and it does work too, the problem occurs once and a while.
I
just perform a combination of resetting the router, rebooting some or all
of
the machines and trying until it works but there is never a set way to get
it to work. The funny thing is that even if theView Workgroup Computers
doesn't work I can sometimes search for individual ones and transfer that
way or even if that doesn't work I have a sync utility to keep some
directories in sync between the machines and that works fine no matter
what.
Does anyone have any idea for these troubles and weird behaviors? It is
really a pain to run into this about half the time. Thanks!

-Dan

The weird part now is that it works fine as long as I type the computer name
in directly with the folders or search for that computer. If I just click
on View Workgroup Computers it says it is not accessable even though all the
computers are on the same workgroup. Does this mean anything? Thanks for
your help-

-Dan


"Jack" JackMDS at veriz0n.net wrote in message
...
Hi
May be this can Help: http://www.ezlan.net/sharing.html
Jack (MVP-Networking).


"Dan Orth" wrote in message
...
Hi-

I have 3 computers all networked through a Linksys WRT54GS router (all
connected through ethernet). Sometimes file sharing between them work
great, other times it says Workgroup is not accessable and to see my
administrator. I am not sure what is wrong. All 3 machines are part of
the
same workgroup and it does work too, the problem occurs once and a
while.
I
just perform a combination of resetting the router, rebooting some or
all
of
the machines and trying until it works but there is never a set way to
get
it to work. The funny thing is that even if theView Workgroup Computers
doesn't work I can sometimes search for individual ones and transfer
that
way or even if that doesn't work I have a sync utility to keep some
directories in sync between the machines and that works fine no matter
what.
Does anyone have any idea for these troubles and weird behaviors? It is
really a pain to run into this about half the time. Thanks!

-Dan

On Fri, 20 Aug 2004 23:14:51 -0400, "Dan Orth" wrote:

Hi-

I have 3 computers all networked through a Linksys WRT54GS router (all
connected through ethernet). Sometimes file sharing between them work
great, other times it says Workgroup is not accessable and to see my
administrator. I am not sure what is wrong. All 3 machines are part of the
same workgroup and it does work too, the problem occurs once and a while. I
just perform a combination of resetting the router, rebooting some or all of
the machines and trying until it works but there is never a set way to get
it to work. The funny thing is that even if theView Workgroup Computers
doesn't work I can sometimes search for individual ones and transfer that
way or even if that doesn't work I have a sync utility to keep some
directories in sync between the machines and that works fine no matter what.
Does anyone have any idea for these troubles and weird behaviors? It is
really a pain to run into this about half the time. Thanks!

-Dan

Dan,

This sounds like a browser problem (I'm not referring to Internet Explorer).

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.

Make sure the browser service is running on each computer. Control Panel -
Administrative Tools - Services. Verify that the Computer Browser service is
started.

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

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

Browstat is very small (40K), needs no install, and runs from the command
prompt. Just drop it onto a couple workstations, and run it.

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 browstat by which computer running on.

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

Hi-

Here is my information:

------------------------------------------------------------

Laptop Running Windows XP Pro SP1

Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : DANLAPTOP
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI
Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-05-4E-47-AF-D4
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.100
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, August 22, 2004 7:00:08
PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, August 22, 2004 7:05:08
PM

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/1000 MT Mobile
Connection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0D-60-7D-28-01
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.103
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, August 22, 2004 6:59:53
PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, August 22, 2004 7:04:53
PM


Status for domain ORTHLAN on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{DAB9FEE7-A6FA-4B60-A42B-532030ECF52A}
Browsing is NOT active on domain.
Master browser name is held by: DANDESKTOP
Could not connect to registry, error = 53 Unable to determine build
of browser master: 53
\\DANDESKTOP . Version:05.01 Flags: 51203 NT POTENTIAL MASTER

Status for domain ORTHLAN on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{75AE4796-FC69-416A-B3ED-D649F73BF2F2}
Browsing is NOT active on domain.
Master name cannot be determined from GetAdapterStatus.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----

Desktop Running Windows XP Pro SP1

Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : dandesktop
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast
Ethernet NIC
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-30-BD-26-6B-1C
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.101
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, August 22, 2004 7:03:29
PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, August 22, 2004 7:08:29
PM

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Wireless-G PCI Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0C-41-66-1E-FA
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.107
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, August 22, 2004 7:03:40
PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, August 22, 2004 7:08:40
PM


Status for domain ORTHLAN on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{3F8F34CD-F711-4716-8D84-8C8449702DF3}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: DANDESKTOP
Master browser is running build 2600
1 backup servers retrieved from master DANDESKTOP
\\DANDESKTOP
There are 3 servers in domain ORTHLAN on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{3F8F34CD-F711-4716-8D84-8C8449702DF3}
There are 1 domains in domain ORTHLAN on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{3F8F34CD-F711-4716-8D84-8C8449702DF3}


Status for domain ORTHLAN on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{398A71C8-2D81-401E-8688-CC4822F58B32}
Browsing is NOT active on domain.
Master browser name is held by: DANDESKTOP
Master browser is running build 2600


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---

Tablet PC Running Windows XP Tablet Edition SP2 RC2

Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : DANTABLET
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast
Ethernet NIC
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-02-3F-17-7A-F7
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.104
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, August 22, 2004 7:28:37
PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, August 22, 2004 7:33:37
PM

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200BG
Network Connection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0E-35-15-27-0F
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.102
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, August 22, 2004 7:29:12
PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, August 22, 2004 7:34:12
PM


Status for domain ORTHLAN on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{3A6C390A-52BB-4F71-BFAA-672972074CBA}
Browsing is NOT active on domain.
Master name cannot be determined from GetAdapterStatus.


Status for domain ORTHLAN on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{6142002C-3B0D-4FEA-9D1A-55FF0D6F58CC}
Browsing is NOT active on domain.
Master browser name is held by: DANDESKTOP
Could not connect to registry, error = 53 Unable to determine build
of browser master: 53
\\DANDESKTOP . Version:05.01 Flags: 51203 NT POTENTIAL MASTER

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------


There it all is. Thank you so much for your help - I really appreciate it!

-Dan